When Religion and
Politics Meet:
A conversation about the Role of Religion in the
Electoral Process
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
#FaithVote
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
Sign-Up for Updates on our
Web site
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
Our Presenters:
Rev. C. Welton Gaddy
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.
Facebook.com/Inter
faithAlliance
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
@IntrfthAlliance
@WeltonGaddy
www.interfaithalliance.org
Our Presenters:
K. Hollyn Hollman
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.
Facebook.com/
ReligiousLiberty
Twitter.com/
BJContheHill
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
BJConline.org/blo
g
www.BJConline.org
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote | www.interfaithalliance.org/elections
Available to download at interfaithalliance.org/elections
5 Questions Guide
Candidate
Guide
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
House of
Worship
Guide
5 Questions for political
candidates
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
http://interfaithalliance.org/elections/questions
See if you can navigate
difficult situations during
this election season!
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
http://interfaithalliance.org/redlightgreenlighttest/
See if you can navigate
difficult situations during
this election season!
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
http://interfaithalliance.org/redlightgreenlighttest/
See if you can navigate
difficult situations during
this election season!
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
http://interfaithalliance.org/redlightgreenlighttest/
See if you can navigate
difficult situations during
this election season!
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
http://interfaithalliance.org/redlightgreenlighttest/
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.
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
The First Amendment
First 16 words:
“Congress shall make no
law respecting an
establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; …”
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
The separation of
church and state
does not mean
a separation of
religion and
politics.
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
AP
AP/PTI
Corbis
AP
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
John Russell/AP Photo
AP Photo/Patti Longmire
AP
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
Tennessean
Religion in Presidential
Campaigns
Use
Abuse
 Personal background and
biography
 Becomes a de facto
religious test
 Relevant to policy
 Defines policy
 Demonstrates constitutional
understanding
 Undercuts Constitution
 Interacts with religious
leaders
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
 Corrupts religion
Q&A
 Submit questions to our moderator, Sandy
Sorensen, by using the chat feature in the bottom
right corner of the screen.
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote
Get Involved
 Visit our website www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote to
find many more resources including:
 Guidelines for Action
 Voter Registration Ideas
 Youth Activities
 Worship Resources and more
 Be sure to sign up for our mailing list to receive
info about upcoming webinars
 Tweet about the elections via #faithvote
www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote