As Election Central reported the other day, the pastor at the Twin Cities-area mega-church Living Word Christian Center, Mac Hammond, may have violated IRS regulations when he endorsed GOP House candidate Michele Bachman during an event at his church. The church has since claimed that the institution didn't understand IRS regs dictating a separation between church and politics. But we looked at the video of the event again — and it seems clear that not only did the pastor know exactly what he was doing, he explicitly told anybody who might support such separation, "you need to get saved." More after the jump.

IRS regulations dictate that a church-leader cannot make partisan statements at official church events without risking his or her church's tax-exempt status.

The event in question occured last Sunday. At the event, Bachmann spoke, delivering a sermon during which she claimed her campaign was a personally-revealed mission from God. The pastor also spoke, endorsing her — appearing to violate those regs.

After the church got in trouble for the endorsement, the Star-Tribune got the following comment from the church, in which it claimed it misunderstood the regs:

Hammond was not available for comment, but another Living Word pastor, the Rev. Tim Burt, said Bachmann was invited to speak about "her spiritual journey" and that Hammond believed he was within IRS guidelines because he said he, not the church, backed her.

"Please don't let this become a political football," Burt said. "There was no intent for this to be a political event."

However, he added that Hammond "now has more insight on these matters, and it won't happen again."

But is that really what Hammond thinks? Here's what Hammond actually said as he delivered the endorsement of Bachmann:

"There are voters' guides available to help you in that process, because it is important — I said important — that we put men and women of God in office in our government. Amen! And I don't want any more letters about, church and politics don't mix. If that’s your opinion, then you need to get saved, because the Bible makes it clear that we are to have an effect on the world in which we live. Amen! Glory to God!"

So the pastor appears to have been consciously flouting regs dictating church/state regs.

Michele Bachmann's response to the Star Tribune: "For someone to talk about their faith is not going to be a negative."

View a video of Hammond's remarks below. He comes in just before the very end.