Baptist Street Preaching

[AnnaRose]

Are there certain rules for Evangelical Baptist street preachers? Do they do it on their own or commissioned by a church? Do they have to have a degree in theology or bible study?

I’m Catholic and just wondering about a person I know that preaches on street corners and on lawns of colleges and universities, but doesn’t seem to have any credentials.

 

[BrianH]

Are there certain rules for Evangelical Baptist street preachers? Do they do it on their own or commissioned by a church? Do they have to have a degree in theology or bible study?

I’m Catholic and just wondering about a person I know that preaches on street corners and on lawns of colleges and universities, but doesn’t seem to have any credentials.

Its a free (mostly) country. You could go preach on a street corner. I could. We have, still anyway, freedom of religion.
Some undoubtedly are commissioned by a church and some do it on their own.

 

[scottm]

Are there certain rules for Evangelical Baptist street preachers? Do they do it on their own or commissioned by a church? Do they have to have a degree in theology or bible study?

Each congregation sets its own rules. The corollary to this is that each individual can set his or her own rules. Any person can start a Baptist church, and any person can be a Baptist preacher.

Ordination and licensing are given by an individual congregation. Licenses are for a fixed period of time and/or for certain specified duties only; think of the director of an RCIA program. Ordination lasts as long as you don’t commit a gross violation and is broader in scope; think of priests or monks. Some congregations require a degree (2-year certificate, or 4-year bachelor, or M.Div.) , and some don’t.

 

[AnnaRose]

The person I know is claiming his personal property (worth about $600,000) should be tax exempt because he’s a self proclaimed preacher…even though there is no church on his property. He holds a “preaching sing-a-long” once a year in his side field. Is he entitled to being tax exempt?

 

[Eutychus123]

The person I know is claiming his personal property (worth about $600,000) should be tax exempt because he’s a self proclaimed preacher…even though there is no church on his property. He holds a “preaching sing-a-long” once a year in his side field. Is he entitled to being tax exempt?

Is his"church" a 501c?

 

[BrianH]

The person I know is claiming his personal property (worth about $600,000) should be tax exempt because he’s a self proclaimed preacher…even though there is no church on his property. He holds a “preaching sing-a-long” once a year in his side field. Is he entitled to being tax exempt?

As part of his application for the 501c, the will determine and look at many things and the IRS will send that information. Eventually those things even out usually and they are scrutinzed pretty tight, especially when dealing with large sums of money. Many people and organizations can attest to that

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

The person I know is claiming his personal property (worth about $600,000) should be tax exempt because he’s a self proclaimed preacher…even though there is no church on his property. He holds a “preaching sing-a-long” once a year in his side field. Is he entitled to being tax exempt?

Seems like there’s bigger fish to fry here than whether or not he has permission to street preach

On a related note, a good friend of mine from a Baptist church does street preaching with some buddies. I don’t think it’s organized through his church, I think they do it on their own.

It’s also interesting to note the Methodists got in trouble partially because the Church of England didn’t like John Wesley & co. going out and doing street preaching - they preferred if he kept it in a pulpit at church. Personally, there are times when churches don’t get started unless God uses someone as an instrument to move the common people first.

 

[AnnaRose]

Don’t know if his church is 501c . When asked a question, he skirts around the answer.

 

[Farsight001]

Sounds like he just wants tax exempt status. If all it took to be tax exempt was to hold a Christian sing-a-long once a year and street preach every now and then, I’d do it too, and I’m not worth nearly as much as 600k.

 

[scottm]

The person I know is claiming his personal property (worth about $600,000) should be tax exempt because he’s a self proclaimed preacher…even though there is no church on his property. He holds a “preaching sing-a-long” once a year in his side field. Is he entitled to being tax exempt?

Yes. Personal property is not taxed. The books on my book shelves, this computer that I’m typing on, the dishes in my kitchen, my car, etc etc etc etc is all exempt from any tax. So is your stuff. So is everyone’s personal property.

We’re taxed on income. This preacher guy will be taxed on his income. The only way he can avoid a tax on his income is by taking a vow of poverty, which means it’s not his income anymore, and the IRS heavily scrutinizes those claims.

Maybe he was talking about his real property, not his personal property. To avoid a tax on real property he has to actually give it up, so that it’s not his anymore. The IRS will scrutinize him if after giving it up he still uses the property like an owner would use it.

 

[AnnaRose]

(Scottm said: “To avoid a tax on real property he has to actually give it up, so that it’s not his anymore.”)

He claims he’s turned his property over to the church. All of us think that HE’S THE CHURCH, that he started himself.

Whatever he’s up to…I’ll continue to pray for him that he practices what he preaches!!

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

The sad thing is the government will probably give it to him. Someone showed me a website of three angry guys who just heckle people on NYC sidewalks all day, and they get tax exemption. That would be like my friends and I calling ourselves a church because we meet every week for fellowship, and therefore asking for tax exemption.