Freedom of Conscience Is Not a Luxury…It is Bedrock
By Suzii Paynter
Freedom of conscience isn't a luxury. It is a bedrock; it is the first freedom, the first sixteen words of the US Constitution, Bill of rights. This first freedom (Religious) provides protection for all.
Those who serve in government are not disqualified from having religious beliefs and exercising their religious beliefs in ways that are protected by law.
We all — Judge Griffen included — are entitled to practice our faith. Judge Griffen was entitled to practice his religion on Good Friday. He was entitled to practice his religion as a follower of Jesus with other members of New Millennium Church. He was entitled to practice his religion even if others disapprove of the way he practices it.
As individual Christians and just thankful Americans – we have inherited a legacy of religious freedom.
We rise today to stand with Reverend /Judge Wendell Griffen—our brother and fellow pastor who serves faithfully both his church as pastor and the state as an elected official.
We rise today as a positive witness for religious freedom. We are proud of the contribution of Baptists in standing up to government, fighting to secure and protect our country’s religious freedom, including by supporting federal and state religious freedom restoration acts such as Arkansas’ RFRA.
(These laws apply broadly to treat all claims under the same standard – often claims that honor God’s gift of life, at the beginning and at the end. Today there is a lot of confusion about religious liberty and what it means, but we are determined to continue to fight for the principle and its application to the broadest extent we can. Of course, that also means taking account of the interests of others.)
Arkansas’ RFRA, like the federal law, protects against government burdens on religion’s exercise unless such burdens are necessary — justified by compelling government interests, narrowly tailored to meet those interests. Not all claims will or should succeed, but it provides broad protection with a careful balanced standard.
Courts will decide whether the complaint against Judge Griffen should be dismissed, but regardless of the particular claim or outcome of any cases, Baptists will continue to stand firm for religious freedom for all. And, we applaud the many ways Judge Griffen serves our state and our community.
Reverend Suzii Paynter is the Executive Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and can be reached at: 512-789-5702, spaynter@cbf.net
