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Baptists have traditionally affirmed that religious liberty (click here for a definition of religious liberty) is best
promoted and preserved when church and state remain separate in the manner
prescribed by the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Separation of church and state does not mean that religion is divorced
from public life. We openly advocate for sound public policies on the
basis of our religious convictions. We rightly acknowledge and reflect in
the public schools the central role played by religion in society and
history.
Separation of church and state does mean that government must be
neutral toward religion, neither advancing nor inhibiting religion through
laws, tax support or other means. Consistent with this understanding of
neutrality, the BGCT’s Christian Life Commission opposes the use of public
funds to fund sectarian religious worship and instruction. The CLC
supports separation of church and state as a traditional Baptist
distinctive, convinced that it offers the best protection for religious
liberty for everyone, believer and non-believer alike. We offer numerous
resources that interpret the essential and practical meanings of religious
liberty in a variety of contexts.
E-mail: clc@bgct.org
Phone:
214-828-5194 |