Louisiana Pastor Sounds Alarm: Churches at Risk of Taxation Under Amendment 2
Rev. Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Central, is leading a campaign against Amendment 2, warning that if voters approve it on March 29, religious organizations could face financial burdens that threaten their ability to serve their communities.
BATON ROUGE, La. — A proposed constitutional amendment in Louisiana is drawing fierce opposition from religious leaders who say it could open the door for churches to lose their property tax exemptions.
Rev. Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Central, is leading a campaign against Amendment 2, warning that if voters approve it on March 29, religious organizations could face financial burdens that threaten their ability to serve their communities.
“The power to tax is the power to destroy,” Spell declared, invoking an 1819 U.S. Supreme Court decision. “This amendment strips constitutional protection from churches and puts our property tax exemptions at the mercy of politicians.”
What’s at Stake for Churches?
Under current law, religious organizations enjoy property tax exemptions guaranteed by Louisiana’s Constitution, protecting properties used for worship, education, charitable work, and ministry. Amendment 2 would remove these guarantees, shifting tax policy decisions to state lawmakers, who could alter or eliminate exemptions with a two-thirds vote.
Although supporters of the amendment, including state Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, insist that existing exemptions will remain in state statute, Spell warns that churches would no longer be shielded from future tax changes.
“If this amendment passes, the government can tax anything they want—including church-owned properties beyond the sanctuary,” Spell said. “That means ministry buildings, religious schools, shelters, and even housing for those in need could eventually be taxed.”
The Bigger Battle: Protecting Religious Freedom
For Spell and other pastors, this fight is about more than taxes—it’s about religious liberty. He argues that shifting tax exemptions from the Constitution to state law gives future lawmakers unchecked power over faith-based organizations.
“This is not just about one law—it’s about the principle that government should never have the ability to financially burden churches,” Spell said. “Churches are sanctuaries, not revenue sources.”
Some churches, including Life Tabernacle, own multiple properties used for housing, outreach, and social services. If taxed, these properties could become a financial liability, limiting the ability of churches to provide for their congregations and communities.
“This is an attack on the very institutions that care for the broken, feed the hungry, and shelter the homeless,” Spell warned. “It’s a dangerous precedent that we cannot afford to set.”
A Growing Movement Against Amendment 2
Opposition to Amendment 2 is gaining momentum among faith leaders and legal experts. A lawsuit has been filed in the 19th Judicial District challenging the measure, with a preliminary hearing set for March 12 in Baton Rouge.
Meanwhile, conservative voices like Central City News publisher Woody Jenkins have joined the fight, warning that churches could be “taxed out of existence” if protections are weakened.
Spell is calling on pastors, congregations, and faith-based organizations across Louisiana to stand against the amendment before it’s too late.
“We fought for our right to worship during COVID, and now we must fight for our right to exist without government interference,” Spell said. “We will not be silent while politicians play games with our churches.”
With the March 29 vote approaching, Spell is urging voters to reject Amendment 2 and protect the sacred institutions that have long been the backbone of Louisiana communities.
