Religious Liberty Policy
“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. Moreover, our Baptist ancestors in the U.S. were instrumental in the crafting and adoption of the First Amendment to our Constitution, which guarantees free exercise of religion for all and forbids the establishment of a state-driven religion. The ERLC will continue this legacy in our moral education and in our advocacy—a legacy of religious freedom for all people, not just for those who share our beliefs. Recent years have seen simultaneous gains for religious freedom in the courts and threats from administrative and legislative action. Here are issues of particular concern in 2024.
Issues related to religious liberty
Select a policy and understand our position and actions.
Policy Center /
What the ERLC is engaging in 2024
Oppose the Equality Act
Oppose the Biden Administration’s Anti-Religious Liberty Regulatory Actions
Support the Uyghur Policy Act
Oppose attacks on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Support the Safeguarding Charity Act
Support protections for international religious freedom
Support the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act
Support a Two-year Universal Charitable Deduction to Encourage Giving to Charities
Support Nigeria CPC Designation
Support Conscience Protection Act
Combat Global Antisemitism
How to use this policy center
Use the menu to select an issue from the annual policy agenda that outlines the core public policy priorities for this Commission over the next year. Within each issue, learn more through explainers, ERLC and SBC actions, white papers, and related resources.
Essay
Southern Baptists and religious liberty
Religious freedom is a foundational principle that promotes authentic human flourishing and helps enable the free advance of the gospel.