Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs

The Baptist Joint Committee began in 1936 as the Committee on Public Relations. In 1946 the committee established offices in Washington, D.C., and became the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs. In 2005, the BJC name changed to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty to more accurately reflect our singular focus on religious liberty issues. Serving 15 Baptist bodies, the Baptist Joint Committee is a non-profit 501(c)(3) education and advocacy organization that has worked for more than 70 years promoting religious liberty and upholding the principle of church-state separation.

The Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, located in Washington, DC, represents several Baptist denominations in the United States and deals with religious liberty and church-state issues. J.M Dawson served as the first executive director from 1946 to 1953. Other directors included, C. Emanuel Carlson (1954-71), James E. Wood (1972- 1980), and James M. Dunn (1980- ).

The Baptist Joint Committee began in 1936 as the Committee on Public Relations. In 1946, the committee established offices in Washington, D.C., and became the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs. In 2005, the Baptist Joint Committee name changed to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty to more accurately reflect the singular focus on religious liberty issues. The BJC serves several Baptist denominations in the United States and has worked for more than 70 years in promoting religious liberty and upholding the principle of church-state separation.