Recent News & Columns
Here are recent columns and news items from the Baptist Joint Committee. Visit our blog and read our monthly magazine, Report from the Capital, to stay current on all religious liberty news. You can also read our press releases online.
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Fear fuels anti-Sharia initiatives
By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel For years, defenders of religious liberty have noted the challenge of ensuring that Muslims in America have the same rights as others. While our religious diversity is often celebrated as a significant strength of our nation’s...
BJC raises concerns about Congressional hearings targeting American Muslims
WASHINGTON — The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty joined a coalition to confront scheduled Congressional hearings targeting American Muslims. On Feb. 1, the BJC joined 50 legal, human rights and faith organizations in urging House leaders to raise...
How the Baptist Joint Committee works with Congress
By James GibsonBJC Staff CounselJanuary 2011This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Baptist Joint Committee. For the first 58 years of our existence, partisan control of the United States Congress was relatively stagnant. In the past 17 years congressional control...
Colonial Baptists’ contributions to religious liberty
By J. Brent Walker, Baptist Joint Committee Executive Director
BJC’s Walker named winner of First Freedom Award for work advancing religious liberty
Walker will receive award at Jan. 13 event in Richmond, Va. December 8, 2010 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Baptist Joint Committee Executive Director J. Brent Walker will receive an award from the Richmond, Va.-based First Freedom Center for his work advancing freedom of...
Context is key in the public debate
Written by J. Brent Walker, BJC Executive Director
In a time of rampant misconceptions about our president’s faith and a plethora of religious pandering, I am reminded that concerns about a leader’s faith are nothing new. It has been 50 years since presidential candidate John F. Kennedy gave a speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association addressing the widespread contention of many Protestants that Kennedy was unfit for he presidency because of his Catholicism.
Context is key in the public debate
Written by J. Brent Walker, BJC Executive Director
In a time of rampant misconceptions about our president’s faith and a plethora of religious pandering, I am reminded that concerns about a leader’s faith are nothing new. It has been 50 years since presidential candidate John F. Kennedy gave a speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association addressing the widespread contention of many Protestants that Kennedy was unfit for he presidency because of his Catholicism. …
Obama clarifies religious liberty protections
By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
It was not fast and it did not finish the job, but the Obama administration’s executive order clarifying policies on government partnerships with faith-based organizations is important….
Top 5 myths of the separation of church and state
By BJC Executive Director J. Brent Walker
Despite pride in our democracy, the Constitution and Bill of Rights that guarantee our fundamental liberties, we are often misinformed about our rights under the First Amendment generally and religious liberty in particular.
President Obama issues executive order implementing long-awaited reforms of the faith-based office
Order broadens religious liberty protections; fails to address hiring issue November 17, 2010 Contact: Jeff Huett| Phone: 202-544-4226 | Cell: 202-680-4127 WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama issued an executive order (pdf) Wednesday implementing many of the...
