Religious Liberty + Social Justice in the News

• In Florida, Catholic Bishops Tell AG There’s No Theological Reason for School Vaccine Exemptions: CIDRAP reports that “Florida’s Catholic schools do not accept religious exemptions for vaccines. In a letter to Attorney General James Uthmeier, made public last week, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said Florida bishops don’t have to justify their position, but are doing so ‘out of respect for you and your office.’ The letter goes on to say that the position against religious exemptions for vaccines is rooted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that, ‘Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.’” Read more here.

• Is America a “Creedal Nation” - And Should There Be a Religious Test to Hold Public Office? Recently, Doug Wilson, a leading Christian nationalist pastor from Moscow, Idaho, declared that New Yorkers who voted for Zohran Mamdani should lose their citizenship. Wilson made the comments at an event where Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and others promoted various versions of Christian Nationalism. While Wilson didn’t specify why Mamdani voters should lose their citizenship, he did state his belief that America is a “creedal nation”, promoting the unfounded idea that the American government is an officially Christian one. The implication? Only those who swear to the (as yet undetermined) creed are true citizens or eligible to hold office. Of course, the idea that there should be any religious test to hold public office is something the Constitution forbids for any federal office, and which also applies to the states via the fourteenth amendment. On a related note, back in 2021, Vice published a troubling expose of some of the bizarre — and evil — teachings promoted by Wilson, including unbiblical ideas on male dominance in marriage, that seems to justify marital rape: “a man penetrates, conquers, colonizes, plants,” while a “woman receives, surrenders, accepts,” and that “true authority and true submission are therefore an erotic necessity.” In Wilson’s wife Nancy’s book, The Fruit of Her Hands, she describes wives as lovely, enclosed gardens cultivated for marital sex: “But of course a husband is never trespassing in his own garden.”

• A Country Full of Bibles and Empty of Love - When Christian Nationalism Mistakes Political Power for Faith: Dante Stewart writes that “Christian nationalism is not just a theological or political failure. It is a human failure: a failure to care, a failure to treat another the way Jesus would treat them, a failure of kindness. It is the insidious belief that America is a Christian nation, that the country should be governed by the principles of the Bible, and that Christians therefore hold a kind of divine claim on power inside of it. As I read the scriptures, there is no mandate of that sort, no matter how hard some Christians argue…Let’s be clear: those of us who follow Christ are not called to build a Christian nation; we are called to be Christians in a nation, and attempt to make that nation more loving, more just, and more equal. The Christian nationalists, for all their reading of the Bible, do not believe that — nor did the American Christians years ago who, like them, felt the country they tried to fashion in their own image was slipping out of their hands.”

• Texas Families Ask Supreme Court to Take Up Challenge to Ten Commandments in Schools: SCOTUS Blog reports that “Lawyers for a group of Texas families with children in the state’s public schools came to the Supreme Court on [August 17], asking the justices to weigh in on the constitutionality of a 2025 law that requires each classroom in that state to display a copy of the Ten Commandments. Asking the justices to review a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit that upheld the law, the challengers told the justices that the lower court “flouted this Court’s binding precedents and gutted the religious-freedom rights of public-school children and parents.”

• What the DOJ’s Religious Freedom Guidance Means for Private Employers: “The U.S. Constitution protects the right to belief and worship, as well as the right to abstain from belief or worship. Additionally, Title VII and the RFRA protect religious expressions and practices by individuals and organizations, including those “employing others,” as the DOJ guidance explains. The guidance outlines a series of principles to guide federal agencies in ensuring compliance with these federal laws. Those principles have implications for private employers, including with regard to workplace conduct and expression, as well as religious accommodations.” Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• Sept. 19, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty at the Mt. Shasta Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• Sept. 26, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty at the Honolulu Japanese Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• Oct. 3, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on Bible prophecy and religious liberty at the Wahiawa Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• Oct. 14-17, 2026 - The Remnant and the Republic--a thought-provoking conference exploring public witness, prophetic identity, and the challenge of Christian nationalism. Register here.

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Also, check out Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• China’s war on faith - an interview with Sam Brownback: Former U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, knows better than most what happens when a government decides that faith itself is a threat. Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause interview Brownback in this conversation on China, surveillance, persecution, and the fight for freedom of conscience that has implications far beyond China’s borders.

• How secure are the rights of religious minorities in America? Religion News Service reports that “a Rastafarian’s Supreme Court loss shows religious freedom depends on who you are. No matter how robustly our laws may appear to protect religious liberty, our rights are mediated, shaped and limited by a larger legal system that frequently fails to protect the most vulnerable.” Read more.

• Why the Ten Commandments don’t belong in public schools: In this piece, Professor Michael Helfand argues that the Supreme Court was correct to turn away from the “wall of separation” metaphor, but that “the ebb of these misguided constitutional constraints may now be reaching a tipping point. While conservatives have long thought the Supreme Court’s old establishment clause ways went too far, discarding too much of the disestablishment project threatens a core constitutional value: the ability of citizens to make their own religious choices free from government proselytization and manipulation.” Read more.

• Historian Douglas Morgan writes on the history of how American slavery led one group of Christians to see America in Bible prophecy: “Unlike many, John did not think that the gap was closing. He did not see America progressively advancing toward realization of a glorious destiny to lead the world to freedom. Instead, he saw sinister dynamics of greed, oppression, and coercion that would not yield to the Republic’s freedom ideals but instead use them to cloak an authoritarian agenda that would soon bring the democratic experiment to an end.

