Revised 2-2000

SPEAK UP FOR THE CHILDREN!

(Call now so they can learn about Jesus, study the Bible, and pray with their friends during elective parts of the school day)

With a few phone calls, you can support

Released Time Christian Education.

(SENATE BILL 973 and HOUSE BILL 1209)

In Released Time, public school students have the legal opportunity to pray, learn moral values taught from the Bible, and be taught the message of salvation through Jesus Christ during elective parts of the school day.

Released time Biblical education during the school day offers youth the moral foundations they need to combat the pressures of drugs, stealing, cheating, lying,

gangs and violence, premarital sex, and suicide, and uses the positive peer pressure of learning with those they value most-- their friends at school.

DIRECTIONS: PLEASE MAKE COPIES AND DISTRIBUTE.

Call toll free: 1-800-449-8366, then use the last five digits of the phone number as the extension.

For the addresses provided below, all are in Nashville, TN 37243. For e-mail, it follows the form

sen.firstname.lastname@legislature.state.tn.us such as sen.andy.womack@legislature.state.tn.us

or for representatives it would be rep.leslie.winningham@legislature.state.tn.us for example.

WHAT TO SAY?

Ask Legislators to support Released Time (RT) bills HB 1209 and SB 973, giving Christian parents a Biblical alternative to the secular character and values courses taught to children in public schools. The bill failed in committee last year during the exact moment the Columbine shootings began, while some Tennessee legislators were saying there was no need for prayer and the Bible during the school day. Tell them the bill is being amended this year to take out all reference to school boards and set up requirements for RT providers to answer any questions and concerns about implementing these wonderful programs. Remind legislators, Released Time is already legal all over the United States, but many School Boards deny this religious liberty because of their confusion over the legal details. We are asking legislators to put Released Time law on the books just as 21 states have already done.

HOUSE EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE

(bill must pass this committee before it can go to full committee or before floor. These people are critical to passage.)

Rep. Leslie Winningham, Chairman (D-Huntsville), 36 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-6852

Rep. Ronnie Davis, Vice-Chair (R-Newport), 215 War Memorial, (615) 741-6934

Rep. Mark Maddox (D-Dresden), 26 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-7847

Rep. Ulysses Jones, Jr. (D-Memphis), 35 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4575

Rep. Joe McCord (R-Maryville), 207 War Memorial, (615) 741-5481

Rep. Kim McMillan (D-Clarksville), 32 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741- 2043

Rep. Richard Montgomery (R-Seymour), 207 War Memorial, (615) 741-5981

Rep. Arnold Stulce (D-Soddy Daisy), 108 War Memorial, (615) 741-4381

Rep. Joe Towns, Jr. (D-Memphis), 36 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-2189

Rep. Larry Turner (D-Memphis), 37 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-6954

Rep. Zane Whitson, Jr. (R-Erwin), 204 War Memorial, (615) 741-6800

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Sen. Andy Womack, Chairman (D-Murfreesboro), 9A Legislative Plaza, (615) -741-1066

Sen. Rusty Crowe, Vice-Chair (R-Johnson City), 321 War Memorial, (615) 741-2468

Sen. Charlotte Burks, Secretary (D-Monterey), 9 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-3978

Sen. Ben Atchley (R-Knoxville), 303 War Memorial, (615) 741-3791

Sen. Bobby Carter (R-Jackson), 320 War Memorial, (615) 741-2676

Sen. Roscoe Dixon (D-Memphis), 8A Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4148

Sen. Gene Elsea (R-Spring City), 318 War Memorial, (615) 741-2525

Sen. Jo Ann Graves (D-Gallatin), 6 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-1654

Sen. Kenneth Springer (D-Centerville), 2 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4987

HOUSE EDUCATION FULL COMMITTEE

(also includes the House Education Sub-Committee which votes before the full committee does)

Rep. Eugene Davidson, Chairman (D-Adams), 36 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-3979

Rep. Dewayne Bunch (R-Cleveland), 107 War Memorial, (615) 741-3730

Rep. Gene Caldwell (D-Clinton), 202A War Memorial, (615) 741-4400 caldwell@tennesseeweb.com (is a different e-mail format).

Rep. Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis), 202 War Memorial, (615) 741-4295

Rep. Jamie Hagood (R-Knoxville), 107 War Memorial, (615) 741-1648

Rep. Beth Harwell (R-Nashville), 107 War Memorial, (615) 741-0709

Rep. John Hood (D-Murfreesboro), 110 War Memorial, (615) 741-7849

Rep. Douglas Jackson (D-Dickson), 32 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4499

Rep. Michael McDonald (D-Portland), 17 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-1980

Rep. Bob Patton (R-Johnson City), 209 War Memorial, (615) 741-2511

Rep. Phillip Pinion (D-Union City), 109 War Memorial, (615) 741-0718

Rep. W.C. Pleasant (R-Arlington), 106 War Memorial, (615) 741-7084

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL CONTACTS

House Speaker, Rep. Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington), 19 Legislative Plaza, (615)741-3774 speaker.jimmy.naifeh@legislature.state.tn.us is a different e-mail format.

Rep. Lois DeBerry (D-Memphis), 15 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-3830 (Speaker Pro-Tem)

Rep. Jere Hargrove (D-Cookeville), 18 A Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-1875 (Majority Leader)

Lt. Gov. John Wilder (D-Somerville), Suite 1 Legislative Plaza, (615)741-2368

Sen. Robert Rochelle (D-Lebanon), 4 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-4109 (Speaker Pro-Tem)

Sen. Ward Crutchfield (D-Chattanooga), 13 Legislative Plaza, (615) 741-6682 (Majority Leader)

Gov. Don Sundquist, (R-Memphis), State Capitol, (615) 741-2001 (www.state.tn.us/governor)

NOTE: Phone calls on legislation DOES NOT affect non-profit status. If Christians do not call, who will? For questions, call Dave Johnson of Children’s Bible Ministries 423-544-0047 or Ann Bennett (423) 288-3785, Chair of the Christian Life Department of the Sullivan Baptist Association in Kingsport, TN. Our community had Released Time with 11 churches participating across denominational lines. It was stopped by the School Board due to legal confusion. We need YOUR help. Religious liberty for public school students is at stake!

If you have additional questions, see our web site, www.isbc.org/rt