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Baptists & Americans United for Separation of Church and State A number of informed and respected historians say that separation of church and state is the Baptist legacy to the history of Western Civilization. There is no doubt that Baptists were some of the earliest and most articulate spokespersons for religious liberty for people of all religions. Baptists were instrumental in assuring that the First Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. Until the Fundamentalists took over the Southern Baptist Convention, Baptists in America were united in supporting the work of the Baptist Joint Committee in Washington, D.C. The Baptist Joint Committee is a watchdog agency with the mission to protect and preserve the First Amendment. In 1947, Baptists decided they needed some help in watching over First Amendment liberties. We were instrumental in starting an organization called “Protestant Ministers for Separation of Church and State.” Later, the name was changed from “Protestant Ministers” to “Americans United.” The organization works to educate members of Congress, as well as state and local lawmakers, about the importance of maintaining church-state separation. The organization also formed state and local chapters of Americans United and began publishing Church & State magazine and other materials in support of church-state separation to educate members of the general public. These activities continue today and form the core of Americans United’s operations. It’s website is at www.au.org. |
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Online since April 7, 1999
E- mail questions or comments about this web site to bprescott@mainstreambaptists.orgCopyright © 1999-2003 MAINSTREAM OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS P.O. Box 6371 Norman, OK 73070-6371 (405) 329-2266.
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