Calvary Chapel in Chattanooga, Tennessee, faced criticism Friday after a tax law expert described the church’s actions as a “pretty blatant” illegal effort to support Republican candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

According to a Friday report from the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the church hosted several Republican candidates last Sunday who are running in various races. During the event, Adam Calabrese, the church’s civics and culture ministry leader, urged attendees to support the candidates and invited them to join him on stage.

“We can vouch for them,” Calabrese said, according to the report.

Samuel D. Brunson, a federal income tax expert and associate dean at Loyola University Chicago, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that Calvary Chapel officials almost certainly violated the law by engaging in politics while operating as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) church.

“I've seen a lot of sermons that endorse, that try to endorse, that try to endorse without endorsing. This one's pretty blatant,” Brunson said.

“This is as explicit a violation as you could design. They have done literally everything they could possibly do to violate the Johnson Amendment part of Section 501(c)(3) – like they couldn't have done a better job violating it if they had tried, and maybe they did try," he added.

The Johnson Amendment restricts 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from participating in or intervening in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office. Religious organizations with that status may engage in some nonpartisan civic activity, such as voter education or issue discussion, but the legal line is crossed when an organization supports or opposes specific candidates.

The restriction matters because 501(c)(3) status allows donors to claim tax deductions and generally exempts qualifying organizations from federal income tax. Violations can put an organization’s tax-exempt status at risk, though enforcement decisions rest with federal tax authorities.

Church leaders did not respond to questions from the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The episode nevertheless drew criticism from outside groups, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national secular advocacy organization based in Wisconsin.

“Unfortunately, expect much more of this in the coming election cycle,” the Freedom From Religion Foundation said in a statement issued Friday. “When the rules against partisan electioneering from the pulpit go unenforced, abuses become the norm.”

Unfortunately, expect much more of this in the coming election cycle. When the rules against partisan electioneering from the pulpit go unenforced, abuses become the norm. — FFRF (@FFRF) July 25, 2026