Lawmaker hopes to bring prayer and fellowship to schools across Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Children could soon have time to pray and study the Bible at school. One lawmaker hopes to bring fellowship to schools all over the state, but others argue it could violate religious freedom.

A bill by Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) would strip funding from schools that do not lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

“It’s already our law to say the pledge, or allow the pledge in the classroom,” said Ingram. “But, a lot of schools aren’t doing it. And, there’s not a claw back if they don’t do it.”

The bill would also require schoolboards to vote on bringing daily prayer and reading of the Bible to schools. Schoolboards could also lose funding if they do not vote on the measure.

If that vote is in favor, Ingram explained parents would still have to give consent for their child to participate. “A lot of times, the parents are working two or three jobs and working on Sunday,” he said. “And the child doesn’t have time to have that fellowship in prayer at the church. This gives them opportunity to be able to pray with others.”

But, Rev. Julie Conrady, president of the Interfaith Alliance of Central Alabama, said that opportunity violates religious freedom by imposing two kinds of beliefs on students. “Both a nationalistic belief — there’s only one way you can be a citizen and can be a patriot. And also, there’s only one way that you can express your religious beliefs within our public schools,” said Rev. Conrady.

Rep. Marilyn Lands (D-Huntsville) agreed that the bill could leave some students out. “I think we emphasize people’s differences instead of embracing them. Because, it’s what’s different that makes us beautiful and makes our country beautiful,” she remarked.

But still, Rep. Ingram said prayer would be optional for students. “We’ve gotta get back to the basics. When prayer was in school, we didn’t have as much violence,” he said. “People had morals, ethics. And that’s just part of what we’re trying to get to.”

Ingram’s bill would be a constitutional amendment. If it’s passed by the legislature, the people of Alabama would have the final say by voting on it at the ballot box. The 2026 legislative session kicks off on January 13th.