  Not only that, Andrews believed all of this was unfolding in accordance with apocalyptic prophecy, centering on Revelation 12-14. At age 21, he broke new ground in identifying the United States as a villain in the climactic episode of history’s conflict between good and evil. His “Thoughts on Revelation XIII and XIV,” published in the Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, May 19, 1851, was the first fully-developed exposition that identified the American Republic as the second beast of Revelation 13.” Read more.

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Events

• August 8, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty at the Vacaville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vacaville, California.

• August 14-15, 2026 - Alan Reinach speaks on religious liberty at the Hamburg Community Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hamburg, Pennsylvania.

  

• August 15, 2026 - Jeanice Warden-Washington speaks on religious liberty at the Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church in Riverside, California.

• August 15, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty at the Antelope Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Check out the Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause, the Faith and Politics show with Orlan Johnson and guests, and Church State Council Today, where Alan Reinach and Steve Allred discuss religious liberty issues.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Military chaplains say promotions are tied to supporting Pete Hegseth’s Christian ideology: The Independent reports that active-duty military chaplains believe the defense secretary is rewarding ideological conformity to promote a narrow version of Christianity within the military. “‘There appears to be an ongoing effort to determine whether subordinate chaplains ideologically align with the Secretary of Defense and the current leadership,’ one chaplain wrote to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit group supporting service members’ rights to religious expression. ‘The messaging is consistent enough that many of us understand what is being rewarded and what is not.’” Read more here.

• Politics and the Pulpit: How to Keep Your Tax-exempt Status While Still Staying Engaged: On August 29, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET, the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists will host a webinar titled Politics and the Pulpit: How to Keep Your Tax-exempt Status While Still Staying Engaged. The webinar will feature a panel discussion about the recent Working Policy amendments voted by the North American Division regarding political endorsements by Adventist pastors and leaders and involvement by elected public officials in church events. There will be ample time for Q&A, as well. Register here.

• James Madison, Patrick Henry, and the Debate Over State Support of Religion: Patrick Henry once wrote that “Christian knowledge hath a natural tendency to correct the morals of men, restrain their vices, and preserve the peace of society.” Thus it was that in 1784, Henry, then a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, proposed “A Bill establishing a provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion” which would have required tax dollars to be funneled to the religious organization of the citizen’s choice. The reasoning was that if society could only flourish with moral citizens, and if it was Christianity that made citizens moral, it followed that government must make it it’s business to support Christianity - financially and otherwise. James Madison passionately disagreed with Henry, as did Thomas Jefferson. Madison then wrote his famous Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, which paved the way for the passage of Jefferson’s bill, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom - a bill which Jefferson considered one of his greatest accomplishments. Importantly, Madison considered Henry’s religious assessment’s bill an “establishment” of religion (the definition of which is a hotly debated question today) and argued that “the establishment proposed by [Henry’s] Bill is not requisite for the support of the Christian Religion. To say that it is, is a contradiction to the Christian Religion itself, for every page of it disavows a dependence on the powers of this world…for it is known that [Christianity] both existed and flourished, not only without the support of human laws, but in spite of every opposition from them, and not only during the period of miraculous aid, but long after it had been left to its own evidence and the ordinary care of Providence.” Read more in the last Church+State Dispatch article.

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Events

• July 29-Aug. 1, 2026 - Visit the Church State Council booth at the ASI Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

• August 15, 2027 - Jeanice Warden-Washington speaks on religious liberty at the Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church in Riverside, California.

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Check out the Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause, the Faith and Politics show with Orlan Johnson and guests, and Church State Council Today, where Alan Reinach and Steve Allred discuss religious liberty issues.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Could Permanent Daylight Saving Time Be Bad for Religious Freedom? Nearly 90% of Americans are frustrated with the current time change in the Spring and Fall of each year. Likely as a result, the “House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass a measure to eliminate the annual clock-changing ritual.” However, for some this proposed bill - called the Sunshine Protection Act - may affect their ability to practice their faith freely. RNS reports that “Orthodox Jewish groups oppose daylight saving bill, argue it would disrupt prayer: If passed, the bill would give Americans an extra hour of sunshine in the evenings during the winter. But it would also push winter sunrises one hour later. That’s of concern to Orthodox Jews, who pray three times a day, beginning with the Shacharit morning prayer service, which by tradition cannot begin in the dark… ‘The bottom line is, if prayers have to start an hour later that will have a direct effect on people getting to work and on when schools can start,’ said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, national director of government affairs for Agudath Israel of America, an organization representing U.S. Orthodox Jews.” Read more here.

• Faith on the Immigration Frontline: RNS reports on Audrey Luhmann, a devout Christian and mother of eight, who spends her days documenting federal ICE activity in Chicago. Her goal is to report on illegal and unconstitutional activity engaged in by federal immigration officers. “Her two teenage sons, Ben and Sam, also have traveled to Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killing of Renee Good to document ICE actions. ‘They are actually doing everything that I’ve taught them,’ Luhmann said. ‘I’ve spent my entire life telling them that Jesus was with those who were oppressed, that Jesus was with those who the rest of the world pushed away.’” Watch the report here:

• What Does the Bible Say About Immigration? At the turn of the 20th century, Ellen White wrote that “There is no person, no nation, that is perfect in every habit and thought. One must learn of another. Therefore God wants the different nationalities to mingle together, to be one in judgment, one in purpose. Then the union that there is in Christ will be exemplified.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p. 180. As American Christians continue to be confronted with this issue, we’re re-posting an article by Bill Davis titled Seeking a Biblical Theology of Immigration.

