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At the end of the 2013 legislative session, activists had one more trick up their sleeves forcing a late-night debate over an otherwise obscure bill. Plus, learn what's in store now that the regular session of the legislature is concluded.

The Boy Scouts are under pressure from within to teach scouts that gender no longer matters and that the Scout Oath is meaningless. When lawmakers in West Virginia attempted to support the timeless values of the Boy Scouts, local Scout lobbyists said, "No thanks."

Are you a Scout Leader, Scout Parent, Eagle Scout? Click here to join the coalition against the celebration of homosexuality in the Scouts at OnMyHonor.net.

Religious liberty survives a threat from H.B. 2856 this legislative session. But, in their demand to require tolerance from the intolerant, it may be that it is our lawmakers who are the most intolerant of religious liberty in West Virginia.

Pregnancy Care Centers receive due honor, the governor's education reform bill advances, clergy 'pack' the capitol in favor of nondiscrimination, and why we haven't asked you to make any calls . . . yet. Watch this week's Capitol Update to learn more.

To learn more about how 'nondiscrimination laws' impact religious liberty, read the legal memo submitted to the WV Legislature by the Alliance Defending Freedom. Click here to download a PDF copy of the memo.

Will lawmakers put tolerance over the First Amendment? Find out why this coming week is a critical week for religious liberty at the West Virginia Legislature.

Click here to download a copy of this week's bulletin insert that accompanies the Capitol Update.

In an effort to add "sexual orientation" to the state's laws on nondiscrimination, activists pit fairness against religious freedom. Business owners and ministry leaders - and every American - are protected by the First Amendment. These nondiscrimination laws are as bad for freedom as they are bad for business. Here are a couple of resources to help you think through the importance of protectin religious liberty:

Download a copy of this week's bulletin insert to accompany the Capitol Update.

Listen to Austin Nimocks with the Alliance Defending Freedom discuss nondiscrimination laws on Engaging the Issues.

Read about the problem Massachusetts schools are not facing because of "gender identity."

Watch Sen. Jeff Kessler explain his support for this proposal.

Education reform is the big focus this week at the West Virginia Legislature. While education reform is a good, and needed, focus of our legislature, what does it mean for the family? What does that mean for mom's and dad's who are responsible for the education of their children? That's the focus of this week's Capitol Update.

Click here to watch this week's Capitol Update.

Pastors, download the bulletin insert companion to the Capitol Update by clicking here.

To read Governor Tomblin's legislative proposal (S.B. 359), click here. Read more about the Governor's goals to improve education in West Virginia by clicking here.

As she mentioned in the video, Lindsey Burke from the Heritage Foundation has some concerns with universal preschool proposals. Read her analysis of President Obama's plans, as well as her evaluation of Georgia's and Oklahom's universal preschool programs.

Thanks for working with us to advance, defend, and equip West Virginia's families. We encourage you to politiely remind your lawmakers about the importance of the "social issues" of life, marriage, and religious freedom. Here's some steps you can take:

Watch Jeremy Dys explain what the difference is between economic and social issues.

Click here to find your elected lawmakers, pray for them, and then send them a note politely reminding them how important these issues are to you.

Share our videos with your friends on Facebook.

Invest in our efforts to advance, defend, and equip West Virginia's families at the WV Legislature.

Call us at 304-553-7616 or email us at info@familypolicywv.com if you, as a small business owner, would like our help in evaluating how your religious liberty may be impacted by the Affordable Care Act.

Pastors, use this bulletin insert with the FPCWV Capitol Update when you show it to your congregation.

We are very quickly approaching West Virginia’s 2013 legislative session where the men and women we have voted into office will conduct business that will impact each and every one of us. Whether Republican, Democrat, Independent or otherwise, we have asked men and women to serve us in public office by passing bills, making laws, hearing court cases and weighing the current socio-political issues. The work we have called them to is of utmost importance as it will directly impact the lives of every person in West Virginia.

For this reason we at the Family Policy Council of West Virginia are asking every one of our ministry friends, partners, pastors and churches to take part in the 2013 Day 2 Pray.

