4-21 Update:  We will be gathering tomorrow with Pastors and supporters of the bill at 1:00 PM on the North Steps of the Capitol to give updated information and then will move over to the Reagan Building before the hearing begins (the hearing will be in Room 140 of the John H. Reagan Building). You can also feel free to stop by our office at 900 Congress Ave, Suite 220 (2 blocks south of the Capitol) if you are in Austin earlier.

Please note that the hearing itself will begin AFTER the House session adjourns, which could be between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.  You will need to plan on being there all day.  It is a sacrifice and inconvenient – but if we aren’t willing to take a stand for our religious freedom, no one else will.

Original post:

On Wednesday, April 22, the House State Affairs will have a public hearing on important legislation, HB 3567, that protects Texas pastors, churches and religious organizations on the issue of marriage. We need a strong showing in support of religious freedom at the hearing. The hearing will be at 10:30 AM or upon final adjournment in the House State Affairs committee in Room 140 of the John H. Reagan building on the north side of the Capitol on the capitol grounds.

The Pastor Protection Bill, authored by State Rep. Scott Sanford (R-McKinney and a pastor himself), makes it clear in state law that the First Amendment rights of clergy, pastors and churches in Texas apply to the issue of marriage. The bill ensures that the government may not force a pastor, a clergy member or church to perform a marriage or related ceremony that would violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.

Pastors and churches should not have to live in fear that the government will force them to perform marriages that violate their religious beliefs. With the Supreme Court set to take up marriage later this year, many faith leaders are now concerned about the threat of continuing government intrusion and infringement on these issues. HB 3567 makes it clear that Texas should remain a place where government respects the rights of pastors and churches to hold the Biblical view of marriage.

Please help support this important bill by taking the following action steps:

• CLICK HERE to contact your state representative and ask for their support of HB 3567.
• If you are able to attend the hearing, please be sure to sign-in in favor of the bill and stay in the room to help support us. *If you are a pastor or church leader and have experience on this issue and/or would like to testify, please contact us before the hearing at 512-478-2220 or info@txvalues.org*
• Please call and email the committee members below and ask them to support HB 3567.

House State Affairs Committee:

Chairman Byron Cook, Byron.Cook@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0730
Rep. Helen Giddings, Helen.Giddings@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0953
Rep. Tom Craddick, Tom.Craddick@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0500
Rep. Marsha Farney, Marsha.Farney@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0309
Rep. Jessica Farrar, Jessica.Farrar@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0620
Rep. Charlie Geren, Charlie.Geren@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0610
Rep. Patricia Harless, Patricia.Harless@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0496
Rep. Dan Huberty, Dan.Huberty@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0520
Rep. John Kuempel, John.Kuempel@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0602
Rep. René Oliveira, Rene.Oliveira@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0640
Rep. John T. Smithee, John.Smithee@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0702
Rep. Sylvester Turner, Sylvester.Turner@house.state.tx.us, (512) 463-0554