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Baptist Joint Committee  Development Update  Supporting Bodies Religious Liberty Day kits traverse the country!  Alliance of Baptists  American Baptist Churches USA n the March edition of  Baptist General Association of Virginia Report from the Capital,  Baptist General Conference we reported on a new  Baptist General Convention of I opportunity to order a Missouri  Baptist General Convention of Texas Religious Liberty Day kit  Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that will help you plan a  Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of celebration of our first North Carolina freedom at your church.  National Baptist Convention of Since that time, the America Baptist Joint Committee  National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc. received requests from  National Missionary Baptist churches and individuals Convention across the country. Kits  North American Baptist Conference have been sent to Florida,  Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc. Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas, Kansas, Indiana and places So far, individuals and churches in the 14 states colored red have  Religious Liberty Council requested Religious Liberty Day kits. Get a kit and highlight  Seventh Day Baptist General in between. So far, individ- your state today! Conference uals and churches in 14 states have requested a kit If you have been con- You can also go online to learn more about plan- sidering a focus on reli- to view and print the REPORTfrom the Capital ning a Religious Liberty gious liberty at your resources. Visit Day celebration. church, let us help you! www.BJConline.org/ J. Brent Walker Celebrating religious This year, July 4 falls on a ReligiousLibertyDay to Executive Director liberty can involve an Sunday. Independence read and download docu- Jeff Huett entire worship service with Day could be the perfect ments that can help you Editor every element connected time to talk about the reli- educate those around you to religious freedom, or it gious freedom we enjoy in about religious liberty. Cherilyn Crowe can be as simple as a this country. If you plan a celebration Associate Editor prayer in a service, a spe- If you would like a or recognition of religious packet, contact Kristin liberty at your church, Report from the Capital (ISSN-0346- cial hymn, a Bible study 0661) is published 10 times each year by lesson or a table set up in Clifton at (202) 544-4226 or please let us know! The the Baptist Joint Committee. For sub- the lobby with information send an e-mail to BJC and others can benefit scription information, please contact the about religious liberty. [email protected]. from your experience. Baptist Joint Committee. REPORTfrom theCapital Kagan confirmation hearing set to begin this month WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court Rehnquist, both nominated in 1971, with- nominee Elena Kagan will face questions out prior experience as a judge. The last about her views on a range of legal topics Solicitor General to become a Supreme when she goes before the Senate Judiciary Court Associate Justice was Thurgood Committee on June 28. Marshall in 1967. President Barack Obama formally nom- Kagan, who grew up in New York City, inated Kagan to replace Associate Justice holds degrees from Princeton, Oxford and John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Harvard Law School. Early in her career, Magazine of the Court on May 10 after Stevens announced Kagan clerked for Judge Abner Mikva at Baptist Joint Committee his retirement on April 9. the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District When introducing Kagan as his nomi- of Columbia Circuit and for Associate nee, President Obama said she is “an Justice Thurgood Marshall at the U.S. Vol.65 No.6 acclaimed legal scholar with a rich under- Supreme Court. Kagan later worked in a standing of constitutional law.” D.C.-area private law firm and as a pro- For the past fessor at the year, Kagan University of served as the U.S. Chicago Law June 2010 Solicitor General, School. supervising and From 1995 to conducting gov- 1999, Kagan ernment litiga- served in the tion in the High Clinton White INSIDE: Court. The House, first as Solicitor General Associate  Textbook update .2 determines when Counsel to the the government President and  will seek then as Deputy Kagan analysis . .4-5 Supreme Court President Obama meets with Kagan before nominating Assistant to the review in a case her for the U.S. Supreme Court. (White House Photo/Pete President for  James M. Dunn . .6 and which posi- Souza) Domestic Policy tion the govern- and Deputy  ment will take before the Court. Director of the Domestic Policy Council. News in brief ...... 