When Religion and Politics Meet: A conversation about the Role of Religion in the Electoral Process

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Our Presenters: The Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy is president of Interfaith Alliance, a national, non-partisan grassroots organization that celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Dr. Gaddy also serves as the Pastor for Preaching and Worship at Northminster (Baptist) Church in Monroe, Louisiana, and he is the author of over 20 books addressing religion in American life. Every week, he hosts State of Belief on Air America Radio, where he explains and explores the role of religion in the life of the nation. Dr. Gaddy provides regular commentary to the national media on issues relating to religion and politics. Dr. Gaddy is recognized as a leading advocate for protecting the boundaries between religion and government. He has been a forceful critic of the faith-based initiative and, has been at the forefront of efforts to pass comprehensive hate crimes legislation, end religious profiling and keep religion out of public classrooms. Rev. C. Welton Gaddy

K. Hollyn Hollman is general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. As general counsel, Ms. Hollman provides legal analysis on church-state issues that arise before Congress, the courts, and administrative agencies. Her work includes preparing friend-of-the-court submissions, presentations for research institutions and religious organizations, and issue briefings for congressional staff. She writes a regular column for the BJC's monthly publication, Report from the Capital. In addition, she consults with national print media on matters relating to church-state relations and has appeared in leading publications including The Washington Post, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor and Christian Century. Hollman has also appeared on National Public Radio, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News Channel, NBC Nightly News and PBS "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly." Prior to her work at the Baptist Joint Committee, Hollman was an attorney in private practice specializing in employment law and litigation. She practiced in firms in Nashville, Tennessee, and in the District of Columbia. She is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court, District of Columbia and Tennessee bars. Hollman graduated with a B.A. in politics from Wake Forest University. She received her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was a member of the Tennessee Law Review and the National Moot Court Team. Our Presenters: K. Hollyn Hollman Facebook.com/ ReligiousLiberty Twitter.com/ BJContheHill BJConline.org/blo g

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5 Questions Guide Candidate Guide House of Worship Guide Available to download at interfaithalliance.org/elections

5 Questions for political candidates

See if you can navigate difficult situations during this election season!

See if you can navigate difficult situations during this election season!

See if you can navigate difficult situations during this election season!

See if you can navigate difficult situations during this election season!

U.S. Constitution Article VI, Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

The First Amendment First 16 words: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …

The separation of church and state does not mean a separation of religion and politics.

AP Corbis AP/PTI

Tennessean AP AP Photo/Patti Longmire John Russell/AP Photo

Religion in Presidential Campaigns Abuse Becomes a de facto religious test Defines policy Undercuts Constitution Corrupts religion Use Personal background and biography Relevant to policy Demonstrates constitutional understanding Interacts with religious leaders

Q & A Submit questions to our moderator, Sandy Sorensen, by using the chat feature in the bottom right corner of the screen.

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