Kansas GOP accuses pastor of wrongly boosting political run

The Republican Party of Kansas filed an ethical complaint against a megachurch pastor who allegedly used his church to promote his bid for U.S. Senate. The state GOP on Friday accused Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by using church resources to bolster a political campaign. The state GOP said that the Methodist pastor used the church’s website, YouTube channel, and internal email to announce his candidacy. It also took issue with the church creating an entire page on its website about Hamilton’s candidacy.

Hamilton used the church’s employees, facilities, databases, and communication platforms to launch his campaign, according to the Kansas GOP’s Executive Director, Rob Fillion. Hamilton’s actions blatantly violate federal law prohibiting nonprofits from making political contributions to federal candidates, Fillion said. The executive director called on the Federal Election Commission to investigate the alleged violations.

How has the church responded to the parties’ accusations? The communications cited in the GOP’s complaint are examples of how the church regularly communicates significant updates to congregants, Resurrection Church spokeswoman Cathy Bein told WORLD Tuesday in a statement. The church’s founding senior pastor is considering a possible career change after 35 years in ministry, which would have a major impact on the church, so congregants were informed, she added.

A spokesman for Hamilton claimed that U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., was behind the attack, according to a statement provided to KSHB-TV in Kansas City.  Hamilton will beat Marshall if he decides to run against him, the spokesman said.