Texas

The Texas Board of Education is debating whether to modify its American history curriculum to acknowledge the influence that religion had on the country’s founding.

Supporters of amplifying the religious aspects of U.S. history in Texas public schools argue that it is simply telling the truth about how America was founded.

Peter Marshall, an evangelical minister and president of Peter Marshall Ministries, is one of six experts appointed by the Texas Board of Education to review the state’s social studies curriculum. more >>

Despite the gay-affirming actions of The Episcopal Church, a conservative Dallas bishop made it clear to clergy in his diocese that they will not consent to the ordination of a partnered homosexual or allow the blessings of same-sex unions.

The Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton wrote to clergy in the Diocese of Dallas informing them that they will continue to "stand with the larger Church in affirming the primacy of Scripture, the sanctity of marriage and the call to holiness of life."

Episcopal leaders have insisted that their actions last week – which included approving resolutions that open the ordination process to all baptized members, including practicing homosexuals, and calling for the development of liturgical resources for the blessing of same-sex couples – did not repudiate their relationships with the rest of the global Anglican Communion. Stanton, however, says their intent is plain. more >>

The Texas House of Representative and Senate honored global healthcare charity Mercy Ships Thursday for their 30 years of humanitarian service and outstanding contributions to global health.

The Texas-based charity was honored on the floor of both the Texas House of Representatives and Senate when two resolutions were presented after House proceedings. Mercy Ships founder and president Don Stephens and chief executive officer Sam Smith received the award on behalf of the three-decade-old group.

“There is no charitable organization more deserving of recognition than Mercy Ships,” said state Sen. Kevin Eltife. “The care and compassion they provide to those less fortunate is incredible. I hope and pray that God continues to bless their mission and the individuals who carry out that mission.” more >>

A Houston-based non-profit foundation that funded a series of pastors conferences in 2006 ahead of Gov. Rick Perry's re-election did not violate any tax laws and can thus keep its tax-exempt status, the Internal Revenue Service recently ruled.

"This liberal attempt to intimidate pastors has backfired," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel of Liberty Legal Institute which represented organizers of the conferences, in a statement Tuesday. "There is now a clear IRS statement outlining these pastors' events and approving them as valid under the law."

The Texas Freedom Network, which monitors "far-right" issues and groups, had asked the IRS to investigate the Niemoller Foundation and its Texas Restoration Project conferences which drew thousands of pastors and featured Perry as a speaker. more >>

A group of churches in Texas that split from The Episcopal Church (TEC) is asking a civil court to dismiss a lawsuit that was filed against it last month by the U.S.-based church body and a diocese that shares its name.

In a 12-page motion, the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth asked the 141st District Court to take a “judicial notice,” arguing that a civil court lacks jurisdiction because in order to grant the plaintiffs’ requests it would be required to resolve an ecclesiastical dispute.

“If the legal and equitable relief sought from the Court can only be determined by deciding between competing interpretations of purely unambiguous ecclesiastical documents where plaintiffs seek to have the Court interpret ecclesiastical language, does the Court have subject-matter jurisdiction to grant the relief sought?” poses the motion filed Friday on behalf of the group. more >>