U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) has introduced a resolution in the Senate to designate October 5-11, 2025, as “Religious Education Week.” The purpose of this resolution is to highlight the role of religious instruction in the United States and to acknowledge schools, churches, and organizations that provide religious education to students.
“South Carolina’s children are our greatest resource and future leaders,” said Graham. “I am proud to introduce this resolution to emphasize the importance of continued religious education and the organizations who provide it.”
The measure has received support from several senators including Jim Banks (R-Indiana), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Ashley Moody (R-Florida), James Risch (R-Idaho), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Todd Young (R-Indiana).
Several organizations have also expressed their backing for the resolution. These include Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, Agudath Israel of America, Coalition for Jewish Values, Foundation for American Christian Education, School Time Bible Ministries, Association of Christian Schools International and Catholic Education Partners Inc.
Grayson Hartgrove, Director of School Time Bible Ministries in Columbia, SC, commented on the Senate’s efforts: “We support and applaud the US Senate effort to pass a US Senate Resolution on Religious Education Week. Parents of public-school students want the option of providing faith-based programming during the public-school day. The legal practice, known as Released Time for Religious Education was started in 1914 by a school superintendent. He knew the importance of parents having options in directing the upbringing of their children. Currently over 13,000 public school students with parental permission in South Carolina leave campus every week for a faith-based class off campus at a church or non-school building. The number of students participating continues to grow as more parents learn of this option.”
Rabbi Lerner, President Emeritus of the Coalition for Jewish Values, added: “Judaism places the education of our children at the center of religious practice. We are happy to endorse this resolution, which underscores the intrinsic connection between religious education and the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the Constitution, and celebrates religious schooling as a method of civic and moral development.”