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Is the Church Called to Rule the World?

• In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote these words: “I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? God judges outsiders. Remove the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 CSB.
  
  Chaplain Lemuel Sapian comments on this passage by noting that “Too often, Christians assume that because God’s moral order is true, it should therefore be enforced upon society the same way the Church governs itself. But Paul draws a remarkable distinction in 1 Corinthians 5. He doesn’t lower God’s standard for sexual morality—not for a moment. Instead, he asks a question of jurisdiction: “What business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? God judges outsiders.” The Church absolutely has the responsibility to preach repentance, proclaim God’s design for sexuality, and lovingly call all people to Christ. But its disciplinary authority belongs to the covenant community—to those who voluntarily claim the name of Christ. The Church persuades, disciples, and, when necessary, disciplines its own members. It was never commissioned to wield coercive power over those outside the faith and covenant community. That distinction is not moral compromise. It is biblical order.”
  
  Sapian continues: “The answer to sexual confusion is not silence, nor is it the temptation to confuse the Church’s authority with the power of the civil magistrate. The answer is faithful proclamation, freedom of conscience, and a Church that first lives the holiness it calls the world to embrace. Paul reminds us that our first responsibility is not to moralize the world into behaving like the Church, but to ensure that the Church actually lives as the Church.” Read the original post on Facebook.

  
  This, of course, fits with the words of Jesus to His disciples. As they argued about who was to be the greatest, Jesus reminded them that “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.” Luke 22:25-26 NIV.
  
  In fact, neither Jesus or the apostles ever called the church to rule over the society around them. Someday believers will sit on thrones and judge. But that day will only come when Jesus Himself returns and gives His followers that right. See, e.g., Luke 22:29-30.
  
  Until then?

  
  Blessed are the poor and persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom that is now in our hearts but is yet to come in all its fullness. (See Matt. 5:3, 10; Luke 17:21).
  
  And one day that Kingdom will come in all its glory, and the persecuting empires of this world will be obliterated by Divine love and justice. “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” Dan. 7:21-22 NIV
  
  Is the church called to rule the world? No, not now, but yes - someday!

Upcoming Events

• July 24-25, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty and social justice at the Phoenix Beacon Light Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• July 29-Aug. 1, 2026 - The Church State Council has a booth at the ASI Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Drop in and say hello!

• August 15, 2027 - Jeanice Warden-Washington speaks on religious liberty at the Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church in Riverside, California.

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Check out the Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause, the Faith and Politics show with Orlan Johnson and guests, and Church State Council Today, where Alan Reinach and Steve Allred discuss religious liberty issues.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• North American Division and Church State Council Responses to the Religious Liberty Commission Report: “We’re bringing back religion in our country, and we’re bringing it back quickly and strongly—because for America to be a great nation, we must always be one nation under God.” – President Donald J. Trump. On Friday, June 26, 2026 President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission issued a draft report. Public comment on the report was opened up and we sent out a Call to Action newsletter encouraging our readers to comment. The Washington Adventist University Honors College Center for Law and Public Policy responded here. The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists submitted a thoughtful response which you can read below.

Sda Church Public Comment – Religious Liberty Commission Draft Report

155KB ∙ PDF file

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• Kevin Burton’s New Book Apocalyptic Abolitionism is Out! Andrews University professor and Adventist historian Kevin Burton recently wrote a groundbreaking work, published by NYU Press, that “uncovers the untold story of how apocalypticism shaped the abolitionist cause and helped destroy slavery in the United States. Contrary to popular opinion, the revival fires of the Second Great Awakening did not drive most evangelicals to progressive social reforms like abolitionism. Neither were the denominational schisms during that period a fight between northern abolitionists and southern slaveholders. Rather, before the Methodist and Baptist denominations split along sectional lines, most abolitionists, particularly members of the Adventist movement, had already left their churches in what was likely the largest mass exodus from mainstream evangelicalism in American history, precisely because most evangelicals opposed radical social reform movements. This volume makes the case that evangelicals receive undeserved credit for antislavery, and that it was apocalyptic abolitionists who led the way. Order the book here and watch a fascinating conversation about the book below.

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Upcoming Events

• July 9-19, 2026 - Bill Davis and Steve Allred are at the Church State Council booth at Soquel Campmeeting. Come by and see us!

• July 24-25, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty and social justice at the Phoenix Beacon Light Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• July 29-Aug. 1, 2026 - Steve Allred will be at the Church State Council booth at the ASI Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Drop in and say hello!

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Also, check out Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

Setting the Record Straight on the Separation of Church and State

On June 26, 2026, Dan Patrick, head of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, stood in the Oval Office and declared that the separation of church and state is not in the Constitution.

