On Tuesday, October 6, North Carolina clergy and faith leaders released a letter to Governor Josh Stein and members of the General Assembly in response to a state budget provision. The legislation would require North Carolina school districts to allow up to four hours per week for Release Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI).
The letter claims this mandate violates the Constitution and raises other concerns about its potential effects on educational environments. Faith leaders stated that they “do not support including religious instruction during the school day.”
Over 125 signees ask Governor Stein to remove the mandate from this year’s budget and uphold the principle of religious freedom. The letter emphasized the value of public schools as spaces of non-coercive learning alongside a multitude of perspectives. It states that these schools are “where children of every faith, every background, and every circumstance sit beside one another and learn what it means to be a community.”
Organizations backing the letter say they seek to contribute to a landscape of faith that includes freedom—both freedom from outward compulsion and freedom to practice and believe as individuals choose.
Signees include clergy from a variety of interfaith traditions, signing on behalf of their institutions. Many other clergy and community leaders signed on as individuals. A link to the letter and list of signatories can be found here.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Tracy Mandl is a graduate from Georgetown College with a degree in religion and communication. Tracy is also the Fall 2026 Intern for Good Faith Media.