The Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 is a bill led by Senator Lankford and by Rep. Walberg, affirming the freedom of all students to meet on public college campuses based on their shared religious beliefs. In recent years, schools across the country have erupted in controversy regarding student protesting and speech due to differing beliefs held by students. The intensity only seems to increase year by year.
The ERLC along with over 40 different organizations joined a letter led by Christian Legal Society to support the Equal Campus Access Act. The letter highlights the right to assembly and right to free speech as foundational elements of a free and truly pluralistic society. The letter states:
We agree on affirming the freedom of all students to meet on their public college campuses based upon their shared religious beliefs. The right to assemble based on religiously informed beliefs is foundational to a free and truly pluralistic society. This right includes the ability to choose leaders who affirmatively support the distinctive religious messages and missions of their various groups.
Faith-based student organizations should not face discrimination on college campuses solely because they require their leaders to agree with their core religious beliefs. Basic religious freedom—and common sense—require that a religious group be permitted to require that its leaders agree with its religious message and mission.
Unfortunately, on too many college campuses, religious student organizations are denied this essential freedom.
Because this problem is national in scope, a national solution is needed. If America is to continue to be a nation characterized by religious diversity, public university campuses must teach and model respect for diverse religious beliefs and practices.
What is the Equal Campus Act of 2025?
The Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 will ensure that “such groups will be allowed to meet on campuses nationwide, providing authentic faith communities where students can find belonging, and enabling them to freely discuss, live out and share their religious ideas and values.” As Sen. Lankford said, this bill would ensure that “religious student organizations will not face discrimination on college campuses.”
What do Southern Baptists believe about religious freedom?
Southern Baptists believe “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate.”
In this way, the Baptist Faith & Message summarizes the biblical teaching on religious liberty and freedom of conscience, a Baptist distinctive. The ERLC will continue this legacy in our moral education and in our advocacy—a legacy of religious freedom for all people.