7 Additionally, the Solicitor General person- President Bill Clinton nominated her to ally conducts oral arguments before the serve as a judge on the D.C. Court of Supreme Court or has a case assigned to Appeals in 1999, but her nomination was another government attorney. stalled in the U.S. Senate. She returned to On the Web In her tenure as Solicitor General, teaching in 1999, taking a position at Kagan argued six cases before the Harvard Law School. Kagan was named Supreme Court, including one in which dean in 2003 and was in that position www.BJConline.org she defended the government’s position, when Obama selected her to be U.S. www.BJConline.org/blog inherited from the Bush administration, Solicitor General in 2009. that a cross on government property in See pages 4-5 for more on the nomina- the Mojave Desert should be allowed to tion of Elena Kagan to be the next @BJContheHill stay in place (Salazar v. Buono). Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme If confirmed, Kagan would be the first Court. justice since Lewis Powell and William — Staff Reports 2

Report from the Capital to controversialtextbookstandards Texas boardgivesfinalapproval June 2010 aration between churchandstate”inalettertotheDanbury contrast thistothephrase‘separationofchurchandstate.’” gion orprohibitingthefreeexercisethereof,andcompare Congress shallmakenolawrespectinganestablishmentofreli- in America andguaranteeditfreeexercisebysayingthat ine thereasonsFoundingFathersprotectedreligiousfreedom promise language. amendment, offeringwhatsomeobservers characterizedascom- original intentpassed11-3.Itrewroteacontentiouschurch-state and contrastseparationofchurchstatewiththeFounders’ opposing them. with theboard’s nineRepublicansfavoring andfive Democrats government andothersocialstudies vote. Thenewstandards approved alengthylistofamendmentsonthedayfinal other largesttextbookmarket of strongchurch-stateseparationbutalsolegislatorsinthenation’s the standardsincludednotonlymanysupporters craft theirbookswiththeTexas marketinmind. books intheUnitedStates,andmanypublishers because Texas isoneofthetoptwo buyers oftext- Texas butalsocouldhave animpactnationally ine church-stateseparationcritically standards thaturgehighschoolstudentstoexam- Education voted May21toapprove socialstudiescurriculum AUSTIN, Texas As amended,thestandardstatesthatstudentsshould“[e]xam- Thomas Jefferson,whofamouslyusedthephrase“wall ofsep- One amendmentcallingonhighschoolstudentstocompare Over theobjectionofsomemembers,Texas board Those whoexpressedimmediatedisapproval of Those standardsnotonlyinfluencetextbooksin define kosher bysolelyOrthodoxstandards. Other from certifying food.Thenewlegislation doesnot food labelinglawthatprevented non-Orthodoxrabbis Prompted byalawsuit,Georgia repealeditsreligious Georgia: kosherlabeling exercise ofreligion.” that imposesanunreasonableburdenonaperson’s restrict wherechurchescanbelocatedor“inamanner from imposingland-userulesorzoningcodesto Gov. JanBrewer signedabillbarringlocalgovernments Arizona: “freeexerciseofreligion”law — Amid vocal protests,theTexas StateBoardof — for highschool-level classesinhistory, — California. . — passed alongpartylines, State updates tt,teBCisaresourceforyou. state, theBJC If you have aquestionaboutreligiouslibertyissueinyour abide bytheEstablishment Clause. such invocations aregovernment speech andmust nameatcouncilmeetingsbecause not prayinJesus’ after afederalcourtruled citycouncilmembercould departmental events. Thebanwas putinplace2008 chaplains fromusingsectarian prayers atofficialpublic Gov. BobMcDonnellliftedabanthatprevented police Virginia: banliftedonchaplainsectarianprayers Judaism. religious freedomandalternative interpretationsof states have madesimilar changesover concernsabout now headedtotheCaliforniastate Assembly. that theTexas standardsmighthave ontextbooksusedthere.Itis education officialsinthatstatetolookoutforpossibleinfluences long supportedinmyownBaptisttraditionandotherfaiths.” the importanceofkeepingreligionandstateseparate,aprinciple Austin, Texas. of faith,”saidRogerPaynter, pastorofFirstBaptistChurchin religious libertyin America istokeepgovernment outofmatters tions forreligiousfreedom. proposed languagethatwould downplayconstitutionalprotec- lum standards,somereligiousleadershadvoiced concernabout governed byChristianprinciples.” teach publicschoolstudentstheUnitedStatesis“aChristianland ing thepositionofavocal segmentofthestateboard ber CynthiaDunbarofRichmondofferedaninvocation articulat- board fromanearlydraftofthehighschoolstandardsinalist Baptist Association inConnecticut,hadbeendroppedbythe At theopeningofMay21meeting,Republicanboardmem- In California,thestateSenatepassedabillthatwould require “But thisstateboardappearshostiletoteachingstudentsabout “Our FoundingFathersunderstoodthatthebestway toprotect Prior tofinalpublichearingsandtheboard’s vote oncurricu- Rights andtheConstitutionitself James Madison standards. Buttheboardrejectedamove toadd the boardreinstatedJeffersontohighschool and inothercontexts. appeared inthestandardsatothergradelevels influential politicalthinkers,althoughhestill ologian JohnCalvin’s name. In responsetoafirestormover theomission, — primary authoroftheBill —Associated BaptistPress — and dropthe- — a desireto Judge: school cannot hold graduation in church BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A