The National Association of Evangelicals, of which the Worldwide Church of God is a member (May 20 WN, page 3), urges our support for a proposed constitutional amendment, the Religious Freedom Amendment (HJR78), as presented in the U.S. House of Representatives in May by Rep. Ernest J. Istook Jr. (Republican-Oklahoma).
Don Argue, NAE president, urges us to write our representatives and senators in support of this amendment.
The Religious Freedom amendment reads: "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: The people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed.
"The government shall not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity; initiate or designate school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion."
Argue said: "It is critically important that evangelicals clearly show their support on this issue. Letters to representatives and senators need to come from every part of our nation."
House hearings are expected this summer, which should lead to votes in the House and the Senate in the fall. A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds affirmative vote, and then must be ratified by 38 states (75 percent) to become part of the Constitution.
You can write to your senator at:
The Honorable (full name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C., 20510
Or your representative at:
The Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C., 20515
June 24, 1997, WN, page 11
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