As we’ve noted in past newsletters, while the exact phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in the constitution, the idea is an essential part of the constitution. For example, Article VI prohibits religious tests being used to bar people from holding government office. The First Amendment restrains the government from interfering with the free exercise of religion or from endorsing any religion by establishing not only a national church, but “religion” in general. These legal restraints were extended to the state governments by the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, which states, in pertinent part, that “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

The idea of separation of church and state was perhaps first articulated in modern times by Roger Williams, a devoted American Christian who was persecuted for his beliefs that ran afoul of the established church in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Williams believed that there should be a wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world, and argued that civil magistrates only have jurisdiction over civil matters and are not “judges, governors, or defenders of the spiritual, or Christian, state and worship… Christ Jesus never directed his disciples to the civil magistrate for help in his cause.” To Williams, the separation of church and state was essential for true freedom in matters of faith. Freedom, Williams believed, was at the core of God’s character of love.

Thomas Jefferson, although not an orthodox Christian like Williams, was the next to famously use the wall metaphor in his letter to a Baptist congregation in Connecticut. Jefferson made it clear that he interpreted the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause to create “a wall of separation between Church & State.”

“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State,” Jefferson wrote.

Opponents of separation of church and state argue that the American experiment has gone awry and that we need to get back to a time when governments endorsed or established religion. After all, isn’t religion necessary to a moral people? Yes, but government promotion of religion always leads to persecution. And, in the words of Williams, “Christ Jesus never directed his disciples to the civil magistrate for help in his cause.”

While Dan Patrick highlighted some examples of separation of church and state being abused, these examples in no way justify abandoning this important principle and embracing far more harmful practices like public schools endorsing Christianity by pushing government-led prayer and an edited version of the Ten Commandments on non-consenting students, and repealing the Johnson amendment, which would engage churches as partisan political tools.

In a pluralistic society like ours, uniting church and state is unjust, unloving, and contrary to the Golden Rule, which tells us to do to others as we would have them do to us. When church and state unite, religion - and sometimes only one religion - is favored and in control. This leads to oppression for dissenters and persecution. Neither Jesus or His church dominates or persecutes. It is a false church, united with the political leaders, that dominates and persecutes (see, e.g., Luke 22:25-26; Rev. 17:1-6). Instead, Jesus calls His followers to love - even their enemies.

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Speak Up!

This is an opportunity for you to speak up on this issue. President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission has opened up comments on its “Religious Liberty Commission Report.” All comments must be made via email before Monday, July 13. Don’t wait - email now to RLC@usdoj.gov. Whatever you put in the email will be made public, so make sure to redact any personal information other than your name. For the subject line of the email, write this: Public Comment – Religious Liberty Commission Report – [Your Name].

Please take a few minutes to write a comment in opposition to the report and its recommendations. It’s a simple thing you can do to speak out against Christian Nationalism and speak up for church-state separation.

Your message can be short or long, but here are some points you can incorporate (some of these were adapted from Brian Kaylor’s post):

• The separation of church and state is an idea that originated with persecuted Christians like Roger Williams, who wrote that Civil magistrates only have jurisdiction over civil matters and are not “judges, governors, or defenders of the spiritual, or Christian, state and worship… Christ Jesus never directed his disciples to the civil magistrate for help in his cause.” - Roger Williams

• Jesus Himself never built His Kingdom with political power. He declared to the Roman governor that “My kingdom is not of this world, if it were my servants would fight…” John 18:36. Instead, Jesus calls His followers to seek justice for the oppressed and fulfill the Great Commission through loving words and acts.

• Roger Williams wrote that “The unknowing zeal of Constantine and other emperors, did more hurt to Christ Jesus’s crown and kingdom, than the raging fury of the most bloody Neros.” This reminds us that using the force of government to promote Christianity never advances the true kingdom of God.

• The separation of church and state is good for both. It’s a constitutional principle that explains how our religious liberty is protected by the First Amendment.

• The Johnson Amendment protects houses of worship from partisan politicking and ensures fair play in our campaigns. It reminds churches that they are not mere political machines but embassies of the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Public funds should go to public schools, not private schools.

• Public schools should not be pushing sectarian faith, like forcing the posting of the Ten Commandments or pushing official prayer. This misrepresents the character of a God of love, who never forces in matters of faith.

• Institutions receiving public funding should not be allowed to discriminate against individuals but instead should treat all people fairly and equally. Christians, of all people, should support this idea which originates in the Golden Rule.

As a friend once told me, “Do it now!” This is our opportunity to speak up and let our voices be heard to set the record straight on the character of God and why the separation of church and state is good for religious freedom.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

The Church State Council has produced the following 6-minute video to be shown in churches this Sabbath. The video highlights past and present religious liberty challenges and presents a call to action to do justice in our world.

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Other Religious Freedom Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Also, check out Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

On Friday, June 19, 2026 the Church State Council will welcome the first class of ten Church State Council Fellows to the Roseville office for fellowship orientation.

The Church State Council Fellowship Program is a one-year, part-time, hybrid, unpaid educational program sponsored by the Church State Council, a ministry of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, that mentors a select number of college and graduate students and young professionals to become leaders in religious freedom and social justice, as understood from a biblical and Seventh-day Adventist perspective.

Fellows gain exposure from seminars and experiential learning to how they can contribute to preserving freedom of conscience under the United States Constitution and connect this freedom to the prophetic mission of the church. Fellows benefit by gaining knowledge and experience and making connections that may enhance their education and careers.

