Hearing on February 16 at 9:00 am at the State House!
Churches Are at Risk in the Legislature!
On Wednesday, February 16 at 9:00 am in Room 431 at the State House, the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee will hear Senate Bill 56.
The State House is located at 200 W Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis.
Please come to the Committee hearing to let the Senators know that you are opposed to the government controlling churches in Indiana!
Senate Bill 56 has been introduced by Senator Travis Holdman in the 2011 General Assembly. Senate Bill 56 would take away the freedom churches presently have to operate a child care ministry without government control.
If the government can control a church child care ministry then other ministries of the church are at risk too, including: day camps, Christian schools, Vacation Bible Schools and Sunday schools!
Current Law in Indiana!
For decades churches in Indiana have been free to start and provide a child care ministry for the families in their community without government control.
Parents have been free to choose a child care ministry for their child that is not controlled by the government.
There is no justification for the General Assembly to pass a law to control church child care ministries or any other ministry offered by a church for children!
The current law has worked well for parents and their children and churches!
Senate Bill 56 Would Harm Churches!
Here are just some of the provisions of Senate Bill 56 that would harm churches:
- State government would be given unprecedented control over church child care ministries!
- SB 56 would give state government the unbridled authority to close a church child care ministry without having to go to court to justify this extreme action against a church!
- All volunteers (Moms and Grandmothers!) who give of their time at the church child care ministry would be forced to get a drug test before they could help out at the church!
- State government would be given massive new authority to regulate the internal operation of the church through the passage of new state rules and regulations under the vague terms of “food, health, safety”! This could result in the government overseeing everything that goes on during the time the children are at the church!
- SB 56 would create the “snack police” by giving the government control over meals and snacks at the church! Would this mean no more cookies from home to celebrate birthdays?
- Pastors, child care ministry staff and volunteers could be charged with a crime, go to jail and pay a fine if they do not follow the new government controls over the church!
If the government can control a church child care ministry then the next step could involve other ministries involving children including: day camps, Christian schools, summer camps, Vacation Bible Schools and Sunday schools!
The Bottom Line! Senate Bill 56 threatens freedom for churches in Indiana! There is no justification for changing the current law that has benefited the families, children and churches of Indiana for decades!
Senate Bill 56 Must Be Stopped!
**Committee Hearing Could Happen Right Away!**
2 Action Steps!
Step #1 – Please call or email your State Senator with the following message: “Please vote NO on Senate Bill 56 to keep churches free from government control!”
Senate Phone Numbers:
1-800-382-9467 -or- 1-317-232-9400
(Click Here) to find out who your State Senator is and to send them an email!
Step #2 – Please call or email State Senator Patricia Miller the Committee Chair where Senate Bill 56 has been assigned with the following message:
“Please keep churches free from government control!
Please do not hear Senate Bill 56 in your committee!”
Senator Miller’s contact information:
Phone: 1-800-382-9467 -or- Email: s32@in.gov
(Click Here) to download an alert on SB 56 so you can distribute it in your church, in your neighborhood, to your friends, etc!
Working Together We Can Keep Churches Free!
Please forward this email to all of your email contacts.
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Telephone Numbers
House of Representatives 800-382-9842 & 317-232-9600
State Senate: 800-382-9467 & 317-232-9400
Governor: 317-232-4567 – Lt. Governor: 317-232-4545
You can find out who your legislators are and get their email address by
going to www.AdvanceAmerica.com or by calling us at (800)448-VOTE (8683).