One Voice for Public Policy - The Continuing Assault on the Constitution and Parental Rights in Education

** Note: The public policy efforts of the MN South District are, and always have been, strictly issue based. Namely, we speak to issues surrounding four general topics: 1) the beginning and end of life issues, 2) matters of marriage and sexuality, 3) religious liberty issues, and 4) parental choice in education. Our commitment has always been to speak only to those issues that Scripture and the Church have officially spoken to and which lead to clear, unambiguous policy preferences. Therefore, please be assured that our speaking critically of any particular parties or political actors flows from our commitment to speak honestly and clearly to the issues of the day not from a prior commitment in favor of or in opposition to any political entity.       

The Walz Administration has recently taken two actions which appear to show a disregard both for our State and Federal Constitution as well as the right and duty of parents to direct the education of their children. This is concerning to us.

The first involves Governor Walz’ proposed State Budget for the coming biennium. In it, the Governor proposes the complete elimination of all state aid to all children not attending government schools. This involves removing monies for nursing, counseling and testing services, as well as, for textbooks and student transportation. All totaled, this amounts to about 50 million dollars which, in the future, will have to be paid out-of-pocket by parents choosing other educational settings, many of which are religiously grounded. This despite the fact that for over 50 years the State of Minnesota has pledged to ensure equal access to fundamental educational resources for all of Minnesota’s children regardless of what type of school they attend, be it public, private or religious. We see this action on the part of the Governor as an affront to the right of students to attend religiously based schools of their parents’ choosing.

The second involves a recent action of the Governor-appointed Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). In that action, PELSB appears to be reinforcing the State of Minnesota’s commitment to advancing Critical Race Theory (CRT) by instituting a new Ethnic Studies teaching license. This proposal stems from a highly controversial and highly partisan action of the 2023 Minnesota Legislature mandating that all Minnesota public high schools offer a free-standing Ethnic Studies course which incorporates the elements of CRT as well as mandating that these same CRT elements henceforth be infused into all academic courses at all grade levels within all public schools.

This is concerning to the Church since CRT advances specific religious viewpoints which stand in contradiction to Scripture and the Christian faith. It is also concerning to society-at-large since CRT has proven to be a profoundly divisive influence both within individual classrooms and within society generally. And finally, CRT has been found to be blatantly unconstitutional since it openly advocates for discriminatory policies based on race, sex and other immutable attributes. Its promotion is, therefore, unlawful as it stands in direct violation of Federal statutes and other government policies which now explicitly ban any program which incorporates CRT within any agency which receives federal funding.

Thankfully, there are efforts being made to resist these misguided State actions. First, with regard to the Governor’s discriminatory budget proposal, people are being urged to contact the Governor and their State legislators to voice their disapproval. Should you be inclined to express yourself on this matter, or simply get more information, please click here.

Secondly, with respect to the effort to continue advocating for the incorporation of Ethnic Studies/ CRT in our schools, a bill has been introduced in the Minnesota House, HF29, that would repeal the original 2023 Ethnic Studies mandate and effectively terminate the recent PELSB licensing proposal. To express your support for this bill to your legislator, please click here.

These actions by Governor Walz and the DFL Party continue to be a cause of great concern as they promote policies that are 1) harmful to the education of our children, 2) dismissive of the rights of parents and, 3) in some instances, are simply unlawful. As Christian citizens we have both the right and the duty to use our voice and our vote to advocate for the welfare of our neighbor. Indeed, motivated by our love for our neighbor, we pray God would give us the courage to act in their defense.

Rev. Scot Missling
Public Policy Advocate, MN South District
Pastor, Bethlehem Lutheran Church
pastorstpaullcms@gmail.com
651-776-4737

Rev. Fredric Hinz
Public Policy Advocate, Minnesota Districts, LCMS
fred.hinz@mnsdistrict.org
507-317-9634