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Religious Liberty and the Church’s Prophetic Calling

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church will host a religious liberty summit sponsored by the Church State Council. The theme is “Religious Liberty and the Church’s Prophetic Calling.” Andy Im, Associate Director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, will headline the event with a sermon titled “The Dragon’s Playbook” based on Revelation 13 presented at 10:45 am. Church State Council president, Alan Reinach, will also speak with a message titled “Religious Nationalism Kills Jesus” at 9:30 am.

Following the two presentations, attendees are invited to a fellowship meal at the church with a panel discussion on current religious liberty topics at 2:00 pm. Panelists include Im, Reinach, Greg Howell, and two Church State Council Fellows. Steve Allred will moderate the panel discussion and field questions from the audience.

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Also, check out Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Faith should be freely embraced, not politically imposed: Rep. Tom Suozzi writes that “For much of American history, Catholics faced discrimination, suspicion and exclusion. Anti-Catholic riots erupted in major cities, churches and convents were burned, and the Know Nothing movement rose to prominence warning that Catholics could never be loyal Americans because of their allegiance to Rome. When Archbishop John Hughes began construction of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan in 1858, many Protestants mocked the project and questioned whether Catholics fully belonged in American public life. Al Smith confronted anti-Catholic bigotry in 1928, and decades later John F. Kennedy still felt compelled to assure the nation that he would not govern as an instrument of the Catholic Church…. The separation between church and state protected Catholics when Catholics were outsiders. Today, it protects Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics and every other American equally.” Read more.

• Why There Are (and Should Be) Constitutional Constraints on Government Religious Speech: In this excellent and informative piece, Alan Brownstein and Vikram David Amar write that “the limits the Establishment Clause places on government religious speech can be used to temper the distortion of the marketplace of ideas created by the privileging of private religious expressive activities under free exercise auspices. Establishment Clause constraints on government religious speech, but not secular speech, offset that privileging of religious messages and ideas. The two clauses operating together create a form of rough neutrality—favoring religious messages through free exercise mandates and statutes while limiting religious messages expressed or promoted by government.
  
  Thus, for example, under a rigorously enforced Establishment Clause, the government could not place a religious symbol, such as a cross, on City Hall or post religious messages on the walls of public schools. The placement or posting of secular symbols or messages (espousing patriotism, tolerance, or civic responsibility, for example) would not be similarly constrained since (nonreligious) government speech is routinely permitted even though government expressed a particular viewpoint. But the private expression of religious beliefs would be favored over opportunities to communicate secular ideas. Thus, under a federal statute, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), religious land uses such as houses of worship or religious schools are protected against burdensome land use regulations that property owners using their land for secular purposes must obey. Houses of worship, which may be engaged primarily in intrinsically expressive activities, can use this privileged status to prominently display the religious symbols and messages the state itself is prohibited from promoting.” Read more.

Religious Liberty Events

• June 5-6, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks at the Beaumont Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 6, 2026 - Alan Reinach speaks at the San Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 20, 2026 - Religious Liberty and the Church’s Prophetic Calling, with Alan Reinach and Andy Im at the Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 22, 2026 - Church State Council Day at the Capitol! We will be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. The day starts at our Roseville office at 8:00 am. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Capitol. We’ll provide training and lunch. Sign up by June 10 to join us!

Subscribe now

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Dominionism and American Politics: In Just Liberty episode 73, Dr. André Gagné discusses some of the religious influences driving US foreign policy today. Watch below:

• Bettina Krause Writes About Last Sunday’s America 250 Rededication Event: “Standing on the National Mall that afternoon, I understood why so many sincere Christians are drawn to promises of national renewal through political power. But I also left convinced that it has never been more important for Adventists to clearly understand and faithfully preach our prophetic perspective on religious freedom, conscience, and citizenship. In an age of political discipleship, we need a renewed vision of what it means to belong first to the kingdom of God.” Read more here.

• What Jefferson and Madison would have thought about ‘rededicating’ the US to God: Last Sunday’s ‘Rededicate 250’ event raised many questions about separation of church and state. Historian and law professor Steven K. Green writes about how Jefferson and Madison’s letters to each other may shed light on that long-debated principle. Read more from RNS here.

• JD Vance condemns ‘disgusting’ religious violence as ‘one of the most anti-Christian things’: The Vice President responded to the deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque last week by condemning religious violence. Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• May 29-30, 2026 - Religious Freedom and Bible Prophecy outreach event at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 5-6, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks at the Beaumont Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 6, 2026 - Alan Reinach speaks at the San Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 20, 2026 - Religious Liberty and the Church’s Prophetic Calling, with Alan Reinach and Andy Im at the Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 22, 2026 - Church State Council Day at the Capitol! We will be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. The day starts at our Roseville office at 8:00 am. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Capitol. We’ll provide training and lunch. Sign up to join us!

  Subscribe now

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Also, check out Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

At last Sunday’s “Rededicate 250” event in Washington, D.C., a pastor said that “Jesus was a politician” and called for an end to the separation between church and state: “Jesus was a politician,” said Sewell. “Jesus was crucified for a political crime. ‘You’re no friend of Caesar.’ Jesus on his crucifix, it said that he was a king, right? So we’re a country whereby our founding fathers understood we can’t be a country that has a civil law without a moral law.” Read more here.

