The Baptist General Convention of Texas released a statement Tuesday from 21 of its current and past presidents and executive directors condemning Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for pastors to “go to the pulpit” on Sunday, Oct. 15, and push their congregations to support his voucher proposal.  

Two weeks ago, Abbott participated in a Texas Public Policy Foundation-hosted teleconference aimed at members of the clergy from across the state, encouraging them to use their positions and their pulpits to help him pressure legislators to support vouchers in the upcoming special session. He and the few clergymen hand selected to speak on the call pushed those listening to “go to the pulpit, speak from your pulpit to your congregation, and let them know how important this issue is to the fabric of the future of Texas.” 

In the statement, the BGCT called Abbott’s proposal “out of bounds,” stating: “Regardless of one’s view on the legislative proposal, a call from a government authority to intervene in Sunday worship goes beyond what any church body should accept or condone.” The group went on to reaffirm the importance of separation of church and state, as well as ask members to be informed voters while not taking a position on the voucher issue themselves. “We encourage all citizens, including church members, to be informed on the various proposals before the state, and we also encourage all churches to protect their autonomy from interference by the state.”  

The governor sent a letter to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) and Speaker Dade Phelan (R–Beaumont) last week, notifying them the much-anticipated special session on vouchers would begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 9. Abbott has not yet released his proclamation for this special session, nor has he officially stated for certain what items will be on the call, though he has made it clear that vouchers will be one of them. Abbott also told the clergy taking part in the teleconference that if he did not get a voucher in this special session, he intends to call another before finally taking the issue to the voters in the March primary by making it an issue in elections across the state.