Texas Democrat Senate Candidate’s Church Offers Inclusive Bible
James Talarico, a Democrat running for the Senate in Texas, is associated with a church in Austin that provides new members with an “Inclusive Bible” specifically designed to eliminate gendered language for God, as revealed in recent undercover video footage.
The Daily Caller reported that Rev. Jim Rigby, who has been the head pastor at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for over 35 years and is a mentor to Talarico, mentioned that the church “typically” distributes this translation when individuals join. Rigby remarked, “It’s good on the gender stuff,” adding that while the translation excels in inclusivity, “the more, like, metaphysical stuff, it’s not a very good translation, if that makes sense. I think it’s really important to have a good translation so you can let go of the stupid stuff.”
This footage, which was taken in August, includes a scene where a newcomer named Larry is given a copy during a service. An unidentified woman explains, “It’s the Bible that we use at this church. It’s been rewritten so that there is only inclusive language and that it doesn’t use the gender-fueled language that the King James Version uses.”
Originally published in 2007 by Priests for Equality, this alternative translation promotes itself as the “first egalitarian” Bible, according to the Christian Post. The translators argue that terms like “the Lord” are “sexist and classist” and replace them with alternatives such as “Most High” and “Sovereign One.” Titles for Jesus like “Son of God” and “Son of Man” are also changed to phrases like “Only Begotten,” “God’s Own,” and “Eternally Begotten.”
Talarico’s connection to St. Andrew’s is significant. He was baptized there, attended since he was a child, and had Rigby officiate his parents’ wedding as well as offer the invocation at his own Texas House swearing-in.
The church brands itself as “Presbyterian & Progressive” and contends that referring to God as male is “perhaps the most sexist comment a person can make,” as reported by Texas Scorecard. Additionally, minister Babs Miller claimed in separate footage that the “vast majority” of the congregation would identify as “agnostic or atheist.”
During a debate in the House in 2021, Talarico claimed that “God is non-binary,” a comment he later described as “cringey” and “deliberately provocative.” He has also referred to himself as a “Christian who hates Christianity.”
This video comes to light as Talarico is in a competitive race against Attorney General Ken Paxton, with polls indicating a tight contest.