If Jesus was a politician, He was not the kind Pastor Sewell seemed to be referring to. In front of a Roman politician, Jesus acknowledged that He was a king, but specifically disavowed any earthly kingdom or political connection. “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36 NIV. In fact, the early followers of Jesus understood that His kingdom was a spiritual one, with the church in the book of Acts never once seeking to dominate Rome or Jerusalem to gain political power. Instead, they were focused on winning hearts and minds by the power of the Spirit and doing justice in the world.

Pastor Sewell is correct that America’s people need God and His law - just like people everywhere. However, it’s not the government’s job to promote or establish religion. Instead, that is the church’s job - to spread the gospel. Government’s job is to promote justice in society, and Christians should advocate for social justice, which includes freedom of conscience and religion - supported by the separation of church and state.

The founding fathers actually weighed in on these very questions. In 1784, Patrick Henry “proposed a general tax called the Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers [Ministers] of the Christian Religion. Similar to some New England state laws, citizens would choose which Christian church received their support, or the money could go to a general fund to be distributed by the state legislature. James Madison was a vocal opponent of the bill, writing the Memorial and Remonstrance (1785) opposing the proposed tax. He asserted that religion could not be forced on people, and that state support actually corrupted religion. Government properly limited, rather, would promote a civil society in which people of different faiths could maintain their beliefs according to their own consciences. Madison’s side won the debate and Henry’s religious assessments bill did not pass.” Read more here.

Madison wrote: “If Religion be not within the cognizance of Civil Government how can its legal establishment be necessary to Civil Government? What influence in fact have ecclesiastical establishments had on Civil Society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the Civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny: in no instance have they been seen the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not. Such a Government will be best supported by protecting every Citizen in the enjoyment of his Religion with the same equal hand which protects his person and his property; by neither invading the equal rights of any Sect, nor suffering any Sect to invade those of another.”

In fact Madison’s arguments against religious tyranny over government are becoming more relevant by the day. You can read the entire Memorial and Remonstrance here.

Upcoming Events

• May 29-30, 2026 - Religious Freedom and Bible Prophecy outreach event at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 5-6, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks at the Beaumont Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 20, 2026 - Religious Liberty and the Church’s Prophetic Calling, with Alan Reinach and Andy Im at the Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Subscribe now

• June 22, 2026 - Church State Council Day at the Capitol! We will be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. The day starts at our Roseville office at 8:00 am. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Capitol. We’ll provide training and lunch. Sign up to join us!

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics showwhich also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Here at the Church State Council we recently started the Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Former Trump Attorney Jenna Ellis Says Religious Freedom Is Just For Christians: “Religious freedom is for Christians only.” That’s according to Christian talk host and former attorney to President Donald Trump Jenna Ellis. “America’s guarantee of religious freedom is for Christians only, not Muslims,” she claimed on her recent podcast, “America Under Divine Judgment.” Ellis and her guest, Calvin Robinson, attacked the idea that the Constitution requires religious freedom and called pluralism a “perverted notion.”
  
  Seventh-day Adventists have historically disagreed, and argued that religious freedom is a principle that applies equally to all people. In the late 1880s, as the Christian Amendment movement was sweeping America, the Adventist publication The American Sentinel proclaimed that “the heathen, or the infidel, or the atheist, has just as much right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as the Christian has…” The American Sentinel, December 1887, page 92.
  
  Ellen White agreed, observing that the American founders placed specific limits in the Constitution on the civil and political power of the church. “The founders of the nation wisely sought to guard against the employment of secular power on the part of the church, with its inevitable result—intolerance and persecution. The Constitution provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” and that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. Only in flagrant violation of these safeguards to the nation’s liberty, can any religious observance be enforced by civil authority.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 442

  
  Finally, White warned against those who were attempting to make America’s government Christian: “Today in the religious world there are multitudes who, as they believe, are working for the establishment of the kingdom of Christ as an earthly and temporal dominion. They desire to make our Lord the ruler of the kingdoms of this world, the ruler in its courts and camps, its legislative halls, its palaces and market places. They expect Him to rule through legal enactments, enforced by human authority. Since Christ is not now here in person, they themselves will undertake to act in His stead, to execute the laws of His kingdom…The establishment of such a kingdom is what the Jews desired in the days of Christ. They would have received Jesus, had He been willing to establish a temporal dominion, to enforce what they regarded as the laws of God, and to make them the expositors of His will and the agents of His authority.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 509.

• Islam and the Case for Separation of Mosque and State: On the topic of religious nationalism, Mohammed Nosseir writes that the “case for separating religious and political authority is not a Western imposition on Islam—it has roots in Islamic thought itself, and it is one that Muslim reformers and scholars have been making from within the tradition for generations. What is needed is for that internal argument to find broader political expression.” Nosseir argues that there are “two errors that distort Western discourse about Islamist violence. The first is the right-wing error: treating Islamist violence as essential and inevitable, as though it flows naturally from Islam itself or from some inherent disposition of people in Muslim-majority societies. This is wrong on both empirical and ethical grounds. The second is a characteristic error of the political left: romanticizing political Islam as an authentic liberation movement—the voice of the oppressed pushing back against Western imperialism. This, too, is dangerously wrong. Political Islam is not a grassroots uprising; it is a cynical political project that exploits genuine grievances in order to consolidate the power of self-appointed religious leaders. Its violence is not resistance; it is a tool of domination.”