federal to First Cathedral in order to “stand up judge ruled May 31 that a for religious rights” and to fight back school district’s plan to hold graduation against the ACLU. ceremonies in a mega-church violates Judge Hall said she did not conclude the constitutionally mandated separa- the board necessarily shared tion of church and state and ordered Wolfgang’s purpose for moving the school officials to find a secular alterna- venue, but the larger issue was that tive site. After the ruling, the board under the circumstances a “reasonable decided to hold graduations at the high observer” attending the 2010 gradua- schools instead of the church but voted tions would perceive that the school to appeal the decision. district was endorsing religious views U.S. District Judge Janet Hall handed of the church. down a preliminary injunction blocking According to the opinion, one of the 8, a board member changed her vote, Enfield Public Schools from holding plaintiffs, an agnostic, attended last and the board voted to approve the graduations for two high schools sched- year’s graduation ceremony and said appeal. At press time, the school board uled June 23-24 at , that because of the “pervasively reli- planned to file an expedited appeal. a 120,000 square-foot facility that is gious environment” the student proba- James Gibson, staff counsel for the home to an 11,000-member Christian bly would not attend his or her own Baptist Joint Committee for Religious church. graduation if it were held at the church. Liberty, said having graduation exercis- The judge said two seniors at Another student who is Jewish said he es in a religious venue is commonplace Enfield High School and three parents or she would feel like First Cathedral is in some communities — particularly in proved “a likelihood of irreparable proselytizing its religious beliefs by rural areas where a local church is the harm” if the court did not intervene symbols like crosses, stained-glass win- only place large enough to hold the and “a substantial likelihood of suc- dows and Christian scriptures. crowd — but it can sometimes cause cess” in their lawsuit alleging that hold- Hall said the First Amendment pro- problems when it involves persons of a ing the graduation at the church vides that “Congress shall make no law different faith or no faith at all. instead of a neutral site violates the respecting an establishment of religion, While most graduations scheduled First Amendment to the U.S. or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” for religious venues are not veiled Constitution. but does not define “establishment.” To attempts to proselytize, Gibson said “It is unconstitutional and wrong for navigate interpretation of the Establish- graduation ceremonies should be held a school district to subject students and ment Clause, she said courts have in a non-religious venue whenever pos- families to religious messages as the adopted a principle of “neutrality” nei- sible. When a religious venue is the price of attending graduation,” said ther favoring nor disfavoring religion. most suitable option, measures should Alex Luchenitser, senior litigation coun- She said choosing to hold gradua- be taken to ensure that there is no sel for Americans United for Separation tion ceremonies at a church when sev- implicit or explicit linkage between the of Church and State. eral alternatives like a local symphony civic event and the host religious AU joined the American Civil hall were available — some at a lower venue. Liberties Union and the ACLU of cost — sends a message that Enfield In deciding to move its graduation Connecticut to challenge the graduation Public Schools endorses religion. ceremonies to the church, the Enfield

plans. Enfield High and another district The judge said forcing people to school board asked First Cathedral to Report from the Capital high school had been using the church choose between attending a public- cover or remove 16 items, including a as a temporary alternative for gradua- school ceremony amid religious communion table and all church pam- tions when construction was being imagery and missing high-school grad- phlets, in order to reduce the religious June 2010 done on their athletic fields during the uation ceremonies is “precisely the content of the setting. Since the church 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years. kind of coercion that violates the ignored such requests in the past, Judge Earlier this year, the school board Establishment Clause.” Hall said there is no guarantee that voted 6-3 to move the graduations back The school district argued that since church leaders would comply with the to the two schools themselves but later no religious activity occurs during request this year. reversed the decision after lobbying by graduation ceremonies they did not Even if they did, she said, it would the Family Institute of Connecticut, a violate the Establishment Clause. create “excessive entanglement” nonprofit that lobbies the state govern- On June 4, the Enfield Board of between church and state, because the ment for conservative values. Education voted 5-4 not to appeal the town of Enfield has no authority to Peter Wolfgang, executive director of ruling and then voted 7-2 to hold grad- monitor activities or interfere in reli- FIC and president of its lobbying arm, uations at each high school according gious matters within a local church. FIC Action, urged the board to return to The Hartford Courant. Then, on June —Associated Baptist Press & Staff Reports 3 4

