Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said too few people are paying attention to legislative and moral issues.
“People of faith must allow their faith to guide them in the ballot box,” he said.
Marshall was keynote speaker at the “Citizens in Action” training event held at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills on Jan. 25. The training was sponsored by Alabama Citizens Action Program and hosted by Greg Davis, president and CEO of ALCAP.
Marshall, who became the 48th state attorney general in 2017 after serving as district attorney in Marshall County, said his purpose for the day was to “encourage and challenge” church leaders.
The gambling issue, expected to be brought up in the legislative session which opens tomorrow (Feb. 6), is “dark,” Marshall said. It will require church members to talk to their legislators, and legislators to make “virtuous decisions.”
“If one claims faith, then they must make decisions based on biblical principles,” he said. “When the faith community wins and leads and perseveres, it’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
Other state government leaders echoed Marshall’s call for vigilance.
‘We need to hear from you’
Sen. Dan Roberts said “nothing good comes from gambling,” and he expects to continue addressing the social ill during the legislative session.
Roberts, also chaplain of the Alabama Senate, encouraged attendees to “pray, have courage and seek God’s favor.”
Rep. Leigh Hulsey said legislators often hear from special interests and rarely from “the other side.”
“We need to hear from you and know that you have our backs,” she said.
Hulsey is sponsoring a bill providing the same child protection against pastors and priests credibly accused of abuse in houses of worship as mandated in the case of teachers and administrators in public and private schools in the state.
“‘Consent’ is set aside as a defense in my bill,” she said, explaining that the bill shields children under 19 and “protected persons” with disability under age 22.
Rep. Susan DuBose told about her efforts to “chip away” at the medical marijuana industry — including pregnancy tests for female users — and her efforts to reform sex education in public schools.
“Sex education isn’t required in Alabama schools and parents can opt out,” she explained.
‘Speak about biblical values’
Gary Hollingsworth, a former Alabama Baptist pastor and recently retired executive director-treasurer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, agreed that elected officials need to hear from their constituents. He told stories of interactions with several nationally known leaders and his conviction that ministers shouldn’t back away from biblical truth. Political leaders do not want them to, he said.
“Our officials expect us to be prophets but not political,” he said. “They expect us to speak about biblical values.”
What to do next
Davis said church members should know, contact and pray for all elected officials. ALCAP’s website (alcap.com) has a “Find Your Legislator” tool. Davis also hosts “Priority Talk” on radio station WXJC (FM 101.1) from 5 to 7 p.m. weekdays. The radio show is available as a podcast at wxjcradio.com.
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