To aid in this effort, we would like to offer the following FREE resources:

Video Message from Jeremiah G. Dys, President of the FPCWV

2013 D2P Bulletin Insert

2013 D2P Postcard

2013 D2P PowerPoint Announcement Slide

2013 D2P PowerPoint Information Slide

Here at the Family Policy Council of West Virginia our goal is not just to keep you informed about these special days, or even simply to ask you to take part, our goal is to be a partner with you that will equip you to stand and be a voice in your community and your church. With that in mind we have several resources we want to offer to you free of charge in order to serve you as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday approaches.

2013 Sanctity of Human Life Bulletin Insert - Full Color

2013 Sanctity of Human Life Bulletin Insert - Black and White

"Restoring the Cradle of Liberty" Sermon by Tony Perkins (PDF)

2013 SOHLS Message: "Choose Life" by Dr. Kenyn Cureton of FRC

2013 SOHLS Message: "Choose Life" PowerPoint

FRC brochure: "Top 10 Myths of Abortion"

Sermon Central's Sanctity of Human Life Resource Page

On January 8, 2012, the Family Policy Council of WV was invited back a second time to provide testimony to evaluate how the state's new rules on bullying impact the First Amendment freedoms of students and teachers. Click here to download his written testimony.

As of January 1, 2013, a company doing business in West Virginia stands to be penalized up to $1.3 million per day for refusing to violate the convictions of their owners and fund chemical abortions through the Affordable Care Act.

Stand with the Family Policy Council of West Virginia by asking the West Virginia Congressional Delegation to protect religous liberty - and the jobs of those West Virginians employed by Hobby Lobby.

Read our open letter, then sign the petition.

On November 27, 2012, the Family Policy Council of WV was invited to provide testimony to evaluate how the state's new rules on bullying impact the First Amendment freedoms of students and teachers. Click here to download his written testimony.

We believe that informed voters make the best voters. So, we took the time to ask a few questions of the candidates who want you to vote for them, starting today (early voting) through November 6.

Click here to listen now.

In a series of special interviews for our podcast, Engaging the Issues, we asked candidates 5 key questions that you ought to consider as you evaluate these candidates for office. Not every candidate was asked to be interviewed (we just don't have that kind of time), nor did every candidate that we asked respond to our repeated requests to interview them. But, we have a very fine sampling of candidates, including a sitting Congresswoman and Governor.

Recently, an activist organization sent an intimidating letter to Kanawha County Schools. They demanded that the shools stop the tradition of public prayer before a football game. Even though the schools tried to put an end to it, the students were undeterred. They linked arms and, before kickoff, they prayed in unison. Sign our petition to ask the Kanawha County Schools to publicly encourage the action of its students and reject all attempts by activists to silence student-initiated prayer.

UPDATE: Read [click here] the letter sent by the Family Policy Council of WV and Alliance Defending Freedom to each of WV's county board of education members and school superintendents.

The 2012 Faith and Freedom Forums are a two-hour voter forum designed to provide candidates an opportunity to answer pre-submitted questions from those in attendance. During the first hour, candidates for statewide office will be invited to participate, followed in the second hour by those running for West Virginia State Senate and House of Delegates.

The first event will take place on Saturday, September 22 from 7-9 p.m. at the Fellowship Bible Church in Shenandoah Junction, WV. Then, on Sunday, September 23, from 6-8 p.m., the second Faith and Freedom Forum will be hosted by Trinity Assembly of God in Fairmont, WV.

Click here to submit your questions for the candidates.

Activists recently asked West Virginia University (WVU) to remove its Chick-fil-A from campus in retaliation for comments made by its COO in support of the Biblical family unit.

In a letter to WVU, The Family Policy Council of West Virginia has warned that any action taken in retaliation by WVU would expose the university to legal liability. Moreover, it asked President Clements for assurances from the university that the religious ministries on its campus will not be subject to similar demands for removal.

Click to read the Family Policy Council of WV's letter

Clck to read the Family Policy Council of WV's press release

Click to read Alliance Defending Freedom's letter to WVU