Join the Conversation

If you are a community member, an educator, or a parent concerned about the future of our schools, we invite you to learn about recent proposals to include Bible-related content in Texas K-5 curriculum. We’ll explore the implications for school diversity, fairness, and respect for religious freedom.

Why Attend?

• Gain Expert Insights: Understand the realities of Christian nationalism in education.
• Discover Legal Implications: Get informed about the legal landscape surrounding religious influence in schools.
• Take Action: Find out how to advocate effectively for a more inclusive educational environment.

Amanda Tyler is executive director of BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), leading the organization as it upholds the historic Baptist principle of religious liberty: defending the free exercise of religion and protecting against its establishment by government. The author of How to End Christian Nationalism (October 2024), Tyler is also the co-host BJC’s Respecting Religion podcast. Tyler’s constitutional law analysis and advocacy for faith freedom for all have been featured by major news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CBS News, ABC News, CNN, and MSNBC, and she has testified before Congress on religious liberty and Christian nationalism. A graduate of Georgetown University and The University of Texas School of Law, she lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

David R. Brockman, Ph.D., a religious studies scholar and Christian theologian, serves as Nonresident Scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. He also teaches religious studies courses at Texas Christian University. He is a frequent contributor to the Texas Observer, Religion Dispatches, Preachy, and other publications. For the Baker Institute, Brockman has written several scholarly analyses on Christian nationalism and church-state issues, including: Religious Imbalance in the Texas Social Studies Curriculum: Analysis and Recommendations, a study of religion coverage in the Texas social studies curriculum (2016); Christian Americanism and Texas Politics Since 2008 (2020); and The Texas Legislature’s Assault on Church-State Separation in Schools (2024). Brockman and his spouse live in Fort Wort

Dr. Charles Luke has over 30 years in business development, faith-based non-profit and education-related work.  A former Texas public school superintendent, Dr. Luke is a strong advocate for education throughout the State of Texas. He is the Founder and Director of the Coalition for Education Funding (a group of over 85 public school districts), the Co-Founder of the Southeast Texas Education Coalition, the Co-director of Pastors for Texas Children – a statewide public education advocacy group; and the coordinator for the Coalition for Public Schools – a public school advocacy coalition including 40 of the state’s largest school advocacy organizations.

In addition Dr. Luke is a past member of the Board of Directors of Volunteers of America, Texas; the Fort Worth Mayor’s Faith-Based Cabinet; the Faith Advisory Committee of the Child Welfare League of America; the Board of Directors of the Veterans Coalition of Tarrant County; and the Advisory Board of Helping Restore Ability in Arlington, Texas and the Board of the Bexar County Education Coalition in San Antonio, Texas.  He currently serves as the Board President of the Gemini Recovery Community in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Rabbi Shira Wallach joined Shearith Israel in 2013, revitalizing young family programming and welcoming many new families with her warmth and joyful energy. Mentored by Karina Zilberman, she creates transformative intergenerational spaces for prayer and learning. Her popular Women’s Torah Study class fills the Beit Midrash, and her retreats immerse hundreds in Jewish tradition.

Currently, Rabbi Wallach serves as Vice-President of the Rabbinic Association of Greater Dallas and is on the boards of NJCW and the Jewish Federation. She received her rabbinic ordination and a master’s in sacred music from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2013, earning awards in Talmud and Liturgy, and interned at B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan.

Born in Tampa, Florida, she is Shearith Israel’s first female pulpit rabbi and was elevated to senior rabbi in 2024 with her husband, Rabbi Adam Roffman. They are proud parents to Hannah and Rebecca.