Hollman Report

Perspectives on religious liberty from the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant

By K. Hollyn Hollman

February 2008

It is rare to come out of a meeting that lasts several days, saying “Boy, that was terrific!” But, in fact, that is what I’ve been saying about the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant in Atlanta. Meetings inevitably involve sitting for long periods; and success can be hard to measure. For me, the key is sticking to a well-organized and meaningful agenda, balanced with enough flexibility to allow unexpected contributions, and resolve to build on what is achieved. The organizers and participants accomplished that and more during this historic gathering.

The preaching and music inspired me, and the special interest sessions on a range of topics were informative and practical. Among the events were four well-attended sessions on religious liberty and the separation of church and state. The assignment for me and other panelists was specific: identify and explain “best practices for ministry” to offer attendees essential information and practical ideas. Guided by skilled moderators such as Wake Forest Divinity Dean Bill J. Leonard and Walter B. Shurden, the sessions gave the audience food for thought and tips to take away. Here is a sampling of the information from the sessions on religious freedom. (See pages 8-9).

It was my pleasure to share with a broad Baptist audience the work we do to promote the BJC’s mission of defending and extending God-given religious liberty for all and to provide resources for churches and individuals. Through our offices in Washington, Baptists have an established voice for religious liberty. I explained our work in the corridors of Congress and the courts, as well as the broader public square to protect religious freedom, building on our theological commitment to “soul freedom” and respect for the voluntary nature of religion. Our assignment includes educational work in churches, on campuses, and in the media, as well as specific and direct involvement with legislative proposals and court cases. On a number of current topics, such as the dangers of government funding of religious ministries and the role of churches in political debates, we offered information that could be used directly in congregations, as well as continued service through the BJC’s office and Web site.

The perspectives of the other panelists amplified the importance of religious liberty and led to an engaging question and answer session. As J. Stanley Lemons shared, the historical role of Baptists in articulating a vision for and promotion of religious freedom is unique. It gives us a special opportunity and responsibility to teach about the values embodied in the First Amendment. His church, the First Baptist Church in America, is admittedly part of the tourism industry in Rhode Island. Many who come to learn about the state’s history also learn about its founder Roger Williams, who founded the First Baptist Church and whose often overlooked commitment to radical religious freedom shaped our county’s history.

James M. Dunn, as professor at Wake Forest University Divinity School and former executive director of the BJC, captured the challenges and demands of the moment, recognizing that some words have been deliberately misused in ways that skew their meaning. We must engage critics and be clear. We have a “secular” government. Only people, not nations, can be accurately described as “Christian.” Though “separation of church and state” is by no means complete and certainly it does not require a separation of religious voices from political engagement, we must never fail to recognize the important distinctions between the institutions of each. Nor should we fail to respond to each new attempt to blur the lines, whether in a political campaign or a congregational conversation.

Jeffrey Haggray, executive director/minister of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and former BJC Board Chair, has served as pastor and in various leadership posts in Baptist life. He spoke about the challenges faced at the church level of being politically engaged and upholding church-state principles. He discussed some aspects of the Baptist tradition, such as prophetic preaching and evangelism that can challenge the responsibilities of maintaining the integrity of churches and respecting religious diversity. He noted, however, that there are some good models of how to represent the best of the Baptist tradition, including respect for the separation of church and state.

The excitement of the attendees was palpable, and I suspect will be contagious. We look forward to being a part of it and extending the vision far beyond Atlanta.