Article published by the Lexington County Chronicle
Reprinted with permission

---

Man wants Lutheran bishop to stay away from politics

Terry Ward 359-7633
Thu, Nov 22, 2012

David Davis is a member of a Lutheran Church in Lexington County and he is concerned about the activities of the church’s state leader.

Davis said Bishop Herman Yoos is engaging in political lobbying.

Yoos is the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) South Carolina Synod.

Davis’ church is under the governance of Yoos. Davis said Yoos has helped members of the Spanish-speaking community obtain church-based photo identification cards.

“Having Bishop Yoos engaging in this, or any kind of political activism, jeopardizes the church’s tax-exempt status,” said Davis.

Yoos did not return a phone message or respond to an e-mail request to answer the concerns of Davis by press time.

Davis said he found out on Aug. 2, of an effort by Yoos to get ID cards for members of the Hispanic community. He said that effort for the ID cards came after the state of South Carolina passed legislation to require photo ID cards for voters.

Davis said he became alarmed when he contacted Yoos because he wanted an ID card issued by the Lutheran Church, for himself. He said it would identify his denomination if he were to be incapacitated, or unconsciousness, in an accident.

“I was told ‘You speak English’ so I am not entitled to a church-issued ID card,” Davis said. He said Yoos denied him the ID card.

Davis has filed an Initial Inquiry with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. He said he has he intends to file a complaint for discrimination.

“Regardless of our personal position on the matter, we are bound by legal requirements to maintain our non-profit status,” Davis said.

He also said if the ID cards are being issued as proof to vote, for people who would not otherwise have valid ID, it could be a violation of the law.