Freedom of conscience is a characteristic of God. He created us free to choose Him or to reject Him. He accepted the cross rather than compromise our freedom of conscience. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long advocated for religious freedom, believing that it is best achieved through the separation of church and state.
Some of the church's earliest activities in public affairs was its contacts with the U.S. government during the Civil War, seeking to prevent church members from being conscripted into the army in a combative status. In 1888–89, the U.S. Congress considered legislation establishing Sunday as an official holiday. A. T. Jones, one of the early religious liberty leaders, testified before the U.S. Senate Blair Committee, presenting the church's position on religious freedom and the proposed Sunday law. The bill was never passed.
In 1889, the National Religious Liberty Association was formed. In 1905, the General Conference formed the religious liberty bureau which, in 1909, became the religious liberty department. This department is now known as the public affairs and religious liberty department (PARL), and it is actively pursuing religious freedom for Adventist Church members, non-members, and the church itself.
While the PARL department deals with many issues of conscience—such as the freedom to distribute literature and collect funds, Sabbath exams and school and professional certifications, union membership, and religious issues in child custody disputes—the single largest activity of the department is attempting to resolve the conflict between Sabbath observance and employers' schedules.
The PARL department protects freedom of conscience by education, legislation, and litigation. The preferred method is educating the general public and employers as to the importance of freedom of conscience, and, where appropriate, the obligation to accommodate religious convictions. PARL is also active at the state and federal levels seeking legislation which will give equal job opportunities to sabbatarians. If all else fails, litigation is the last resort. Unfortunately, with more than 1,000 Adventists losing their jobs every year because of Sabbath-employment conflicts, the church cannot sponsor litigation to remedy all of these wrongs. The Title VII Litigation Committee at the General Conference sponsors cases with the broadest impact and the greatest precedential value for other Sabbath employment situations.
An offering to support religious liberty is scheduled every January to assist with the costs of protecting freedom. Part of the offering supports the publication and distribution of Liberty magazine. Liberty is sent free to those individuals who can directly impact freedom, (i.e., judges, lawyers, legislators, and opinion leaders), and to other public resources such as libraries and the media. Part of the offering subsidizes an office on Capitol Hill to relate to the United States government, and a portion of the offering is used to help fund litigation.
With so many court decisions being decided against sabbatarians with conflicting job schedules, the NAD PARL department, with the assistance of the union PARL directors, is pursuing passage of the Religious Freedom in the Workplace Act. This legislation is desperately needed to preserve employees' religious practices. While there are 21 sponsors thus far in the Senate, it is essential that we pull together to enact this legislation.
If you have been the object of religious discrimination in employment or in other areas mentioned above, you may contact the PARL department at the Lake Union Conference. Everything possible will be done to assist you in resolving the discriminatory action, and if necessary, the matter will be referred to the appropriate committees at the General Conference.
Vernon Alger is the Lake Union Conference public affairs and religious liberty department director.
