WHEREAS, There has recently been launched a movement composed of many groups known as “Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State,” which has proclaimed its purposes as follows: (1) to revive in the public mind a clear understanding of the Constitutional basis upon which religious liberty has been guaranteed, (2) to redress the specific violations which have recently come into force, and (3) to resist further encroachments upon this Constitutional principle; and
WHEREAS, Within the space of a few months this movement has rapidly progressed in the arousing and mobilizing of American public opinion toward a renewed interest and vigorous action in behalf of the maintenance of this great American doctrine; and
WHEREAS, This strong organization makes its appeal for individual memberships for the maintenance of the principle of separation of church and state, upon which the Federal Constitution guarantees religious liberty to all the people and all churches of this republic; and
WHEREAS, The organization asks for no official appointment of financial apportionment from us, but relies upon individual support of this cause in which every Baptist is vitally interested;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That (1) we commend the purpose of “Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State” as declared in its “Manifesto,” signed by John A. Mackay, President, Princeton Theological Seminary, Edwin McNeill Poteat, President, Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, G. Bromley Oxnam, Bishop of the Methodist Church, New York Area, New York City, Louie D. Newton, President, Southern Baptist Convention, and Charles Clayton Morrison, Former Editor “The Christian Century”; and (2) That we commend the hopeful activities as conducted by the trusted officials and widely representative members of the National Advisory Council of “Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State,” believing that only by united effort can we hope for the preservation of this great American principle.
RESOLUTION CONCERNING BAPTIST CONCEPT OF FREEDOM AND SPIRITUAL VALUES
RESOLVED, That communism, fascism, political ecclesiasticism, and anti-Semitism are utterly contrary to the genius of our Baptist concept of freedom and spiritual values.