Report from the Capital June 2010 E dissent in Court.) Mostrecently, JusticeStevens wrote theprimary from theCapital years onthebench.(SeeMay2010editionof ticipated indozensofchurch-statecasesduringhis34 became theleaderofCourt’s liberalwingandpar- nominated byRepublicanPresidentGeraldFordbut firmed, Kaganwould replaceJusticeStevens, who was particular concernsraisedduringourreview. Ifcon- Judiciary Committeetoquestionthenomineeabout replaced. We oftenurgemembersoftheSenate liberty andhowitcomparestothatofthejusticebe writings forcluesabouthisorherapproachtoreligious nomination processclosely, reviewingthenominee’s examining theirchurch-staterecords.We followthe Court nominees,we traditionallyhave preparedreports who knowherwell characterizeheras“inscrutable.” likely tocomebeforetheCourt. As aresult,even those Kagan hasexpressedfewopinionsonmattersthatare While widelyadmiredforexcellenceinherprofession, summer toreplace Associate JusticeDavidSouter. Associate JusticeSoniaSotomayor was nominatedlast surprising. Kaganwas consideredafrontrunnerbefore John Paul Stevens was not Justice Court Associate retiring U.S.Supreme Elena Kagantoreplace ting judge,shehasnever beenforcedtowriteopinions action, abortion,churchand stateissues.Unlikeasit- cific socialissuesthatgobefore thecourt added, “Whatisunclear, however, isherstandonspe- served intheClintonandObamaadministrations,he perspective. After notingthatsheisaDemocratwho together, was askedbyCNNaboutKagan’s political known KagansincetheybeganHarvard LawSchool analysis. LegaljournalistJeffreyToobin, whohas sions toreview, thereismuchlessonwhichtobasean Kagan hasnever beenajudge. With nowrittendeci- Kagan nominationisprovingespeciallydifficult. however, arealways precarious,andreviewofthe Kagan. the government, represented bySolicitorGeneral allowed acrosstoremainonpublicland,asurgedby P l While theBJCdoesnotendorseoropposeSupreme Predictions aboutthefutureimpactofajustice, K e Solicitor General tion ofU.S. Obama’s nomina- resident Barack a n Salazar v. Buono g a o elcin nSees tenureonthe for reflectionsonStevens’ a

n , acaseinwhichtheCourt : C By K.HollynHollman J G BJC a p — & ENERAL affirmative a b Report C l OUNSEL e l e and NeighborhoodPartnerships onreforminghowthe from thePresident’s Advisory Council onFaith-based the Obamaadministrationreceived recommendations nuanced terms.Forexample, inthepastfewmonths, important matterofdebate, albeitinmuchmore partners withreligiousentities,however, remainan ernment promotionofreligionwhenthegovernment and bestpracticesforavoiding unconstitutionalgov- given thecurrentstateof thelaw. Thelegalparameters from federalsocialservicesprogramsisnotsurprising religious entitiesshouldbecategoricallyprecluded ever heard.”Kagan’s strongrejectionoftheideathat Solicitor General,shecalledit“thedumbestthingI’ve about thatduringherconfirmationhearingsfor violation oftheEstablishmentClause.Whenasked them todosowithoutinjectingreligiousteachingin tain federalprogramsbecauseitwould bedifficultfor organizations shouldnotbeabletoparticipateincer- lar manner. Inhermemo,Kaganarguedthatreligious capable ofcarryingouttheirfunctionsinalawful,secu- could participateintheprogramsolongastheywere face, makingclearthatreligiouslyaffiliatedgrantees William Rehnquist,upheldthefederalstatuteonits The majorityopinion,writtenbythen-ChiefJustice a 5-4decision,theCourtupheldfederalprogram. caused byadolescentsexualrelationsandpregnancy. In counseling andeducationservicesrelatedtoproblems organizations, includingreligiousfor that providedgrantstopublicandnonprofitprivate Establishment Clausechallengetoafederalprogram Bowen v. Kendrick Thurgood Marshall,Kaganwroteamemorelatedto career tohermostrecentpost. highest levels ofgovernment fromthebeginningof her involved indebatesover religiouslibertyissuesatthe ing onchurch-stateissues,itisclearthatshehasbeen administration. Whilelittleisknownaboutherthink- perhaps mostnotablyasalegaladvisorintheClinton an attorneyinprivate practice,professor, dean,and tions willbeassessedinreferencetoherexperienceas a As alawclerktoSupremeCourt Associate Justice v i n g (1988). Thatcaseinvolved an

f e w record, Kagan’s qualifica- her views.” has noteven talkedabout ic. As farasIknow, she about themasanacadem- has chosennottowrite on thoseissues,andshe Absent ajudicial