The UnPopulist

Political Islam Is Rank Populism That Perverts a Fundamentally Liberal Faith

A widespread and persistent mistake is the tendency, in much of Western public discourse, to conflate Islam with its most militant manifestations and to conceive of it as inherently violent. For its two billion followers, however, Islam is a source of spiritual sustenance and moral guidance, and I count myself proudly among …

Read more

4 months ago · 22 likes · 6 comments · Mohammed Nosseir

• Lawmaker Wants Jurors Kept in the Dark—and She’s Conditioning Federal Funds Upon It: The Cato Institute highlights a bill by Representative Julia Letlow (R‑LA) which would “strip federal funding from any organization that dares to educate citizens on the historic conception of the criminal jury as an institution designed to prevent injustice.” However, “a jury acquits because a law is fundamentally unjust, misapplied, or carries a punishment that dwarfs the offense…”. Additionally, “jurors are invoking a right older than the Constitution: the power to vote one’s conscience without fear of reprisal. This principle—that a jury’s verdict is its own and that jurors cannot be punished for it—serves as a vital safeguard. It ensures the legal system functions as an instrument of justice rather than an extension of the state.” Read more here.

• Religious Coercion at the USDA? Politico reports that “Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has subjected USDA workers to ‘government-sponsored religious coercion’ with messages that promote her own Christian beliefs and violate the First Amendment, federal employees alleged in a lawsuit on Wednesday. The complaint focuses on an Easter message Rollins sent to USDA’s roughly 90,000 employees that celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ and prompted widespread criticism from religious freedom groups and federal employees.”Democracy Forward reports that the “new lawsuit, National Federation of Federal Employees v. USDA, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues that Rollins is creating a preferred ‘in-group’ religion at the USDA. Rollins’ Easter message proclaims all employees share her beliefs with phrases including ‘we celebrate,’ ‘the greatest story ever told,’ ‘our faith,’ ‘the abiding hope of all mankind,’ alongside explicitly religious language like ‘the foot of the Cross on Good Friday,’ ‘Jesus has been raised from the dead,’ ‘Hell took a body, and discovered God,’ and ‘our risen Lord.’ (The email in its entirety can be viewed here.)”

Upcoming Events

• May 16, 2026 - Alan Reinach speaks at the Monterey Peninsula Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• May 29-30, 2026 - Religious Freedom and Bible Prophecy outreach event at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 5-6, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on Religious Freedom and Bible Prophecy at the Beaumont Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 20, 2026 - Religious Liberty and the Church’s Prophetic Calling, with Alan Reinach and Andy Im at the Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Subscribe now

• June 22, 2026 - Church State Council Day at the Capitol! We will be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. The day starts at our Roseville office at 8:00 am. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Capitol. We’ll provide training and lunch. Sign up to join us!

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics showwhich also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Here at the Church State Council we recently started the Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Separation of Church and State Used to Be a Baptist Idea. What Happened? Baptist pastor and Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told the White House Religious Liberty Commission: There is no separation of church and state in the Constitution. However, as Religion News Services notes, “For two centuries, Baptists didn’t just support the wall of separation between church and state — they built it. They famously asked Thomas Jefferson for it. And then as recently as 1960, Southern Baptist leaders argued that a Catholic president would surely subordinate the Constitution to the Pope…” Baylor historian “Elesha Coffman suggests Southern Baptists have become the very force they feared Catholics would be — a dominant religion using political power to shape society along theological ideals. According to Coffman, the receipts are right there in the historical record.” Read more here.

• Religious Exemptions for School Vaccines: Connecticut is making news today for passing a law which clarifies that “the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not apply to vaccine mandates for children in childcare, public schools, private schools and colleges.” Back in 2021, Connecticut removed its religious exemption option for school vaccinations and the state was subsequently sued under the state’s RFRA law. How did vaccines become such a hot “religious liberty” topic in America? Religion Unplugged hosted a podcast on the topic with scholar Kira Ganga Kieffer. “In her book, “Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America,” religious studies scholar Kira Ganga Kieffer discusses how the concepts people use to study religion (ranging from conversion, testimony and purity) can be used to study the vaccine hesitancy movement...She also discussed how the vaccine hesitancy movement became intertwined with religious liberty activism.” Read more and watch here.

Upcoming Events

• May 16, 2026 - Alan Reinach speaks at the Monterey Peninsula Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• May 29-30, 2026 - Religious Freedom and Bible Prophecy outreach event at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 22, 2026 - Church State Council Day at the Capitol! We will be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. The day starts at our Roseville office at 8:00 am. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Capitol. We’ll provide training and lunch. Sign up to join us!

Resources

• Religious Liberty Podcasts: The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. The Church State Council Today podcast provides news updates and analysis of contemporary religious liberty issues.

• Follow Us! We’re on on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

Subscribe now

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• How Should Christians Respond to Christian Nationalism? In the latest Church + State Dispatch, Steve Allred writes more about the National Reform Association and how Seventh-day Adventists responded to the NRA’s efforts to amend the US Constitution to declare America a Christian nation and “the Lord Jesus Christ as the Ruler of nations and…his revealed will as the supreme standard to decide moral issues in national life.” How Adventists responded is instructive for us today. Read “Jesus, Political Power, and Bible Prophecy: here.

