Chattanooga church endorses GOP candidates risking tax status
Chattanooga’s Calvary Chapel has drawn scrutiny after hosting multiple Republican political candidates during a Sunday service. Tax experts say the move may violate federal law that prohibits nonprofit organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing candidates.
The service occurred two days after early voting began in Tennessee. It featured speeches from four Republicans running for local and state offices. Senior Pastor Frank Ramseur and civics and culture ministry leader Adam Calabrese stood alongside the candidates as Calabrese urged congregants to support them.
Candidates take the pulpit
Calabrese presented the political appearances as part of the church’s mission. He told worshippers the candidates viewed their campaigns as a “mission field.” He introduced Weston Wamp, who is seeking reelection as Hamilton County mayor; state Rep. Michele Reneau; school board candidate Ashley Dillon; and Derek Greene, running for the Tennessee Republican Party’s State Executive Committee.
Each candidate addressed the congregation. Reneau, who won her 2024 primary by 137 votes, told attendees she needed their votes, time, and help spreading the word. Dillon, running in a district spanning Ashland Terrace to Lakesite, described the race as “divisive” and warned of an opponent with a “completely opposing worldview.”
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A video of the service posted on YouTube shows Calabrese directing worshippers to scan a QR code for pre-filled election ballots.
Tax law violation alleged
Samuel Brunson, a federal income tax expert and associate dean at Loyola University Chicago, called the service a clear violation of the Johnson Amendment. The 1954 provision in the Internal Revenue Code bars 501(c)(3) nonprofits from engaging in political campaign activity.
“This is as explicit a violation as you could design,” Brunson said. “They have done everything possible to break the rule.”
The IRS, which enforces the law, has rarely taken action against churches. Brunson noted the agency has enforced the provision only once or twice in its 70-year history. The Trump administration issued an executive order in 2017 directing the IRS not to enforce the law against churches, and no cases have been pursued since. However, a future administration could reverse that stance.
“If a new administration decided to focus on enforcement, the church could lose its tax exemption,” he said.
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Calvary Chapel did not respond to requests for comment about the service or the allegations. The church has a history of political involvement: in 2024, it backed Reneau and school board candidate Ben Daugherty, both of whom won their races.
The church’s civics and culture ministry has hosted events critiquing COVID-19 vaccines, critical race theory, and what leaders describe as threats of communism.
Some opponents of the church-backed candidates criticized the service. Tony Hullender, who is challenging Reneau in the Republican primary, said he believes politics and faith should remain separate. “Many people feel that level of involvement isn’t appropriate for a church,” he said.
Ruth Walker, the Democrat running against Dillon for school board, said she was surprised by the endorsements. “My understanding is that churches aren’t supposed to do that,” she said. Independent candidate Sandy Pricer, also running against Dillon, called the church’s actions a “scare tactic” and said politics had no place in worship.
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The IRS did not respond to questions about the service or the legal ambiguity surrounding the Johnson Amendment. In 2025, the agency settled a lawsuit with Texas churches, effectively creating an exception for houses of worship. A federal judge dismissed the case in March, leaving the amendment’s status unclear. The IRS website still states that political campaign activity by churches violates the law.
At least two school board members, one state representative, the county mayor, and two Hamilton County GOP leaders attend Calvary Chapel. Carol Grohn, a former congregant who campaigned for Reneau, said the church’s political work was necessary to elect Christians to office. “We need people who share our values in those positions,” she said.
Greene, who spoke at the service, is running to unseat David Queen on the Tennessee Republican Party’s State Executive Committee. Greene told the congregation he would be a “bull” on the committee, criticizing current members as “weak.”
The IRS has discretion in enforcing the Johnson Amendment, but the law remains in effect. For now, Calvary Chapel’s political activities continue without consequence—though the risk of future action remains.
