[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 170 (Monday, October 23, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING REVEREND BARRY W. LYNN OF AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF 
                            CHURCH AND STATE

                                  _____
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 23, 2017

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great 
champion of religious freedom and my friend, the Reverend Barry W. 
Lynn, who will soon retire after 25 years as executive director of 
Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
  An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and an attorney, 
Rev. Lynn has paired his two callings and been a leader in the fight to 
protect our civil rights and civil liberties, especially the First 
Amendment. His work has helped protect our right to believe (or not) as 
we see fit and guarantee that the government does not promote religion. 
Rev. Lynn has been on the frontlines of the fight to ensure that 
religion is not used as an excuse to discriminate against others, 
dictate people's private lives, tell others whom they can love, or 
limit people's access to healthcare.
  Under Rev. Lynn's leadership, Americans United has grown into one of 
the most prominent organizations in the country working to protect 
religious freedom. During his tenure, the organization has led the 
charge to defend the wall of separation between church and state.
  Rev. Lynn's tenure is marked by efforts to ensure that all people 
feel welcomed in their community regardless of their faith. He led 
Americans United's fight to ensure that students at public schools were 
taught science rather than creationism in their classrooms and for the 
removal the 2\1/2\ ton monument to the Ten Commandments erected at the 
Alabama Supreme Court. During his leadership, Americans United 
successfully stopped a proposed constitutional amendment to allow 
public school-sponsored prayers and fought for women's health and 
equality when it stood up for students when their university cited 
religion to block their access to birth control.
  Rev. Lynn is an author and educator who has shared his expertise with 
audiences across the country, giving speeches, appearing on television, 
hosting his long-running radio show, and testifying in Congress, about 
why the constitutional principle of church-state separation is the only 
way to ensure freedom of religion for all Americans.
  Although he will now have more time to spend with his twin 
grandchildren, just born this summer, Rev. Lynn's lifelong passion for 
social justice remains. I feel confident he will continue to engage in 
social justice issues and stand up for important causes for years to 
come.
  It has been my pleasure to work with Rev. Lynn over the last two 
decades. I commend him for his transformational service to Americans 
United, our Constitution, and our country, and I wish him well in his 
retirement.

                          ____________________