Clergy at Texas Presbyterian Church Face Scrutiny Over Theological Statements

Clergy members at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Austin, Texas, are facing public scrutiny following the circulation of resurfaced sermons and undercover footage. The church is the home congregation of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. In a 2023 Easter sermon, longtime pastor Rev. Jim Rigby questioned the historicity of the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, suggesting the event could be interpreted as a mythological symbol rather than a literal historical occurrence.

Separately, undercover footage released by The Daily Wire features the Rev. Babs Miller, a minister at the same congregation, expressing skepticism regarding the existence of Jesus and the validity of the virgin birth. Miller characterized the traditional understanding of the Atonement as illogical and described the God of the Old Testament as "vengeful." Miller further suggested that Christianity functions similarly to a 12-step program, where adherents may choose which elements to accept. These remarks have drawn significant attention due to the church's connection to a prominent political figure.