Baptist and Reflector
NASHVILLE – An attempt to override Gov. Bill Haslam’s veto of a bill that would have made the Bible the official state book of Tennessee failed on April 20.
The Tennessean reported on its website that after nearly two hours of discussion, members of the Tennessee House of Representatives voted 43-50, thus ending an opportunity to override the veto.
Because the House did not override the veto, the Senate did not need to discuss or vote on the issue.
House sponsor Jerry Sexton of Bean Station, a former Tennessee Baptist pastor, told local reporters he knew that to override the veto would be “a strong uphill climb.”
He also told the Tennessean, “There is so much oppression today of Christian beliefs and values it seems it is not the popular thing to do. I stand today to say that I’m a Christian and I’m proud that I am and I’m proud that I live in a country that I have the freedom to do that.”
In an article about the Governor’s veto of the Bible bill in the April 20 issue of the Baptist and Reflector, Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, noted his disappointment.
He observed, however, “Holy Scripture needs no human affirmation. The authority of God’s Word has not been diminished because a state hasn’t declared it ‘official.’
“Personal affirmation of the Bible and regularly reading the Bible is far more important than state-sanctioned recognition of the Bible,” Davis stressed.
