January 5, 1998

National Religious Freedom Day Ceremony to Recognize

Steven Rockefeller

The Council of America’s First Freedom will honor

Steven C. Rockefeller, professor of religion and former dean at

Middlebury College, with the 1998 National First Freedom Award

during the National Religious Freedom Day Ceremony at Bruton Parish

Church in Colonial Williamsburg, Va., on Sunday, January 11 at

5:00 p.m. Two Richmond congregations will be similarly honored

at the ceremony.

Rockefeller will receive the Council’s 1998 National

First Freedom Award for his efforts to promote dialogue and mutual

understanding among the world’s religions. He is the author of

numerous books, papers and articles that explore the often complex

relationship between religion and contemporary issues, and has

appeared on Bill Moyer’s “World of Ideas” series, and

other public television programs. He received his Master of Divinity

from Union Theological Seminary in New York and a Ph.D. in the

philosophy of religion and history from Columbia University.

Former recipients of the National First Freedom Award

include Richard C. Holbrooke, former U.S. Assistant Secretary

of State for European and Canadian Affairs, and Dr. Merrill D.

Peterson, Thomas Jefferson Professor Emeritus at the University

of Virginia.

National Religious Freedom Day, which celebrates

the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom by the

Virginia General Assembly on January 16, 1786, is proclaimed by

the President of the United States and endorsed by the governors

of 35 states. The Virginia Statute was written by Thomas Jefferson,

inspired by George Mason, and guided through the General Assembly

by James Madison. It articulates the principles of religious

freedom and separation of church and state that inspired the First

Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The Council for America’s First Freedom, a not-for-profit

organization based in Richmond, is dedicated to celebrating and

extending the influence of the Virginia Statute through educational

programs, sponsorship of National Religious Freedom Day activities,

and through historical interpretation of the Statute at the site

where it was enacted at the streets of 14th and East

Cary, in Richmond.

The congregations of St. James Episcopal Church and

Temple Beth Ahabah, both of Richmond, will receive the Council’s

1998 Virginia First Freedom Award.

The ceremony is free and open to the public.