{"id":2505985,"date":"2025-11-03T09:24:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/church-backs-democrats-after-they-gave-it-nearly-30000\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T09:26:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:26:07","slug":"church-backs-democrats-after-they-gave-it-nearly-30000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/church-backs-democrats-after-they-gave-it-nearly-30000\/","title":{"rendered":"Church backs Democrats after they gave it nearly $30,000"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchurch-backs-democrats-after-they-gave-it-nearly-30000%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2505985&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A prominent Virginia Democrat, state Sen.Louise Lucas, has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >made considerable financial contributions totaling<\/a> nearly $30,000 to Second calvary Baptist Church, whose head pastor Geoffrey Guns is openly supporting Democratic candidates Abigail Spanberger for governor and jay Jones for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue &quot;Substantial Allegations&quot; of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a>.Pastor Guns has actively campaigned for these Democrats by encouraging his predominantly Black congregation to vote for them, hosting campaign events at the church, and endorsing Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial nominee Ghazala Hashmi. LucasS funding and the church&#8217;s political engagement come amid efforts to influence Virginia&#8217;s political landscape, as Lucas seeks to expand her influence in the state legislature. Although many Americans generally oppose churches endorsing political candidates, recent IRS policy changes allow churches to make such endorsements without risking their nonprofit status. This is not the first instance of Second Calvary baptist Church blending politics and religion, as the church faced controversy in 2021 for similar political involvement.Neither Lucas nor the church responded to requests for comment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">A top Virginia Democrat cut checks to this church. Now it&rsquo;s campaigning for Spanberger and Jones<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2389035\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;You can rest assured that I will be telling our congregation to vote for you,&rdquo; Second Calvary Baptist Church head pastor Geoffrey Guns <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1AH71YjPE8\/\">told<\/a> Democratic <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a> attorney general nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jay-jones\/\">Jay Jones<\/a> in a video shot on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Guns&rsquo;s full-throated support for Jones, alongside his endorsement of Democratic gubernatorial nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a>, followed nearly $30,000 in &ldquo;sponsorship&rdquo; payments from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/vendors\/184465\/spender\/124936\/?service=all&amp;start_year=all&amp;end_year=all&amp;recip_type=all\">campaign account<\/a> of state Sen. Louise Lucas, the top Democrat in Virginia&rsquo;s upper chamber and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/va-dems-were-against-scotty-mander-before-new-push-senate-leader-blames-trump-bet-your-ass\">public face<\/a> of the movement to gerrymander Virginia. Lucas&rsquo;s power in Virginia would be greatly expanded if a Republican were not in the governor&rsquo;s mansion, standing athwart her legislative agenda.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3871067\/antifa-posts-hit-list-portland-targeting-journalists\/\">Antifa posts &#8216;hit list&#8217; in Portland targeting journalists<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3869976\/zohran-mamdani-allies-relied-corporate-cash-boost-campaigns\/\">Mamdani&#8217;s allies relied on corporate cash to boost their campaigns&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3869489\/exorbitant-amount-gop-senate-aide-charged-taxpayers-commute\/\">&lsquo;An exorbitant amount&rsquo;: Top GOP Senate aide charged taxpayers $44,000 for his commute<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Beyond telling his congregation to vote for Jones, Guns&rsquo;s church also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abigailspanberger.com\/spanberger-kicks-off-her-virginia-votes-bus-tour-with-stops-in-petersburg-hampton-roads-southside-virginia\/\">hosted<\/a> a campaign event for Spanberger as part of her pre-Election Day bus tour on Oct. 26 and filmed a video with Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial nominee Ghazala Hashmi, endorsing her candidacy.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When I heard you talk about [funding historically black colleges and universities] that really resonated with me and I said &lsquo;this is the person I need to support for lieutenant governor,&rdquo; Guns, who is black and leads a predominantly black congregation, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/19BdDULqhk\/\">told<\/a> Hashmi in a video posted on Oct. 14. &ldquo;I want you to support her as well,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/neither-vaccinated-nor-unvaccinated-how-churches-imposing-vaccine-mandates-are-dividing-christians-with-a-different-gospel\/\" title=\"Neither Vaccinated Nor Unvaccinated: How ...es Imposing Vaccine Mandates Are Dividing Christians With A \u2018Different Gospel\u2019\">pastor told<\/a> his congregation.