"As a leader in my religious community, I am strongly opposed to any effort to repeal or weaken current law that protects houses of worship from becoming centers of partisan politics," reads the letter faith leaders who support church-state separation delivered to Congress on Wednesday (Aug. 16).

"Changing the law would threaten the integrity and independence of houses of worship."

The letter signed by a wide range of clergy and lay members—from Methodists to Muslims to those who hold metaphysical beliefs—was spearheaded by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

Catholic, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist organizations also were among the sponsoring groups of the letter that has signers from Alabama to Wyoming.

Following up on a campaign promise, Trump vowed in a National Prayer Breakfast speech in February that he would "totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear."

In a Rose Garden ceremony on the National Day of Prayer in May, he signed an executive order that asked the IRS not to enforce the amendment, which allows it to strip the nonprofit status from any tax-exempt organization that endorses a political candidate or participates in a political campaign.

In July, the House Appropriations Committee voted to keep language in a spending bill that would defund IRS efforts to enforce the amendment. The bill must be passed by the House and the Senate before it can be signed into law by the president.

Maggie Garrett, Americans United's legislative director, said the letter-signing initiative started before the introduction of that language as religious leaders responded to the president's vow to get rid of the law.

The letter notes that there is nothing in current law that bars faith leaders from supporting or opposing political candidates in their personal capacities.

"Faith leaders are called to speak truth to power, and we cannot do so if we are merely cogs in partisan political machines," said the letter signers from all 50 states. "Particularly in today's political climate, engaging in partisan politics and issuing endorsements would be highly divisive and have a detrimental impact on congregational unity and civil discourse."

Charisma News

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

The REAL Donald Trump: 45th President Sends Beautiful and Touching Birthday Letter to Young Boy With Rare Brain Disorder, Bringing Him to Tears (VIDEO)

SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission: a Billionaire Pilot and an Engineer Conduct 1st Private Spacewalks in History; 'It's Gorgeous!'

Alberta Bill in the Works Protects Healthcare Workers, Hospices from Having to Offer Euthanasia

Arizona Ballot Measure Could Impact 2024 Presidential Race: '$100 Million to Promote Abortion'

House Passes Bill to Stop White House from Unilaterally Imposing W.H.O. Pandemic Treaty

IF This Is True, ABC News Is About to Become Engulfed in a Major Scandal

Independent and Undecided Voters Largely Aligning with Trump Post-Debate

Haitian Voter Fraud Uncovered in Springfield, Ohio

Judge Drops 3 Criminal Counts in Georgia Election Interference Case against Trump

President Trump Proposes Ending Taxes on Overtime Pay

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi Saves Woman from Jumping Off Nashville Bridge

Netanyahu: the World Must Demand the Hostages' Freedom

Germany is Rushing to Bring Back Borders Due to Fresh Islamic Terror Concerns

Texas Border City Hotel Shut Down After Alleged Tren de Aragua Gang Activity

Speaker Johnson Pulls Spending Bill Vote amid GOP Opposition

Christian School's Girls Basketball Team Punished for Gender Stand Fights Back: 'Boys Are Boys'

'Operation Homecoming': US Marshals Recover 32 Missing Children Near Akron, Ohio

How the CARE Act Would Protect Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers to Continue Their Crucial Work

DeSantis Investigating 37,000 Abortion Amendment Petitions after Reports of Fake Signatures

ABC Moderators Were Lying: EIGHT 'Aborted' Babies Were Born Alive & Then Left to Die in Minnesota