Singer Lee Greenwood is teaming up with the superintendent of Oklahoma’s public colleges in a bid to safe the funding crucial to make sure the position of the “God Bless the USA Bible” in school rooms throughout the state as the hassle faces pushback from the courts and lawmakers.
In an announcement Thursday, the Oklahoma Division of Schooling introduced a partnership with the 82-year-old Greenwood, a rustic artist recognized for his signature track “God Bless the united statesA.,” for a “nationwide marketing campaign to donate Bibles to school rooms throughout the state of Oklahoma.”
The company defended the collaborative effort, saying it seeks to convey “foundational texts into the academic system, emphasizing their historic and cultural significance.”
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“The Bible is indispensable in understanding the event of Western civilization and American exceptionalism, historical past, and all comparable topics,” stated Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. “The continuing makes an attempt to take away it from our school rooms is an assault on the muse of our nation.”
The division recognized the fundraiser as crucial in mild of “vital opposition from the Legislature,” which has “stripped all funding away from getting Bibles into the classroom.”
Moreover, a choice issued Monday by the Oklahoma Supreme Courtroom Chief Justice Dustin Rowe blocked the Schooling Division’s measure that might have bought 55,000 Bibles for public colleges throughout the state.
The fundraiser’s official web site says it seeks to supply copies of the Greenwood-endorsed “God Bless The USA Bible” to “as many faculties as inside the State of Oklahoma Division of Schooling as attainable.”
“The God Bless The USA Bible makes a robust visible connection of the [King James Version] translation (purple letter version) together with our nation’s Founding Father Paperwork — The US Structure, The Invoice of Rights, The Declaration of Independence, and The Pledge of Allegiance — offering a profound seen educating asset for all.”
Particular person Bibles can be found for buy and donation to the Oklahoma Division of Schooling on the worth of $59.99.
The “God Bless the USA Bible” made headlines throughout Holy Week final March when then-presidential candidate Donald Trump introduced the endeavor as a partnership between himself and Greenwood, whose signature track is a staple at Trump’s rallies.
Trump stated that “faith and Christianity are the largest issues lacking from this nation.”
“I believe it is one of many greatest issues we now have,” Trump added. “That is why our nation goes haywire. We have misplaced faith in our nation.”
Trump’s promotion of the “God Bless the USA Bible” drew combined reactions from Christian leaders. Some assume it might encourage folks to learn the Bible, whereas others view the fusing of Scripture with America’s founding paperwork to be a “syncretistic expression of civil faith.”
Greenwood endorsed the hassle to inventory Oklahoma school rooms with Bibles on X final week, describing the Bible as “essentially the most influential doc in American historical past” and inspiring his followers to “be part of the struggle.”
Walters first introduced his directive ordering the position of a Bible in each classroom within the state final yr. In an interview with The Christian Publish, Walters pushed again on the concept that the directive was unconstitutional.
“To not have the Bible prominently a part of a historic curriculum, of this historic context in American historical past, is unacceptable,” he stated. “We wish our children to know extra about American historical past than another child, and that features understanding the function that the Bible performs in our historical past.”
The division described the push to place Bibles within the state’s school rooms as a part of “a dedication to offering college students with entry to supplies that supply profound spiritual context.”
“The inclusion of the Bible in school rooms is considered not solely as a spiritual textual content however as a pivotal doc that has formed societal values, authorized techniques, and cultural norms,” the company claims.
The workplace of Oklahoma Legal professional Normal Gentner Drummond stated final yr that Walters would not have authorized authority to dictate the content material of curriculum that’s taught in native public colleges.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Publish. He may be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
