Gov. Greg Abbott publicly confirmed he plans to call a special session on school vouchers in October, and he called on ministers to voice support for “school choice” from the pulpit during the session.
A Sept.19 press release from the governor’s office announced Abbott’s call for churches to participate in “School Choice Sunday” on Oct. 15, which he first issued in a “town hall”-style teleconference with clergy.
“I believe that every parent can do a better job of raising their children if they are given the power to choose the school that is best for their child. If they are given that power, that child will go down a pathway to better educational success, personal success, and relationship success,” Abbott stated.
“Collectively, we can make Texas even better when we all go to work to make sure we get across the finish line this urgent need to provide parents the ability to choose the school that’s best for their child.”
The news release quotes Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, as lending support.
“I am a product of the Texas public school system, but it’s time for a choice,” Jeffress stated. “We are going to do everything we can at First Baptist Dallas to support Governor Abbott and his courageous call for school choice.”
‘Commandeer the church for political ends’
John Litzler, public policy director for Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission, noted messengers to the 2022 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved a resolution affirming the historic Baptist commitments to religious liberty and the separation of church and state.
The resolution states Texas Baptists “will not seek to use government to coerce the worship of Christ” and “will not support any attempt by government to commandeer the church for political ends or any attempt by government to favor one religion over another.”
“Texas Baptists have a strong history of resisting attempts by the government to co-opt religion for political purposes,” Litzler said. “The Christian Life Commission encourages all Texas Baptist churches to continue to focus on the gospel and worship of Christ alone any and every Sunday morning.”
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Pastors for Texas Children criticized both the governor’s call for a special session and his call for “pastors to use God’s pulpit to push his private school voucher program.”
“The people of Texas know an eternal truth that seems to escape Gov. Abbott, that all genuine faith is voluntary and cannot properly be endorsed or supported by the authority of the state,” said Charles Foster Johnson, executive director of Pastors for Texas Children. “The use of public tax dollars to subsidize religious instruction is a sin against God.”
Pastors for Texas Children noted it is “very intentional in its message to keep politics out of our pulpits,” and individual ministers participate in the organization “outside formal times of religious gatherings.”
In the Texas House of Representatives, a coalition of rural Republicans and urban Democrats consistently has rejected any form of school vouchers. Abbott indicated if the House refuses to pass a bill to use public funds to provide tuition assistance for private schools, he will continue calling special sessions until they capitulate.
“This crass bullying is particularly odious,” Johnson said. “The truth of the matter is that the House of Representatives of the state of Texas opposes private school vouchers, as they have for over two decades. That will not change, no matter how many special legislative sessions the governor calls.”
Litzler urged the governor and lawmakers to focus on fully funding public education in Texas.
“Ensuring adequate and equitable funding for public education in Texas remains a public policy priority for the Christian Life Commission. We were disappointed that, despite a historic surplus in funds, legislation to increase student funding and raise the pay of educators did not pass during the regular session,” he said.
“We are advocating that Gov. Abbott’s call for a third special session of the Texas legislature be broad enough to allow legislators another opportunity to increase public school funding. The scope of the special session should not be limited to bills which would divert public funds to private institutions.
“All Texas children are constitutionally entitled to a fully-funded public education system. A properly funded public education system ensures that even the most vulnerable children in Texas have as much opportunity for a bright future as their peers.”
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