Pastors for Texas Children is using the pulpit to push the same progressive agenda used by radical teachers’ unions on Texas children. The group is masquerading as a religiously affiliated non-profit “ministry” that instead, advocates for Anti-American woke ideology, not educational opportunity.
Most notably, the Leftist astroturfing group Pastors for Texas Children:
CLAIMS to be a non-partisan ministry BUT is funded almost exclusively by educational special interests and Washington, D.C. lobbying groups like the National Education Association, a political teachers union that spent $48 million during the 2020 Election cycle — 94% of which went to Democrats.
- Known major donations to the group, which according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has an annual budget of around $300,000, include the Meadows Foundation of Dallas, $60,000; Fort Worth school architect Christopher Huckabee, $50,000; former Eanes school board President Beau Ross of Austin, who recently passed away, and his wife, Kathryn, $40,000; Charles Butt’s policy group Raise Your Hand Texas, $35,000; and the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation of San Antonio, $20,000. In 2021, Meadows awarded the group $70,000 to connect 100 Dallas churches to 20 of the Dallas school district’s highest-needs campuses. (The Dallas Morning News)
- In October 2020, Pastors for Texas Children hosted a fundraiser, listing its educational-aligned special interests, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) (and Texas AFT), Texas Association of School Boards, Raise Your Hand Texas, Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, National Education Association (Texas State Teachers Association), and more.
LIES about its status as a ministry. The government reserves this right for organizations that provide community support and outreach while also conducting religious services, not political work for a group of powerful teachers’ unions.
- Little information is found on the Pastors for Texas Children website or blog to indicate the organization is connecting schools with local churches.
- “The incredible education organizations and unions who make up a courageous collation on behalf of our children, and who are such mentors to us in our work … Simply put, Texas is fortunate to have this ironclad coalition holding the line against the privatization of our public schools. If we had to identify one single factor explaining our success in Texas, it would be this. Other states must construct similar coalitions in order to advance the cause of public education throughout the nation.” (Pastors for Texas Children Letter)
- Among its many connections to union groups, Pastors for Texas Children’s co-director, Dr. Charles Luke, serves in dual leadership positions for pro teachers’ union groups and educational special interests, having served as a teacher, principal, superintendent, coordinator for the Coalition for Public Schools, and a director for the Coalition for Education Funding.
- Pastors for Texas Children’s senior consultant is a former Texas AFT President (Malfaro LinkedIn Profile; and Pastors for Texas Children press release).
Is USING the pulpit to push their progressive agenda of secret curriculums, less school choice, politically dark theories, and even a continuation of ridged coronavirus mask mandates for our children.
- Charles Johnson, Pastors for Texas Children executive director, claims vouchers are a “sin before God”
- Johnson rallies school employees and other supporters to influence Republican elections and support candidates that oppose school choice bills (Dallas Morning News)
- Of its long history of engaging in politics, Pastors for Texas Children paid for radio ads against GOP candidates
- Threatens to recruit GOP challengers to Republicans who support school choice
- “Powerful teachers union influenced CDC on school reopening’s, emails show” (The New York Post)
- “Teachers union spends more on Dem causes than its own members, analysis finds” (Fox News)
- “Texas Teachers Unions Spend Big in Republican Primaries for State Legislature” (Daily Caller)