Date posted: 09-22-2026
Estimated Reading Time : 5 Minutes
By Jenny Constantine
In August, Pastor Jonathan Falwell of Thomas Road Baptist Church, Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel, and Bishop E.W. Jackson of The Called Church organized a series of six “Stand for Life and Marriage” town halls across Virginia. Meetings in Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Colonial Heights gathered pastors, Christian leaders, and believers for prayer, biblical teaching, policy analysis, and practical guidance about two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.
The proposals concern abortion and marriage. Although Virginia voters will decide their fate, the questions raised during the town halls reach far beyond the Commonwealth. The legal language may carry a Virginia label, but the strategy behind it—and the biblical truths at stake—should command the attention of Christians in every state.
Falwell, Hamrick, and Jackson led the statewide tour alongside other state and local leaders. At each meeting, speakers urged Christians to recognize life, marriage, parental authority, and religious liberty as biblical concerns—not matters the Church can surrender to partisan politics.
Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation, explained why constitutional language deserves close scrutiny. She warned that the proposed abortion amendment could weaken existing protections involving late-term abortions, parental consent, and health and safety standards. She also argued that the proposed marriage amendment could create broader legal consequences because of its separate references to sex and gender and its lack of an explicit clergy exemption.
Cobb framed civic action as an expression of love for one’s neighbor. “We’re being asked to read two paragraphs, tell the truth about what’s in them to people that we love, and we’re asked to go fill out an oval in a voting box,” she said. “That’s not a high call to help our neighbor.”
That responsibility begins with the Church. Pastor Hamrick rejected the claim that pastors become “political” when they teach what Scripture says about life, marriage, and human sexuality. “That’s because the political culture has hijacked the theological issues,” he said. “We’re talking about marriage as God defines it. We’re talking about life as God determines it. We’re talking about human sexuality as God has defined it.”
Pastor Falwell delivered a similar challenge. “In love, we have to preach truth,” he said. “We can’t sit this one out. The pastors need to talk about it. This is not a political issue. This is a spiritual issue.”
Bishop Jackson brought the audience to its feet more than once as his words stirred hearts toward action. Challenging pastors and believers to place faithfulness above comfort or institutional security, he declared, “We ought to be concerned about our status with Almighty God. We ought to be concerned about Him being pleased with us.” His message was clear: Christians cannot remain silent while policies threaten truths entrusted to them by God.
Why should a Christian in Colorado, Texas, Ohio, or any other state pay attention? Shane Bost, Virginia State Faith Director of Citizens Defending Freedom, addressed that question directly in an interview following the tour. He explained that constitutional abortion measures do not arise in isolation. Similar language and legal strategies travel from state to state.
“Virginia is not the last stop. It’s not the first stop,” Bost said. “It’s one of the stops.”
That observation captures the national importance of Virginia’s debate. After the U.S. Supreme Court returned abortion policy to the states, state constitutions became a central battleground. Language tested successfully in one state can become a model for campaigns elsewhere. The same principle applies to disputes involving marriage, gender, parental rights, and religious freedom. What voters accept in one jurisdiction can shape political messaging, litigation, fundraising, and legislation across the country.
Virginia therefore offers both a warning and a lesson. Christians should not wait until an amendment appears on their own ballot before learning how these campaigns work. They can study the language now, watch how supporters frame the proposals, and observe how pastors and citizens respond. Early understanding helps believers recognize similar efforts before they gain momentum.
Bost argued that meaningful engagement starts long before Election Day. Citizens must vet candidates, hold elected officials accountable, and learn how decisions move through local and state government. “Where can we have the most significant impact?” he asked. “It’s at the local offices. It’s our school boards. It’s our town councils. It’s our municipalities. It’s our counties.”
He also connected civic stewardship to Christian discipleship. “Our heavenly citizenship gives us a duty” concerning earthly citizenship, he said. Christians cannot delegate every public decision to people who reject God’s design and then act surprised when public policy opposes biblical truth.
The Virginia town halls carried a message every church in America needs to hear: pay attention before the battle reaches your doorstep. Read proposed laws and amendments. Ask what undefined or omitted terms could mean. Equip pastors to speak with biblical clarity. Register believers to vote. Learn who represents you, and contact them before crucial votes occur.
Virginia voters now bear a direct responsibility, but the rest of the nation has one too. Watch Virginia. Learn from Virginia. Then prepare to stand for life, marriage, family, and religious liberty wherever God has placed you.
Truth & Liberty offers resources to help believers prepare and act. Visit the Truth & Liberty Resource Center for biblical teaching, research, and tools addressing cultural issues. Church leaders can use the Pastor’s Toolkit to find voting guides, study materials, civic action resources, and guidance on what churches may legally do. The Voting Toolkit helps citizens check their registration, understand candidates and issues, and take action in their communities.