<\/p>\n<p>Guns has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/19dja9WqCj\/\">said<\/a> he &ldquo;proudly&rdquo; endorses Spanberger for governor, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/14LUAU8CKB6\/\">shared<\/a> a Democratic voter guide with his congregation, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www-secondcalvary-org.filesusr.com\/html\/0d8e49_e71e71ffe74eb1bb9d9a30170c5ff70f.html#\">invited<\/a> Spanberger to campaign from his church&rsquo;s pulpit, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www-secondcalvary-org.filesusr.com\/html\/0d8e49_e71e71ffe74eb1bb9d9a30170c5ff70f.html#\">encouraged his congregants<\/a> at length to vote for Democrats during a recent sermon.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Voting is not merely political duty, it is prophetic stewardship,&rdquo; Guns said during his Oct. 26 sermon. &ldquo;We must vote and we must go to the polls and we must turn out in big numbers and you must tell your sons and your daughters there&rsquo;s only one choice for governor &hellip; Abigail!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Guns yelled &ldquo;there&rsquo;s one choice&rdquo; at multiple points during the sermon, referring to his support for Spanberger.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, center, marches in the 54th Annual Buena Vista Labor Day Festival parade with Ghazala Hashmi, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, right, and Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, left, on Sept. 1, 2025, in Buena Vista, Virginia. (Win McNamee\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lucas&rsquo;s campaign paid Second Calvary Baptist Church $14,000 in 2023 for a &ldquo;diamond sponsorship,&rdquo; a further $5,000 that year for a &ldquo;platinum sponsorship,&rdquo; and $7,500 in 2024 for further sponsorship. Guns&rsquo;s church also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/vendors\/184465\/spender\/446948\/?service=all&amp;start_year=all&amp;end_year=all&amp;recip_type=all\">received<\/a> a $500 donation from Democratic state Sen. Angelia Williams Graves in 2023 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/bluevirginia.us\/2023\/01\/norfolk-pastor-geoffrey-v-guns-explains-why-he-and-three-dozen-other-black-ministers-pastors-are-endorsing-del-angelia-williams-graves-for-va-senate\/\">after<\/a> he endorsed her.<\/p>\n<p>Americans <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/07\/10\/in-a-2022-survey-most-americans-opposed-churches-endorsing-political-candidates\/\">generally oppose<\/a> houses of worship endorsing political candidates, with 77% of adults polled by the Pew Research&nbsp;Center in 2022 saying churches should not favor one candidate over another in elections.<\/p>\n<p>This is not the first time Second Calvary Baptist Church has melded politics and religion.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the left-of-center Freedom From Religion Foundation <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.taxnotes.com\/research\/federal\/other-documents\/irs-tax-correspondence\/virginia-churches-may-have-violated-eo-status-group-says\/7bcx9\">wrote<\/a> to the IRS to complain that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/church-backs-democrats-after-they-gave-it-nearly-30k\/\" title=\"... backs ... after they gave it nearly ...K\">church violated nonprofit organization guidelines<\/a> by allowing activist Stacey Abrams to give speeches urging them to vote for McAuliffe, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate that year. The organization&rsquo;s letter cited IRS regulations that prevent churches from participating in or intervening in &ldquo;any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office,&rdquo; lest they lose their nonprofit organization status.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3867353\/donations-jay-jones-leaked-text-scandal\/\"><strong>FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DONATED TO JAY JONES AFTER TEXT SCANDAL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Under President Donald Trump, however, the IRS has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3465197\/irs-lifts-ban-churches-endorsing-political-candidates\/\">said<\/a> it will allow churches to endorse political candidates without jeopardizing their nonprofit organization status.<\/p>\n<p>Lucas and Second Calvary Baptist Church did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia Democrat funded church now backs Spanberger, Jones<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":894,"featured_media":2505986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2238696461.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5643,3685,4303,6513,5894],"class_list":["post-2505985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-church","tag-democrats","tag-donations","tag-funding","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2238696461.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/894"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2505985"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2505989,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505985\/revisions\/2505989"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2505986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2505985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2505985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2505985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}