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Faith Leaders Oppose Government-Sponsored Religion in Public School Classrooms [1]

['Lauren Lamb']

Date: 2025-03-31 18:06:17+00:00

March 31, 2025

Dear Members of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee:

We are faith leaders from across Arkansas who value religious freedom for all. We urge you to vote against SB433, which would require the display of a government-selected version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom of all elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools and in every other public building or facility maintained with taxpayer funds. SB433 is a misguided effort that undermines the faith and freedom we cherish.

The U.S. and Arkansas Constitutions guarantee our right, and the right of all Arkansans, to religious freedom. “No human authority can, in any case or manner whatsoever, control or interfere with the right of conscience; and no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment, denomination or mode of worship, above any other,” the Arkansas Constitution reads.

A government mandate that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all government buildings demeans religious freedom. The government oversteps its authority when it dictates an official state-approved version of any religious text. The government must respect the rights of individuals and faith communities to make decisions about the sacred texts that inform our religious understandings and practices.

SB433 forces the government to take sides in important religious debates. The legislation requires the use of a specific translation of the Ten Commandments — down to individual word choices — that is not remotely universal or inclusive of all faith traditions, even among those of us who incorporate or hold sacred the Ten Commandments.

Different faith traditions understand and interpret the Ten Commandments differently. In attempting to reconcile and cobble together these varying interpretations, the text of the display mandated by SB433 manages to produce a hodgepodge of scripture that includes twelve, not ten, commandments and fails to reflect the beliefs of many Christian and Jewish communities.

Indeed, the state-dictated version of the Ten Commandments set forth in SB433 does not exist in any translation of the Bible. It is simply not possible to create a version of the Ten Commandments that honors every faith tradition’s interpretation, and legislators’ attempt to do so is deeply offensive to those of us who do observe the Ten Commandments.

We are particularly concerned about the mandate to post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The responsibility for religious education belongs to families, houses of worship and other religious institutions — not the government. Our faith communities exist to help individuals and families live according to their beliefs. We do not need or want government officials interfering with and usurping this sacred role.

SB433 puts every public school teacher in the unenviable position of explaining to Christian and Jewish students why the scripture displayed in their school does not match the translation that a family has chosen to use in their home. Our public school teachers already carry a great load; they cannot be expected to add explaining millennia of biblical nuance to their already full plates.

We do not need to — and indeed should not — turn public schools into Sunday schools. We remain steadfast and united in affirming the values of religious freedom that are foundational to our democracy and will continue to push back against attempts to impose a singular religious viewpoint into our public institutions.

Finally, we recognize that the Ten Commandments hold no religious meaning for thousands of Arkansans. The Ten Commandments are held in a different light for Arkansans who are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Unitarian Universalist or who practice other religions or no religion at all.

We therefore strongly urge you to advocate for and protect religious freedom by leaving biblical instruction where it belongs — with our families, churches and religious institutions!

Sincerely,

The Rev. Kate Alexander

Rector

Episcopal

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Michelle Amos

Pastor

United Methodist

Arkadelphia, AR

Kale Anderson

Deacon

Baptist

Little Rock, AR

Rev. E. Paul Atkins

Pastor

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Dr. Andrew Black

Executive Director, Lake Nixon/

Second Baptist Church, Downtown Little Rock

Baptist (CBF)

Little Rock, AR

Rabbi Barry Block

Rabbi

Reform Judaism

Little Rock, AR

Linda Brewster

Bible class teacher

Christian

Sherwood, AR

Rev. Jacqui Buschor

Pastor

Christian (Lutheran)

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Suzanne Cain

Associate Pastor of Worship Arts

Baptist

Little Rock, AR

Preston Clegg

Pastor

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Little Rock, AR

The Reverend Peggy Cromwell

Vicar

Episcopalian

Maumelle, AR

Rev. Dr. Chris Ellis

Associate Pastor

Baptist

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Dr. Hammett N. Evans

Clergy

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Gayle Fiser

Board member PVUMC

United Methodist Church

Little Rock, AR

David Freeman

Clergy

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Samuel Granade

Deacon

Southern Baptist

Arkadelphia, AR

Judy Harrison

Professor Emeritus, Teachers College, Henderson State Unuversity

Baptist

Arkadelphia, AR

Minister Shannon Henderson

Minister

Pentecostal

Shannon Hills, AR

The Rev. Elizabeth Henry-McKeever

Rector

Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Elizabeth Anne Holcomb

Former UM pastor; Current ULC pastor; Admin QQUMC

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Harold Hughes

Certified Lay Speaker

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Dr. Randy Hyde

Transitional Pastor, Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines

Baptist and Presbyterian

Hot Springs Village, AR

Rev. Lynn Kilbourne

Ordained Elder

United Methodist

Conway, AR

Reverend Steven Kurtz

Retired pastor, Central Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Church, USA

Fort Smith, AR

Rev. Marie Mainard O’Connell

Founder of QC

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Little Rock, AR

Dr. Deborah McAfee

College Professor

Southern Baptist

Maumelle, AR

Rev. Kathleen McMurray

Ordained Elder

United Methodist Church

Little Rock, AR

Reverend R. Shane McNary

Coordinator

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Cynthia Dianne McNary

Director of Mission Service Development

Baptist

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Claire Newbill

Pastor

United Methodist

Sherwood, AR

Rev. Kevin Pranoto

Associate Pastor of Social Work

Baptist

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Corey Read

Pastor

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Greg Schick

Pastor

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Betsy Singleton Snyder

Clergy

United Methodist

Little Rock, AR

Carrie Spradlin

Lay Leader

Anglican

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Brittany Stillwell

Pastor at Second Baptist Church – Downtown Little Rock

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Little Rock, AR

Garry Teeter

Ordained Deacon UNC

United Methodist

Benton, AR

Bishop Chester Thompson

Pastor/Presiding Bishop

Baptist

Camden, AR

The Reverend Barkley Thompson

Rector

The Episcopal Church

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Mary Vano

Rector

Episcopal

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Lindy Vogado

Pastor

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Little Rock, AR

Rev. Elijah Walker

Minister of the Gospel

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Pocahontas, AR

cc: Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives

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