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 coalitions of groups striving to protect both the free exercise of religion and to defend against its establishment by government. 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
Religious Groups Review Kavanaugh’s Record for Clues on Religious Liberty Approach
The BJC does not endorse or oppose Supreme Court nominees, but General Counsel Holly Hollman notes that Judge Kavanaugh’s admiration for Justice Kennedy might be an indication of his approach on the bench.
Federal Court: Religious Adoption Agency not Entitled to State Contract
A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that neither the First Amendment nor the state’s RFRA requires an accommodation for religious adoption agencies from nondiscrimination rules.
House Committee Approves Amendment to Shield Adoption Agencies From Discrimination Laws
An amendment added on to an appropriations bill seeks to protect child service providers from placing children with same-sex couples if it would conflict with their religious beliefs.
New Executive Order undercuts key protections
For the second year in a row, President Donald Trump used the National Day of Prayer to unveil an Executive Order purporting to protect religious liberty that threatens to do the opposite.
Religious liberty and the travel ban
BJC General Counsel Holly Hollman looks at the “travel ban” case heard by SCOTUS and its possible ruling implications.
Baptists and Muslims change the conversation at national dialogue
Baptists and Muslims from across the country met int he middle to build bridges and foster new understanding.
