‍Religious Liberty Sunday is a time for churches to observe and to celebrate religious freedom, a principle upheld by Virginia Baptists for generations. Did you know BGAV has a standing committee whose sole purpose is to advocate for religious liberty?

A few months ago, on January 16, amidst the commemoration of Religious Freedom Day, a dedicated team from the Religious Liberty Committee (RLC) made their way to the Virginia Legislature to advocate for the preservation and enhancement of religious freedom. The group aimed to remind senators and delegates of Virginia's storied history in championing the cause of religious liberty.

The delegation was led by Shelton Miles, BGAV’s president, and Adam Tyler, chairperson of the Religious Liberty Committee. They were joined by committee members Rick Clore, and Sarah Amick, along with Ken Kessler, who serves as the staff liaison for the committee.

Virginia Baptists have a long-standing tradition of supporting religious liberty, a principle that has been a cornerstone of their advocacy since the 1700s. This historical commitment was a focal point of the discussions with legislators, as the committee emphasized the importance of protecting these freedoms in contemporary society.

"The enduring liberty of the soul has been a profound passion for Virginia Baptists since the days of James Madison and ThomasJefferson," noted Shelton Miles, illustrating the deep-rooted values that guide BGAV.

As the legislature convened on this symbolic day, the Religious Liberty Committee sought to engage lawmakers in meaningful dialogue about the critical role that religious freedom plays in maintaining a harmonious and diverse society. Adam Tyler expressed, "It is our duty to ensure that the legacy of religious liberty, which our forebears held dear, continues to flourish for generations to come."

By advocating for these essential freedoms, the committee aims not only to honor the past but to secure a future where religious expression is revered and protected across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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As a call to action, the RLC invites churches to participate in Religious Liberty Sunday, which is annually held on the last Sunday of June. Congregations are encouraged to celebrate the importance of religious liberty in our culture through various activities:

• Encourage Bible study teachers to highlight the value of religious liberty in Virginia. Have them distribute the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and discuss how John Leland, a Baptist pastor, influenced Thomas Jefferson as he wrote this pivotal document.
• Invite groups to visit the Virginia Baptist Historical Society at the University of Richmond to view the key to the Culpeper jail and other artifacts that chronicle the Baptist story of being imprisoned for preaching the gospel message.
• Share enlightening YouTube videos with the congregation that tell the stories of John Leland and John Weatherford and their fight for religious liberty:
  
  • John Weatherford
  • John Leland and James Madison
• Preach a sermon or lead a Bible study on the importance of religious liberty.
• Join the RLC next January 16 to lobby for religious freedom at the state legislature.
• Organize workshops and classes for youth and children on the history and significance of religious liberty in the state of Virginia.
• Organize a prayer vigil for minority groups ofChristians, Jews, and other religious groups who are persecuted around the world.

This is an opportunity to embrace, own, celebrate, and pass on the grand legacy of religious liberty that Virginia Baptists have fervently defended and to safeguard it against encroachments of new establishments of religion or attempts to proscribe the free exercise of religion. As SheltonMiles stated, "Baptists have always been committed to religious liberty for all believers of any stripe, and unbelievers as well. Our commitment to religious liberty is grounded in our theological and biblical view that the only authentic faith is one that is freely and voluntarily chosen."