By Howard Bess
I was born a Baptist. I was born again as a Baptist. I will always be a Baptist. Most people do not realize the meaning of being a Baptist.
Theologically, we cover the full spectrum from right to left. We are scattered politically throughout Republicans, Democrats, Tea Partiers and none of the above. Our hallmark is freedom. The differing opinion is our strength, and we feel free to speak what other religious folk would call heresy. We are suspicious of all hierarchies, and when we feel our freedom is being challenged, we are quick to start another church — Baptist, of course. There are far more varieties of Baptists than all the products that will ever be produced by Heinz.
Baptists, though we now cover the world, are a uniquely American phenomenon. Roger Williams, driven out of Massachusetts by the Congregationalists, founded the first American colony truly dedicated to the free practice of religion. The First Baptist Church in America stands majestically in Providence as a witness to our history. (I need to confess that even in Rhode Island, Jews and Catholics were looked upon with suspicion.)
I suspect that Baptists made their finest contribution to American life in Virginia. The newly formed United States, with 13 member states, did not know what to do with religion in America. Though Jefferson was the chief architect of the new federation, his neighbor, James Madison, was by his side. Neither of them liked what was going on in Virginia. Baptist preachers and other dissenters were required to get a government-issued license to preach. Naturally, the Baptist preachers kept on preaching without benefit of a license. They experienced whippings, fines and jail time. They continued to preach.
One firebrand preacher named John Leland became friends with Madison. It was he who convinced Madison that there should be no state church, and that a complete separation was the only answer. The wall of separation was born in Virginia and a Baptist was the prime mover. The idea of separation became imbedded in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Baptists have continued to be in the forefront of the struggle to keep government out of religion. Our watchdog agency is the Baptist Joint Committee. It is a powerful Washington, D.C., lobby that regularly presents briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court. BJC keeps Baptists across the country informed about the constant stream of religious freedom cases that come before the high court. I never fail to read the BJC monthly report from the Capital. BJC just celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Two church/state issues are currently in the news. They are under-reported in the daily newspapers or not at all.
The first is President Obama’s recent announcement of new clarifying policies for government partnerships with faith-based organizations. For many years faith-based organizations have provided services that are funded by federal grants. Under President George W. Bush, the funding of faith-based organizations was greatly expanded. Without congressional approval or oversight, President Bush by executive order established a whole new federal agency. It is called the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Under President Bush, hundreds of millions of dollars that were at his discretion were funneled into faith-based organizations.
The idea is not a bad one. Many faith-based agencies do wonderful work with people with special needs. Many times they have been shown to do tasks better and more effectively than government agencies.
However, under the new Bush program, clear violations of church and state separation were numerous. Large block grants were made to religious organizations with little oversight. President Obama endorsed the program, but promised new regulations and better oversight. Recently, Obama issued the new policies. The most important provision is that organizations are forbidden from engaging in explicitly religious activities. Government-funded programs must not include religious content.
Many observers were hoping that Obama would require religious organizations to form separate not-for-profit entities. He chose not to take that step. He has promised close monitoring and requirements for transparency in program operations.
The other looming issue is how we will treat the expanding religious diversity in America. Will government treat all religions even-handedly? Newly elected House Speaker John Boehner has called for investigation of radical Muslims.
Dare the federal government investigate those of a particular religious persuasion? J. Brent Walker, executive director of BJC, commented: “Ours is not a Christian nation, as some contend, but made up of many faiths, including now 17 percent who embrace no faith at all. Our plush pluralism is something to be celebrated, not something to be feared. And our biggest challenge today may be how we view Islam and treat our Muslim friends.”
I am pleased to be a part of a tradition that celebrates religious freedom. Diversity is good for us all.