Days after Governor Abbott signed a controversial bill meant to protect churches, religious leaders in the Hub City are sounding off with mixed reactions.
Senate Bill 24 is known as the ‘Sermon Safeguard Bill.’ Southcrest Baptist Pastor David Wilson views it as a positive measure.
“I hope that it will encourage preachers to not be afraid to preach, but to say what their convictions are without fear of somebody coming at them or coming after them,” Wilson said.
The pastor has high hopes for the law. Wilson said it will protect previously-established first amendment rights.
“It says government shall not impose on the churches or religion, and so it’s just another step to safeguard that,” Wilson said, “You run into the danger of the government telling you what you can and cannot say from your pulpit.”
The bill was born after the sermons of five Houston pastors were subpoenaed in 2014, when they opposed the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance.
The new law protects religious sermons from just that. But board members at First Unitarian Church say they fear politics at the pulpit.
“This is putting church ministers above the law and allowing them to have special privilege, and not pay taxes, but yet advocate in politics. And that’s not fair to the taxpayer,” First Unitarian Board Member Harvey Madison said.
In a statement, Lubbock’s Democratic Party said the law overlooks separation of church and state. But Wilson said it comes down to freedom of religious speech.
“The freedom to preach your convictions, and preach what God puts on your heart to preach without fear, that’s the positive I see in it.”