70 Tennessee Faith Leaders Urge Lawmakers to Reject Bills Putting Ten Commandments in Public Schools

CONTACT: Ben DePasquale, West End Strategy Team, [email protected], 717-779-4660

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 70 faith leaders across Tennessee are calling on lawmakers to vote against SB 303, HB 47, and similar bills that would encourage public schools to display the Ten Commandments. In a joint letter released today, clergy and faith leaders emphasized that the legislation threatens the religious freedom of all Tennesseans by inserting government into the role of religious authority.

The letter was jointly organized by Interfaith Alliance,  BJC, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and National Council of Jewish Women. 

“True religious freedom means every family – and not their government – has the right to decide for themselves how and whether sacred texts shape their lives,” said Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, vice president of programs and strategy at Interfaith Alliance. “When the government explicitly promotes one version of a religious text, it undermines the deeply personal and diverse ways that Tennesseans practice their faiths.”

"Holy Scripture is not a set of general civic guidelines. When the state attempts to use the Ten Commandments to seek conformity in the classroom, it doesn't just violate the Constitution, it cheapens faith itself," said Holly Hollman, Chief Legal Officer at BJC. "This bill, and other bills like it, seeks to impose a religious viewpoint on behalf of the state, effectively violating the religious freedom of all students.” 

“Our public schools need leadership from our elected officials to address educational concerns like improving literacy rates and preparing students for college and career,” said Jennifer Hawks, director of advocacy for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and a graduate of Tennessee public schools. “With far more churches in Tennessee than public schools, the state legislature would be wise to leave religious instruction to families and faith communities instead of waging a religious freedom battle that diminishes a parent’s right to direct their child’s religious upbringing.”

“Public schools should educate students, not promote religious doctrine,” said Darcy Hirsh, vice president of government relations and advocacy at National Council of Jewish Women. “As a Jewish organization, we know religious freedom depends on our lawmakers staying out of matters of faith. Mandating displays of the Ten Commandments doesn’t strengthen religion — it weakens the constitutional protections that safeguard religious freedom for everyone.”

The open letter, signed by leaders representing diverse faiths, highlights that no single version of the Ten Commandments is universal. Different traditions translate and interpret the text in varying ways, meaning a state-mandated display would inevitably favor one interpretation over others.

Faith leaders argue that public schools should be spaces of inclusion and learning, not religious instruction. The letter highlights that responsibility for religious education lies with families, houses of worship, and other faith institutions, not the government.

The Tennessee legislative proposals follow on similar efforts in other states, which have faced widespread opposition from religious and civil rights groups concerned about preserving the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of and from religion.

Faith leaders concluded their letter with a call to Tennessee legislators, “We 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.”

###

About Interfaith Alliance

‍Interfaith Alliance and Interfaith Alliance Foundation are a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information, visit interfaithalliance.org.

About BJC

BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty) is a 90-year-old religiously based organization working to defend faith freedom for all and protect the institutional separation of church and state in the historic Baptist tradition. BJC is the home of the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign.

About Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Led by the love of Christ, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship invites churches and individuals to partner in transforming God’s world, working together as a global community to spread good news, justice and hope through impactful ministries, missions and resources.

About National Council of Jewish Women

NCJW is a 133-year-old Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 250,000 grassroots advocates and 46 local sections, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to effect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. We approach our work through the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice to center those most impacted in a uniquely Jewish way. Learn more at NCJW.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.