BJC to lead events celebrating religious liberty during CBF, ABC USA meetings

Updated June 15, 2007

March 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON—The Baptist Joint Committee has planned a host of opportunities to celebrate religious liberty and teach others about advocating it in the halls of Congress and beyond during gatherings of two of the organization’s 14 supporting bodies, American Baptist Churches USA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

The biennial meeting of American Baptist Churches USA and the annual General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will overlap in Washington, D.C. this summer. Please check the BJC Web site often in the coming weeks for more details on the following events:

Thursday, June 28

2 p.m. Speaking Up 101

Members of Congress are public servants and want to hear about the issues most affecting constituents. The BJC is hosting a workshop on speaking out on religious liberty. The workshop will equip attendees with the tools to effectively advocate for religious liberty in the halls of
Congress and elsewhere.

The workshop is on the Burnham/Constitution Level of the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Friday, June 29

8 a.m. Baptist Unity Rally for Religious Liberty on the U.S. Capitol grounds

In May 1920, George W. Truett, a Baptist preacher from Dallas, Texas, climbed the east steps of the U.S. Capitol to address a throng of some 10,000 onlookers. His purpose in addressing the crowd was to rally support for religious liberty and its constitutional corollary, the separation of church and state. Religious, political and educational leaders will celebrate our Baptist heritage by reading excerpts of Truett’s speech. Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, William Underwood, Pam Durso, Jeff Haggray, Stan Hastey, Daniel Vestal, Amy Butler, Julie Pennington-Russell, Curt Lucas and Rob Marus are among those scheduled to participate.

The event will be held at Fountain Plaza at Upper Senate Park, adjacent to the U.S. Capitol and Russell Senate Office Building, between Delaware and New Jersey avenues.

12:15 p.m. – 1: 45 p.m. Religious Liberty Council Luncheon

Author/Professor Randall Balmer will deliver the keynote address at the annual luncheon. Balmer is a professor of American Religion at Barnard College, Columbia University, a visiting professor at Yale Divinity School and the author of Thy Kingdom Come: An Evangelical’s Lament.

The event will be held in Independence Ballroom A of the Grand Hyatt Washington.

7 p.m. Award Presentation

The National Ministries of American Baptist Churches will present an award to the BJC during this combined service.

Saturday, June 30

5 p.m. Keynote Address

BJC General Counsel K. Hollyn Hollman delivers the keynote address at the Roger Williams Fellowship Dinner.

The dinner is in room 146B of the Washington Convention Center