As a Lutheran Pastor, I concur in the editorial's position.  I am capable of getting myself into trouble from the pulpit without adding political endorsements as an issue.  As anyone who preaches knows, no matter how you try and frame the gospel issues you preach on, someone is likely to take offense at something that is the least bit controversial.  I have had some Mondays when my inbox is full, not only of the first person who had an issue, but who then managed to stir up some others who then weighed in.

As preachers, clergy are assumed to be subject matter experts in scripture and in doctrine.  But when we leave these fields of our "expertise" we leave ourselves open to the danger that our words  are no more than political statements, where we have no more credibility than other educated members of our society.  We need to think carefully about what we bring to the sanctity of the pulpit.  The Amendment is a reasonable limit on politics.

PR Chris