c l u e s government operates in such partnerships to reduce Clause was violated prior to the transfer statute. She legal problems and protect religious freedom. said no, maintaining the position the government had In her most recent post, as Solicitor General, Kagan taken earlier in the case. has again been involved in the Supreme Court’s church- Kagan’s tenure in the Clinton administration provid- state jurisprudence. Since March of 2009, the Court ed many opportunities for involvement in church-state heard two religious liberty cases, one in which the policy matters. She served as Associate White House Solicitor General’s office participated. Despite lobbying Counsel (1995-96) and Deputy Assistant to the President by both sides, the Solicitor’s office did not intervene in for Domestic Policy and Deputy Director of the Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, a case involving a Domestic Policy Council (1997-99), providing advice on public university's nondiscrimination policy and the a range of issues. While the documents released from Christian Legal Society’s First Amendment challenge to her service in the Clinton White House thus far indicate the policy as applied to student organizations that little about her precise role, several show that she was restrict membership based on religion. That case was engaged to some extent in religious liberty issues, at argued in April and a decision is expected this month. times reviewing developments and participating in As mentioned earlier, however, in one of only six strategy discussions. cases she personally argued as Solicitor General, Kagan Among the 46,000 pages released so far are memos represented the Obama administration in Salazar v. indicating cooperation between the White House and Buono, a case inherited from the Bush administration. At religious liberty groups (including the BJC) in drafting the time it reached the Court, the issue was not the con- and promoting guidelines for religious expression in the stitutionality of the cross displayed on federal land federal workplace. Those guidelines were released in (twice ruled an unconstitutional endorsement of religion August 1997 and continue to be used in discussions by lower federal courts). Instead, the government was about possible workplace religious freedom legislation. defending an act of Congress to transfer the federal land She was invited to coalition meetings to discuss pro- on which the cross was displayed to a private party. posed federal legislation to bolster free exercise stan- During oral argument, Kagan was asked by Justice dards after the Supreme Court’s decision in City of Stevens if she would concede that the Establishment Boerne v. Flores (1997) that limited the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, as well as discus- sions about proposed workplace religious freedom leg-

J photo BJC islation. Some documents reflect the significant debates Church-state over changes in the law regarding religious entities that developments during provide government-funded social services. It was dur- Kagan’s time with the ing Kagan’s service in the Clinton administration that the first “charitable choice” provision was passed (as Clinton administration part of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act), a development that undermined constitutional protections for religious Kagan served at the highest levels of government liberty. Documents indicate that Kagan was involved at during a significant time in church-state rela- some level in discussions about a possible technical tions, including the following events revision to the welfare law, including the part that addressed participation of religious entities. One docu- 1996: Congress passes major welfare reform leg- ment shows a handwritten note to Domestic Policy islation that included “charitable choice,” a pro- Advisor Bruce Reed suggesting that Kagan did not vision that eliminated traditional church-state favor the Department of Justice’s effort to support a leg- Report from the Capital safeguards applied to religious entities provid- islative response to address the part of the welfare ing social services with government money. reform law that addressed religious entities. While she participated in these discussions, the documents June 2010 1997: In City of Boerne v. Flores, the U.S. released thus far do not indicate her views. Supreme Court limits application of the While little has been revealed about Kagan’s reli- Religious Freedom Restoration Act, creating a gious liberty views, the available record shows proximi- need for additional religious freedom legisla- ty to church-state debates throughout her career. In par- tion. ticular, the Clinton administration documents demon- strate engagement during a significant era of religious 1997: Clinton administration releases liberty developments. The BJC will continue to review “Guidelines on Religious Expression in the her record and nomination proceedings to urge atten- Federal Workplace,” drafted with input from tion to religious liberty among the vital issues a Supreme Court justice can influence during his or her the BJC and other organizations. lifetime tenure. 5 GUESTView BJC alumni across the country

