Some of the strongest opposition came from a fellow pastor.

Brian Kaylor, pastor at Second Baptist Church in Jefferson City, slammed the legislation, telling members of the House Special Committee on Student Accountability that the government should stay out of Bible teachings.

“I oppose this legislation not because I oppose the Bible,” Kaylor said. “The Bible cannot be reduced to merely an elective high school class. The Bible is inherently religious, and we cannot pretend otherwise.

“I do not need the state teaching my son the Bible,” Kaylor said.

State Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, was among those wary of the proposal, saying schools currently can use the Bible as reference material.

“It can already be done without this bill,” Shields said. “It’s one more bill when schools have the ability to do this now.”

Rep. Ingrid Burnett, D-Kansas City, a former religion teacher at a Catholic school, also expressed doubt about Baker’s initiative, which has played out in other states as part of a national effort by special interest groups.