Voters divided along racial lines
With the election two weeks away, Pew Research reports white Catholics, white non-evangelical Protestants, and white evangelicals still favor President Donald Trump, although support from all three groups has slipped since August. Former Vice President Joe Biden is leading among all other groups polled, including religiously unaffiliated people.
While groups identifying as evangelical and not supportive of Trump are campaigning for Biden, Christianity Today reports more white evangelicals who support Trump are voting for him and not just against Biden, which runs contrary to the 2016 election.
Measuring the voting intentions of church leaders, LifeWay Research reports 53% of U.S. Protestant pastors say they will vote for Trump, compared to 21% who plan to vote for Biden and 22% who are undecided. Their study also shows Trump has higher levels of support among pastors than in 2016.
MacDonald, Harvest church reach settlement
James MacDonald will be awarded at least $1.45 million in a settlement with his former Chicagoland church, Harvest Bible Chapel, plus assets from his broadcast ministry. Christian Post reports MacDonald is also calling on the church to end a “false narrative in financial matters,” and asked supporters to “pray for the needed transparency.”
MacDonald was fired in 2019 amid charges of financial mismanagement and poor leadership.
Legal guide for pastors answers questions ahead of election
The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has released a 5-point guide that covers what speech is allowed by pastors without violating Internal Revenue Service rules, including guidance for sermons and speeches, general education of voters, use of church facilities, lobbying, and gifts and money. As ADF describes it, “The goal of this guide is to empower you to both shepherd God’s people and protect your ministry.”
Tennessee abortion waiting-period law loses in court
A federal judge struck down a law in Tennessee that requires a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion. Judge Bernard Friedman’s ruling was the second in three months to block an abortion law in the state. In July, a judge issued a preliminary injunction against Tennessee’s law prohibiting abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Elizabeth Graham of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said the Baptist entity “will continue to support efforts in states like Tennessee to pass laws seeking to ensure the health and safety of women and children from a profit-seeking abortion industry and speak to the culture about the sacred dignity of life.”
Sources: Pew Research, Christianity Today, LifeWay Research, Christian Post, Illinois Baptist, Baptist Press