His group is prepared to defend the 1st Amendment rights of churches investigated for politicking. "If the 1st Amendment doesn't protect controversial speech," he said, "it protects no speech at all."
It was unclear how many of the ministers taking part in Sunday's action were actually crossing the IRS line.
In West Bend, Wis., the Associated Press reported that Pastor Luke Emrich told 100 worshipers at his evangelical New Life Church, "I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin," adding, "it's your choice to make, it's not my choice."
Pastor Jody Hice of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Ga., compared Obama and McCain on abortion and same-sex marriage and concluded that McCain "holds more to a biblical world view."
At the independent Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla., Pastor Paul Blair likewise told his congregation of his support for McCain.
In Buena Park, members of Drake's congregation called out "Amen" and applauded during his sermon.
He urged members to think about their faith when voting and spent much of his 40-minute sermon giving a partisan speech about the presidential candidates and their issues. "According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama," Drake said. "Mr. Obama is not standing up for anything that is tradition in America."
He urged prayers for the American Independent Party. "We are going to do more damage to the Democrats and Republicans than we have ever done," he said.
William Ruffin, who has attended the church for 10 years and is a Bible studies teacher there, said that he believed that denying freedom of speech in the pulpit "means that this country is living as hypocrites."
In Huntington Beach, Orman spoke of personal responsibility, citing home schooling as an example. He said judges who recently ruled against restrictions on home instruction deserve support as churchgoers check the records of judges and vote out those they feel "have been doing wrong."
He said he favors the separation of church and state, "but I don't believe in the separation of God and government."
In terms of the presidential and vice presidential election, "you can look at the names Barack and Joseph and you can look at John and Sarah and find them all in Scriptures," Orman said, prompting loud laughter from those in the 102-year-old sanctuary.
Orman ended his sermon by urging those in the congregation to vote. He said a voter registration table would be available outside after the service.
There were no takers at the sign-up table. Congregant Pamela Dyrud of Santa Ana said most at Warner Avenue Baptist Church promptly register to vote when they turn 18.
Deacon Kenneth Williams said he felt Orman got his point across without jeopardizing the congregation's tax-exempt IRS status -- or pulling any punches.
Visitor Judy Ahrens described Sunday as "historic" and Orman's sermon as "courageous and brave." She said she might start attending his church regularly.
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bob.pool@latimes.com
my-thuan.tran@latimes.com
Times staff writer Duke Helfand contributed to this report.