Have you ever thought of Baptist Joint feared by some — legislators in the Committee alumni? Not likely, since the BJC Mississippi House of Representatives. He is James M. Dunn is not a school. an unlikely Democrat from his ritzy district Guest Columnist There is, however, a band of dedicated BJC in Pascagoula. Activist is a good tag for these graduates — the human product of months Christian missionaries to the larger society. or years in which they were focused on faith As Gardner Taylor says, “We must have the and freedom. They now serve in a variety of separation of Church and state so the church roles but are inescapably bound together by a will have some swinging room.” serviceable sense of soul freedom. Two staff alums — former BJC general BJC Executive For instance, Bill Underwood, the speaker counsels — deserve the international atten- Director Brent at this year’s Religious Liberty Council lunch- tion they are getting. Walker is on a eon in Charlotte on June 25, was a BJC intern Melissa Rogers, director of the Center for summer sabbatical. in 1981. He is now president of the presti- Religion and Public Affairs at the Divinity His column will gious Mercer University. Not only does he School of Wake Forest University, is, accord- return in October’s retain his commitment to Baptist identity, but ing to Christian Century, “one of the country’s Report from the he is leading Mercer to become the most truly foremost experts on faith and public policy.” Capital. “Baptist” university in America. In January 2010, the Center published a Two more recent interns are of splendid guide for Religious Expression in pace-setting Baptist churches just 30-some- American Public Life. It follows a decades- thing miles apart in Texas. Andrew long pattern set by the BJC for dealing with Daugherty has served the new Christ Church hot issues as a joint statement of current law. in Rockwall, Texas, a fresh, exciting faith fam- Rogers reflects her BJC history as a centrist ily. I must say (full disclosure) that we have a advocate of church-state separation when she special bond since he cared for me after I suf- says, “the more we can come to agreement on fered an aortic event in 2003. Brent Beasley is church-state issues the more durable policies the of venerable Broadway Baptist are.” In a divinity school course she and I Church in Fort Worth. Brent went way will teach this fall, we consider seriously the beyond the call of duty as a BJC intern by work of the President Obama’s Council on serving weeks more than his set time when a Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, staff member’s mother died. Now, he exercis- which she chaired. Would you like to audit es his pastoral gifts as a leader of the Baptist the class? cathedral for Fort Worth. A few blocks from Finally, longtime readers of Report from the Broadway is the First Presbyterian Church Capital remember well the insightful work of where the Rev. Robyn Byrd Michalove is Oliver Smith Thomas. That’s “Buzz.” associate pastor. Robyn was ad hoc “social He writes clearly and courageously in USA director” for the BJC in her internship. For Today as a religion columnist. In these days of me, whose parents were members of shrinking newspapers it is worth noting that Broadway in the 1920s, there is a certain sat- USA Today has the largest circulation of any isfaction in this. These three have found their newspaper in the United States. Good ole high calling of God in Christ Jesus doing pas- Buzz has an audience. toral ministry with an ethical edge. Maybe the Baptist Joint Committee is sort Then there’s the BJC’s first Bill Moyers of a school after all. May it ever be a good Scholar, Ryan M. Eller, who is the lead organ- one. June 2010 izer for C.H.A.N.G.E., which is the Industrial Areas Foundation for community organizing James M. Dunn is the president of the BJC in Winston-Salem, N.C. The church-friendly endowment and Resident Professor of Report from the Capital Report from civic action crowd is reshaping the city. and Public Policy at the Wake Forest University Another ex, Brandon Jones, has now School of Divinity. He was BJC executive director 6 become one of the most respected — and from 1980-1999. Report from the Capital June 2010

NEWS 7 Garriott v. and Arizona — Ankita Rao, Religion News Service Rao, Religion News — Ankita published a story on a Muslim sol- Atheist lawyer Michael Newdow said Michael Newdow Atheist lawyer — Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service The U.S. military should protect minor- The U.S. military should — Religion News Service and Staff Reports — — , are being consolidated into one appeal for review by one appeal for review consolidated into , are being “Government has a duty to protect religious freedoms has a duty to protect religious “Government Two cases challenging the Arizona law, law, Arizona the challenging cases Two “If the ruling stands, it seems to me that the executive In a May 7 ruling, Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the incorporation of the reli- “Whether the 2009 ceremony’s said In a concurring opinion, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh The Washington Post The Washington A and solu- four panelists discussed Klawonn group of said that Retired Brig. Gen. Rabbi Israel Drazin religious groups “If Congress is not able to do it, then Panel calls for military calls for military Panel freedom to protect religious and Pennsylvania, according to The Associated Press. Associated The to according and Pennsylvania, Winn v. Organization School Tuition Christian Winn fall. Court this the U.S. Supreme May 11 he plans to appeal a court decision that said his in “so help me God” and the words bid to halt prayers presidential inaugurations are now moot. will henceforth be able to trample branch of government who said Newdow, on individual rights with impunity,” represented himself and other atheists in the case. Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of said the issues of the case are no longer timely. constitutional may be an was gious oath and prayers contro- important question to plaintiffs, but it is not a live of the fed- itself of the judicial powers that can avail versy eral courts,” she wrote. the court could not discount the religious significance of challenged in the case, but he said neither “so the prayers help me God” in a presidential oath nor the inaugural could be considered proselytizing. prayers WASHINGTON WASHINGTON Newdow plans appeal of inaugural prayer case WASHINGTON WASHINGTON ranks, said a California congress- ity faiths within its on religion May 18 at a Capitol Hill symposium on woman Alliance and by The Interfaith in the military organized of the Baptist Joint Committee staff. attended by members them to be trampled on, anywhere,” ... and not to allow is a hallmark of said Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif. “Diversity our society.” dier who filed more than 20 complaints alleging religion- dier who filed more than 20 complaints Spec. Zachari Klawonn, based harassment. The soldier, in March addressing his faith. a threatening note received edu- including tions to religious intolerance in the military, by the Supreme Court. cation, new laws, and intervention it more difficult for Congress should pass a law making in the name of the military to curtail religious observances military necessity. Drazin said. should petition the Supreme Court,” The Moore Talbot ), the Supreme The U.S. Supreme Court will review Zelman v. Simmons-Harris Zelman v. — . Opponents, including the American . Opponents, including the Cody Moore is a 2009 graduate of is a 2009 graduate Cody Moore The Baptist Joint Committee is pleased Joint Committee The Baptist Amanda Talbot is a 2010 graduate of is a 2010 graduate Amanda Talbot As part of the 13-year-old tax-tuition program, taxpay- As part of the 13-year-old 91.5 percent of the $52 million collected in Last year, of scheme is a backdoor way convoluted “Arizona’s Alliance Defense Fund will The Christian legal group Appeals declared While the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of In a 2002 case ( Western Carolina University, where she Carolina University, Western degree with a concentration in profes- earned an English The Stanfield, sional writing and a minor in journalism. This Amy Talbot. of Jeff and is the daughter N.C., native a missionary and pursue a as fall, she hopes to travel journalism career. to welcome two summer interns to work summer interns two to welcome D.C. its staff in Washington, alongside where he earned University A&M Texas The history. biochemistry and degrees in is the son of native College Station, Texas, Moore and a member Robert and Connie College Station. of First Baptist Church an internship Moore recently completed D- Chet Edwards, in the office of Rep. he plans to pursue a and this fall Texas, in philosophy at Texas degree master’s A&M. BJC interns summer welcomes Arizona tax-tuition program Arizona tax-tuition program goes to U.S. Supreme Court WASHINGTON WASHINGTON ers receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in state income a dollar-for-dollar ers receive school-tuition taxes for their donations to not-for-profit organizations. according to to religious schools, Arizona went execu- subsidizing religious education,” said Barry Lynn, Americans United for the Separation of director of tive Church and State. ADF attorneys tax-tuition program. Arizona’s defend said the program “is constitutional because it involves choices and funding, not government individual, private action or money.” Arizona program violated the separa- that the last year tion of church and state, the Supreme Court has upheld institu- parents public funding for private cases that give tions. the constitutionality of an Arizona program that provides the constitutionality of an school scholar- state tax breaks for donations to private ship programs. Arizona Republic the program vio- Civil Liberties Union and others, argue which prohibits government Amendment, lates the First establishment of religion. Court upheld a Cleveland case that allowed public school case that allowed Court upheld a Cleveland to be used for parochial schools. Other states vouchers with tax-tuition programs include Florida, Georgia, Iowa