Written by Don Byrd
Good news for high school students interested in religious liberty topics and looking for an opportunity to win some scholarship cash: entry forms for the Baptist Joint Committee’s Essay Scholarship Contest for 2016 are now available.
The topic comes right out of this year’s headlines.
Essay contest topic:
At times, an elected or government-appointed official may encounter a conflict between his or her job requirements and a personal religious belief. For example, a county clerk may not want to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of his or her religious view of marriage. Similarly, a clerk who is a pacifist may object to issuing a gun license based on his or her religious belief.
Should an elected official be able to opt out of certain job duties? How far should government go to accommodate elected or appointed government officials who have religious objections to certain job requirements?
Write an essay in which you discuss both the rights and responsibilities of the official and of the individual(s) applying for the license. In what way does your solution affect all parties involved?
The Grand Prize is $2,000 and a trip for two to Washington, D.C.! Visit the BJC’s essay scholarship page for more details on essay requirements and how to enter.
The 2015 Grand Prize winner was Zoe Almeda, from San Antonio, Texas. Watch her read her winning essay, “Balancing Act: On Compromise Between Business and Workers.”
