A Texas pastor who ran for office in Abilene has been penalized thousands of dollars after accepting illegal support from religious organizations during his campaign.

Scott Beard, a local church leader who sought a seat on Abilene’s City Council in 2024, was fined $3,500 by the Texas Ethics Commission in 2025 for improperly using church donations and facilities to aid his political efforts, The Christian Post reported.

Beard, the founding pastor of Fountaingate Fellowship in Abilene, entered the race for city council in 2024 but did not win the election. Following his failed campaign, key questions emerged about how the campaign had been funded and operated.

In May 2025, nearly a year after the election, the Texas Ethics Commission released findings that Beard had committed multiple violations of state election laws. The commission's investigation determined that Beard had improperly received corporate contributions from churches and used church resources as part of his campaign activities.

TEC cites illegal aid from churches in ruling

The TEC found that Beard had accepted political contributions from three specific incorporated churches: Fountaingate Merkel, Remnant Church of Abilene, and Hope 4 Life Church of Abilene. According to the commission’s official order, these contributions breached a longstanding ban on corporate donations in Texas political campaigns.

In addition to prohibited donations from outside churches, the commission reported that Beard used the premises of his church, Fountaingate Fellowship, for political purposes. Officials said he distributed campaign signs and purchased campaign merchandise from his church office, a violation of state ethics rules.

The commission faulted Beard for failing to disclose these in-kind and corporate contributions in his campaign finance filings. Authorities concluded he knowingly received donations that violated Texas laws prohibiting corporate involvement in campaigns.

Beard says some donations were returned

Beard responded to the commission’s findings by claiming he took corrective action once the potential violations became clear. He stated that upon realizing the donations may have come from what he called “potentially corporate corporations,” he returned the contributions.

The $3,500 fine was finalized by the commission in May and officially enforced in June 2025. An agreed resolution accompanied the penalty, solidifying Beard’s acknowledgment of the violations and the imposed sanction.

The original complaint prompting the TEC’s investigation was filed by Abilene attorney Kristin Postell. Postell raised concerns about the legality of using church resources for political purposes and urged the commission to examine Beard's campaign finances closely.

Federal law may compound church issues

Postell expressed support for the commission’s ruling, emphasizing the importance of accountability. “I don’t think anybody is going to be super cautious about following the rules unless there is a real financial burden to breaking them,” she said in a public statement.

Beyond state-level consequences, the churches implicated could face scrutiny from federal authorities. Several residents have reportedly submitted complaints to the Internal Revenue Service, accusing Beard’s church of violating federal law by engaging in political activity.

The Johnson Amendment, part of the U.S. tax code since 1954, bars 501(c)(3) organizations like churches from participating in political campaigns. While enforcement of the rule was relaxed by a 2017 executive order signed by President Donald Trump, the amendment itself remains in effect.

Election laws bar church campaign activity

Churches operating under 501(c)(3) status are not allowed to endorse candidates, donate to political campaigns, or directly assist a candidate’s political efforts. Doing so can jeopardize their tax-exempt status and result in IRS investigations.

According to the TEC ruling, Beard not only received money from churches but also actively used his church’s resources as an extension of his campaign, raising the potential for broader legal consequences for the institutions involved.

While Beard has maintained that he attempted to rectify the donation issue by returning funds, the state still concluded that his actions warranted a financial penalty. Neither the TEC nor Beard has indicated plans for further appeal or legal challenge.

Consequences could shape future campaigns

This case marks a rare instance of a candidate being penalized for church-related campaign violations in Texas, and it may serve as a cautionary tale for other political hopefuls with religious affiliations.

The TEC’s decision could prompt churches across the state to reassess their compliance with both state and federal election laws. Legal experts note that churches often provide support to community figures, but doing so in the context of an election could carry serious consequences.

With additional complaints pending at the federal level, any further findings or penalties from the IRS could add pressure on churches to clarify boundaries between religious expression and political involvement.