You might remember that a bunch of conservative Ohio ministers banded together to overtly support both George W. Bush in 2004 and even more overtly to support Ken Blackwell's bid for Governor in 2006. Blackwell was Secretary of State and ran the vote in Ohio in 2004--and of course, was the state's Bush for Ohio co-chair.
One of those ministers is leaving his church ostensibly to work as a fund-raiser for his alma mater. Or perhaps to spend more time with his family. Or to work on his defense ...
More below the fold.
Russell Johnson is the long-time pastor of the Fairfield Christian Church in Lancaster, OH. After coming back from a 90-day sabbatical, he is expected to announce that he is leaving his post according to this Columbus Dispatch article
It's not clear why he is leaving, and neither the good reverend nor his wife are willing to comment.
Which of course, leaves us free to speculate. Could he be leaving because of this?
Johnson and his church last year were accused by other ministers of violating IRS regulations against partisan political activity by supporting the unsuccessful Ohio gubernatorial campaign of Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell.
The IRS would not comment on whether it has or is investigating the church.
The church and its pastor were the force behind the Ohio Restoration Project, an attempt to recruit thousands of "patriot pastors" to register "values voters" and back Christian causes. Johnson denied illegal entanglement in politics.
Or perhaps this?
Some members have been upset by deep financial losses after the church's purchase and operation of the adjacent Lancaster Inn hotel last year. The church ministry and its school, Fairfield Christian Academy, also showed losses.
The church, school and hotel showed a nearly $1.5 million operating loss for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to a financial statement obtained by The Dispatch.
Apparently not this ...
Records also show that the IRS filed a lien against Johnson and his wife, Barbara, last year that said the couple failed to pay $22,269 in federal income taxes and penalties from 2002 to 2004. The Johnsons paid up in a month.
One hopes that the church will be less likely to dabble in politics with this minister gone.