The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty has joined 13 other religious and civil rights organizations urging a federal appeals court to uphold a lower court ruling finding a cross erected on public land in Pensacola, Fla., is unconstitutional.
BJC, others, say Trump travel ban unconstitutionally targets Muslims
An interfaith coalition that includes the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate President Trump’s travel ban barring certain people from six Muslim-majority nations from entering the country, saying it discriminates on the…
BJC head warns Johnson Amendment rollback would divide churches
A church-state specialist says language in a U.S. House spending bill limiting the ability of the IRS to deny tax-exempt status to churches for violating a ban on endorsing candidates makes them easy prey for political campaigns hunting for votes.
Religious liberty advocates divided over Supreme Court’s Trinity Lutheran decision
Reaction varied to Monday’s Supreme Court ruling siding with a Missouri church which had been denied public money to improve a school playground. Groups including the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty called it a blow to the separation of…
As high court hears arguments, BJC lawyer said Missouri church not entitled to taxpayer support
A Baptist church/state specialist said after oral arguments April 20 the U.S. Supreme Court should rule against a Missouri church seeking state aid to make its playground safer, citing Baptist history when colonial dissenters objected to paying taxes to support…
Supreme Court to consider government funding for faith, and BJC weighs in
Church-state issues can be emotionally, and legally, challenging subjects. They can influence the direction a municipality, state and nation can take on matters of faith and government. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on church-state…
Judge says N.J. town discriminates against Muslims
A federal judge has ruled that requiring a mosque to have more parking spaces than churches or synagogues is unconstitutional, citing in part a friend-of-the-court brief filed by a diverse coalition of civil rights and religious groups including the Baptist…
Trump education pick worries church/state separationists
Advocates of church-state separation found little comfort in Donald Trump’s Nov. 23 announcement that he plans to nominate DeVos, a leader in the self-described school reform movement for more than two decades, to head up the U.S. Department of Education.
Oklahoma voters say public money can’t fund religion
Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot item that would have removed the state’s restriction against using public money for religious purposes. Oklahomans struck down State Question 790 — a proposal to remove a constitutional ban on use of taxpayer funds…
BJC lawyer urges defeat of Okla. no-aid repeal
A lawyer who specializes in religious liberty concerns urged Oklahoma supporters on the eve of Election Day to vote against a ballot initiative ending the state’s constitutional ban on using taxpayer funds for religious purposes. Baptist Joint Committee for Religious…
Court strikes down Nevada voucher plan
The Nevada Supreme Court has struck down the most extensive school-choice plan in the country, finding the legislature failed to appropriate enough money to sufficiently fund the state’s public schools before implementing the voucher plan. The court rejected arguments raised…
Baptist Joint Committee names executive director
The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty voted Sept. 26 to name Amanda R. Tyler, a former BJC intern and staff member, as its next executive director. Tyler, who currently works as Ways and Means counsel for U.S. Rep. Lloyd…