To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled:
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Southern Baptist Convention, representing a membership of 4,389,417, do hereby endorse the proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit sectarian appropriations, House J. Res. __________, introduced in Congress at the request of the American Minute Men (League Opposed to Sectarian Appropriations), and urge its immediate passage.
RESOLUTION ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION
(Your Commission regards the freedom of religion as a matter of such vital concern that it recommends the adoption of the following resolutions which were adopted last year);
1. That we hereby reaffirm our devotion to the fundamental New Testament doctrine and fundamental principle of the American Government, the separation of church and state; religion must be kept free from all entangling alliances with government and government must not assume patronage, sponsorship or control over religion in any form.
2. That we also declare it to be our abiding conviction that this fundamental doctrine of the New Testament and sacred principle of government cannot be maintained if and when the government becomes the financial sponsor for churches, provides financial subsidies for churches or other religious institutions, or appropriates money out of the public treasury to sectarian institutions.
3. That we would call the attention of Southern Baptist pastors and churches to these matters and would urge them with all diligence to maintain this doctrine in all of their activities and relationships and at all costs to abstain from borrowing money from government, receiving the financial endorsement of the government and receiving appropriations of funds from the public treasury, whether national or state.
4. That we would enter our earnest protest against the violation of this principle by any Baptist church or Baptist institution or by others, and especially against the appropriation or application of public funds to sectarian institutions of whatever name or order.