Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland said religious liberty must always be defended in the United States of America.
“I believe in order, to be sure,” Westmoreland said, “but I also believe in freedom. Our Baptist colleges must operate in an atmosphere of freedom to fulfill our mission.”
Westmoreland was guest presenter at the spring meeting of Alabama Baptists’ Christian Life Commission (CLC) in Montgomery on March 3.
In discussing the history of higher education and religious freedom in America, Westmoreland referenced several notable developments. He included the founding of religiously affiliated colleges during the colonial era, the creation of the University of Virginia in 1819 with Jefferson’s emphasis on “no faith” equal to any faith, the rise of the “scientific method” during the 1800s and the investment of funds from the federal government in higher education, beginning primarily in the 1960s.
It is the most recent change — the introduction of federal dollars into higher education — that has given rise to tensions related to religious liberty, Westmoreland said.
“Government involvement in higher education was born of an interest to do good and be of help,” he said, “but the availability of federal support for students who attend religiously affiliated colleges and universities has created tension regarding interpretations of religious liberty.”
Westmoreland said he remembers listening to debates in Baptist associations when he was a youth regarding the issue of Baptist-related colleges accepting federal dollars. Over the years as federal support has grown the matter has become more complex. He explained that in the early years of the Obama administration most student loans were changed to direct federal control, posing a potential challenge for church-related institutions.
‘Additional oversight’
“While this may be good for the borrower since the interest rate is lower the fear is that the federal government may claim additional oversight of religiously affiliated institutions,” he said.
While those problems may be years down the road, he argued that leaders should be vigilant.
Regarding the defense of religious liberty, Westmoreland said, “What we see in Christian higher education we may see more broadly in our churches in the future.
“But I’m heartened by the support of many friends and the knowledge that God is in control. We have the greatest story in the world to tell and we must never be afraid to engage the world,” he said.
In other business, CLC commissioners heard from state missionary Jim Swedenburg concerning the Alabama Hunger Relief offering.
Swedenburg said, “2016 was a good year. We received more hunger funds than in 2015. We traditionally promote this offering on the second Sunday in October but the State Board of Missions receives hunger funds 12 months of the year. Twenty-five percent of the funds remain in our state for hunger needs.”
Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, reported on activity in the current session of the state Legislature.
“Interest in alcohol bills is low except for Sunday sales,” he said. “Most gambling legislation is on hold due to the governor’s task force. But we need to encourage pastors and churches to be heard on moral issues.”
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