To Our FPIW Defenders!
I want to share with you the story of a remarkable Defender named Pastor Eric Lundberg. I’ve witnessed him first-hand in action at the Capitol, and he’s been a rock for righteousness. As we draw near to the end of the 2025 Legislative Session, I hope Pastor Eric’s witness will encourage you and inspire others to speak out boldly in defense of the family.
Pastor Eric Lundberg
Pastor Eric Lundberg is the father of eight children and the pastor at Living Word Lutheran Church in Graham, Washington. Throughout the Session, Pastor Eric has engaged the process by:
• Creating his own videos on bills against the family;
• Attending FPIW’s Prayer Tour;
• Participating in rallies for families and children on the steps of the Capitol;
• Meeting Representatives and Senators; and
• Giving testimony at public hearings.
It has been a consistent and impressive effort for months.
A few days ago, Pastor Eric gave testimony before the House Education Committee on the anti-parental rights bill SB 5181, which seeks to keep student records from parents. You may recall from 2024 that Initiative 2081 – aka “The Parent’s Bill of Rights” – was drafted and overwhelmingly approved by legislators. The Democrats were aware of the popularity of this Initiative, so it passed with little opposition: an 82-15 vote in the House, and a unanimous 49-0 vote in the Senate.
Fast forward to 2025, and the same Democratic legislators are seeking to pass a bill that will erase your voice. Senate Bill 5181 (and its companion bill, HB 1296), guts the Parent’s Bill of Rights. To be clear, the intent of SB 5181 is essentially two fold:
(1) It is to ensure that kids’ records for medical and mental-health services do not end up in the hands of their parents.
(2) The bill also requires the schools to adopt – at the expense of your right to protect your children from materials – teaching and extracurricular activities that are in opposition to your own belief system. You will have access to your child’s classroom but not to curriculum, textbooks, or supplemental materials.
Enter Pastor Eric
As the hearing came to an end, the Chair granted two minutes for one final testimony. As it just so happened, a remote testifier did not show, and so – to our delight – the final person to give testimony that day was Pastor Eric. He spoke out firmly for the hundreds of thousands of parents across Washington who believe “parents are the parents,” not the government. He spoke truth to power when he reiterated that SB 5181 is “a systematic destruction of the Parents Bill of Rights.” He continued:
“I echo the voice and heart of the people of this state when I say that this bill has crossed a major moral line. … I implore you all, by an act of conscience, and by a responsibility of oath, that you would protect the very fabric of our society and great state, and oppose this bill.”
Some people in the room started to cheer, and the Chair of the House Education Committee gaveled them down.
The fate of SB 5181 is to be determined, and it indeed may be signed into law. Yet the battle for parental rights continues as organizations such as Let’s Go Washington prepare another initiative to combat SB 5181. No matter what happens, we know Pastor Eric, FPIW Defenders, and our strategic partners have stood strong against these bills. We are proud of our fight in support of parents and their children.
Pastor Eric’s efforts exemplify a key narrative needed in our state. Regardless of the outcome, we are called to do the right thing, to stand for the Good, the True, and the Beautiful, and to uphold the vision God has given for our home. We each long to be found faithful to our calling, to guard courageously our post in the spiritual battle, and one day to hear those treasured words for our Lord: “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Defending the family,
Brad Payne, President
FPIW Action
