The Internal Revenue Service has ended its investigation of a Florida church accused of violating its tax-exempt status by praying for a local school board candidate during worship service.
Lawyers with the First Liberty Institute announced Monday that the IRS informed New Way Christian Fellowship, Inc. of Palm Coast in a letter last month that the church will remain exempt from federal income taxes under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).
"First Amendment rights don't end when a pastor, church member or even a political candidate steps on the platform of a church," FLI Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys, who helped represent New Way, stated in a statement.
"We are pleased that the IRS not only closed its investigation, but affirmed that this church's activities of praying for political candidates during its church service do not threaten its tax-exempt status."
In 2022, Jill Woolbright, a local school board candidate, visited New Way and addressed the congregation during a worship service, with a clergyman praying for the person following her remarks. Her visit to New Way and two other churches at the time gained local media attention. She was quoted as saying that ...
