Keeping Church & State Separate
The Baptist Joint Committee is the only faith-based agency devoted solely to religious liberty and the institutional separation of church and state. Since 1936, the BJC has continuously provided reliable leadership on church-state issues as it leads key coalitions of religious and civil liberties groups striving to protect both the free exercise of religion and to defend against its establishment by government. A proven bridge-builder, the BJC works with a wide range of organizations. Read more
Why Religious Liberty?
Baptists value religious freedom and separation of church and state because we suffered the hard lessons of history. The Baptist commitment to religious liberty is centered on our freedom to worship without efforts by the government to advance or restrain religion. God has made us all free – free to say yes, free to say no, and free to make up our own minds about our spiritual destiny. The BJC believes that a threat to anyone’s religious liberty is a threat to everyone‘s liberty. Read more
Why church-state separation?
The separation of church and state is a shorthand metaphor for expressing a deeper truth: religious liberty is best protected when church and state are institutionally separated and neither tries to perform or interfere with the mission and work of the other. It does not require a “segregation” of religion from public life, but it serves both religion clauses in the First Amendment, insisting upon no establishment of religion and ensuring the free exercise of religion. Read more
BJC’s Hollman Discusses Religious Liberty and the Vaccination Debate
Written by Don Byrd
U.S. House Passes Student Religious Freedom Amendment
Written by Don Byrd
Pew Report: Restrictions on Religion are High in 39% of Countries
Written by Don Byrd
Supreme Court affirms prisoner’s right to religious grooming practice
By BJC Staff Reports
Reflections: Do states need religious freedom legislation?
By Executive Director J. Brent Walker
Hollman Report: Religious freedom doesn’t require risking public health
By General Counsel K. Hollyn Hollman
