Employing deeply religious language that national experts say affords both power and peril for his political career, Gov. Rick Perry in late May told a group of East Texas business leaders that he was "called to the ministry" at age 27, suggested that the governor's office was his pulpit and that God put him "in this place at this time to do his will."

According to a transcript of the private meeting, organized to raise funds for Perry's Aug. 6 "day of prayer and fasting" at Reliant Stadium, the governor stated that property rights, government regulation and a "legal system that's run amok" were threatening the American way of life and "it's time to just hand it over to God and say 'God, you're gonna have to fix this.' "

Perry spokesman Mark Miner could not verify an Internet transcript of the remarks, but said it contained nothing inconsistent with the governor's belief that "every Christian is called into ministry" whether serving as a church leader or in the workplace, and that "God provides opportunity throughout peoples' lives to do his will." Eric Bearse, a spokesman for "the Response," confirmed the meeting was a fundraiser for the Houston prayer event.

Historians and political scientists say that Perry, who is actively testing the waters for a presidential campaign, may be ratcheting up religious rhetoric to seize the mantel of evangelical candidate in the Republican primary, but could frighten away a more mainstream general election electorate.

"This speech is a good example of both the power and the peril of politicians talking about their faith," said Dr. John C. Green, a political scientist at the University of Akron and senior fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. "To the extent they can mobilize people's deepest sentiment, it can be very effective for them. On the other hand, it can also frighten people because it sounds like too much of an intrusion of religion into the public sphere."

For the immediate goal of seizing a lead in the GOP primary, Perry's strong appeal to the religious right "will play incredibly well," pollster Anna Greenberg suggested.

"I don't think there is anything off-putting about his language or his imagery in the Republican primary," said the senior vice president at the national polling firm of Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner.

Pitfalls of declaring faith

According to a transcript of the Longview meeting, Perry said his faith grew after his service in the Air Force, when he returned to live in his parents' home in Paint Creek. "God was dealing with me," he said. "At 27 years old, I knew that I had been called to the ministry. I've just always been really stunned by how big a pulpit I was gonna have. I still am. I truly believe with all my heart that God has put me in this place at this time to do his will."

To advocates of religious tolerance, that borders on "a theocratic declaration," said C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Interfaith Alliance.

"The problem is not faith. The problem is the public assumption that he understands God and the will of God so perfectly that he can implement for everybody God's policies for this nation," Gaddy said. "I think there are a lot of people uncomfortable with that — and I am one of them."

The American public is accustomed to politicians who talk openly about their faith.

"Voters very much want their leaders to believe in God, to have an internal moral compass," said Greenberg.

Remarks 'innocuous'

Baylor historian Thomas Kidd saw Perry's remarks - in the context of a fundraiser attended by evangelicals - as fairly "innocuous."

Kidd sees a challenge for Perry as he moves to other parts of the country less familiar with what Green called "a strong evangelical accent."

"You can do this in Texas. It is more challenging on a national level," he said

Outside the evangelical community, voters will be suspicious of a politician who links political and religious roles, Greenberg said, adding that "separation of church and state is still a majority position in this country."

At one point in his remarks, Perry reminded the gathering that he had recently signed imminent domain legislation because "ownership of personal property is crucial to our way of life."

Tort reform not doctrinal

After saying that property ownership was in jeopardy because of taxes, regulation and the legal system, Perry said, "And I think that it's time for us to just hand it over to God and say, 'God, you're going to have to fix this.' "

Greenberg noted there are "a lot of people, even in the evangelical community, who don't like the mixing of politics and religion" for issues on which religious doctrine is silent. "Tort reform is pretty far afield," she suggested.

Buchanan warned that if Perry initiates a presidential campaign, opponents will be studying every recorded sentence he has uttered.

"To imply he's got God's direct guidance - if I were advising him and had his best interests at heart, I would downplay that kind of thing," Buchanan said. "But he's road-testing it."

patti.hart@chron.com