The Religious Liberty Council Luncheon

This annual event, held in conjunction with the general assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is the luncheon meeting of the Religious Liberty Council of the Baptist Joint Committee. The RLC is  an association of individuals that works to provide education about and advocacy for religious freedom and the separation of church and state and to ensure adequate funding for the BJC.

The event is open to the public, but you must have a ticket to attend.

Visit BJConline.org/luncheon for the latest information on this year’s event. Scroll down for information on past luncheons.

2017–Atlanta, Georgia
Speaker: Rabbi David Saperstein
Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Read the recap  Watch the video  

2016–Greensboro, North Carolina
Speaker: Brent Walker
Retiring Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee
Read the recap  Watch the video  

2015–Dallas, Texas
Speaker: Marvin McMickle
President of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Read the recap Watch the video

2014 — Atlanta, Ga.
Speaker: Melissa Rogers
Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Read the recap Watch the video

2013–Greensboro, N.C.
Speaker: Suzii Paynter
Executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Watch the video    View the speech as a PDF

2012–Fort Worth, Texas
Speaker: Bill J. Leonard
James and Marilyn Dunn Professor of Baptist History at Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Watch the video    View the speech as a PDF

2011–Tampa, Fla.
Speaker: James M. Dunn
Resident professor of Christianity and public policy at Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Watch the video

2010–Charlotte, N.C.
Speaker: William D. Underwood
President and professor of law at Mercer University
Watch the video    View the speech as a PDF

2009–Houston, Texas
Speaker: Rep. Chet Edwards
United States congressman from Texas’ 17th District
Read a recap

2008–Memphis, Tenn.
Speaker: Aidsand Wright-Riggins
Executive director of the American Baptist Churches USA’s National Ministries
Read a recap

2007–Washington, D.C.
Speaker: Randall Balmer
Author and history professor at Columbia University
View the speech as a PDF

2006–Atlanta, Ga.
Speaker: Walter B. Shurden
Director of the Center for Baptist Studies at Mercer University
View the speech as a PDF

2005–Grapevine, Texas
Speaker: Charles Foster Johnson
Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas
View the speech as a PDF