• What’s the Deal With America’s Politicians Reading the Bible? In Episode 5 of the Church State Council Today, Alan Reinach and Steve Allred celebrate the reading of God’s word, while asking whether it’s the job of politicians to publicly promote the Bible. More importantly, they ask whether God cares more about societal justice than performative public religion. Watch here.

• Edited Version of the Ten Commandments Posted in Public Schools: Brian Kaylor writes that the recent Texas law upheld by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals actually forces “public schools to post a gerrymandered version of the sacred text that doesn’t even match what’s found in any version of the Bible… [T]he language required in the “Ten Commandments” laws passed over the last couple of years in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas is based on the Protestant KJV text in Exodus 20, but makes significant changes. It’s kind of like quoting the Pulp Fiction version of Ezekiel 25:17; it might be inspired by the Bible, but it’s not actually the biblical text. That means that if you literally ripped the Ten Commandments out of your Bible and taped them to a classroom wall in these states, the actual words from the Bible would be in violation of the law! Read more here.

• Research on Christian Nationalism: The Public Religion Research Institute has a website devoted to research on Christian Nationalism, with articles such as “How Christian Nationalism Affects Views on Immigration,” and “Prophecy, Trump, and the Justification of Political Violence.” You can view the site here.

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Upcoming Events

• May 2, 2026 - Alan Reinach speaks at the All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church in Monrovia, California.

• May 2, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks at the Woodland Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• May 16, 2026 - Alan Reinach speaks at the Monterey Peninsula Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• May 29-30, 2026 - Religious Freedom and Bible Prophecy outreach event at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• June 22, 2026 - Church State Council Day at the Capitol! We will be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. The day starts at our Roseville office at 8:00 am. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Capitol. We’ll provide training and lunch. Sign up to join us!

Resources

• Follow Us! We’re on on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same. You can support our work here.

On June 22, 2026 we’ll be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. The day starts with training at our Roseville office at 8:00 am and concludes at the California State Capitol office swing space. We’ll provide what you need to know and lunch. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Capitol. To participate, you must RSVP. Sign up to join us!

Religious Liberty and Social Justice in the News

The Big News in religious liberty circles today was that the Supreme Court will hear a Catholic preschool’s challenge to a Colorado law that excludes the preschool from receiving government funds. SCOTUSBlog writes that “In St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, the court granted a petition for review filed by a Catholic preschool in Littleton, Colorado, which argues that its exclusion from Colorado’s universal preschool program is a form of religious discrimination in violation of the First Amendment, because Colorado will not provide it with an exemption from rules that would require it to admit everyone – including LGBTQ children and children with LGBTQ parents.”

“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit rejected the preschool’s argument. In its view, the state’s conditions were neutral and generally applied to every preschool, regardless of relgion – the kind of government actions, the Supreme Court held in 1990 in Employment Division v. Smith, that normally do not violate the Constitution.” Read more here.

Ultimately, the case highlights a contest of civil rights, pitting religious rights against the civil rights of LGBTQ individuals. The stark divide between both sides is best illustrated by the following headlines about the case. The Beckett Fund characterized the case as follows: Supreme Court to decide whether Colorado can exclude Catholic families from “universal” preschool program, while the New York Times described the development like this: Justices to Hear Case on Catholic Preschools That Reject Children of Gay Parents.

Can states fund religious educational institutions? The Court has faced this issue before. Read what Professor Fred Gedicks thinks of the issue here.

Upcoming Events

• April 25, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks at the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bakersfield, California at 11:00 am and 6:00 pm.

• May 2, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks at the Woodland Seventh-day Adventist Church at 10:45 am.

• May 29-30, 2026 - Religious Freedom and Bible Prophecy outreach event at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Subscribe now

Resources

• Three Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Here at the Church State Council, Alan Reinach and Steve Allred host the Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis of religious liberty issues.

• Follow Us! We’re on on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same. Donate here to support our work.

• The Escalating War on Dissent: The Intercept writes that the “Social media giant Reddit has been ordered to appear before a grand jury in Washington, D.C., as part of a federal effort to unmask anonymous online critics of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.” “Privacy is central to how Reddit operates, and we take our commitment to protecting that seriously,” the company said in a statement to The Intercept. “We do not voluntarily share information with any government, especially not on users exercising their rights to criticize the government or plan a protest.” ICE “wanted more than a month’s worth of electronic data, but offered no information as to what, exactly, caught the agency’s attention. When John Doe’s attorneys later reviewed their Reddit posts, they found nothing to suggest criminal activity or intent.” The federal government’s actions should concern anyone who values free speech and civil liberties. Read more here.

• State Power to Label Dissenting Groups as Terrorist Organizations: Reuters reports that “Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure that gave him and other state officials the power to designate groups ‌as “terrorist organizations” and expel students who support them, with rights groups saying the law will chill free speech. The law empowers the state’s chief of domestic security, governor and cabinet to designate any organization they determine engages in extremist acts as a “terrorist organization.” Free speech group PEN America says the measure signed by DeSantis “could chill free speech by placing unprecedented pressure on individuals to avoid speaking, organizing, or engaging with certain viewpoints.” Read more here.

• Rights Restored: What Recent Court Decisions Mean for Parents & Teachers, & What to Do Next: On Apr 13, 2026 at 07:00 PM the California Family Council will host a webinar that “explains how parents and teachers can take advantage of recent legal victories that restore parental authority and protect teachers’ freedom of conscience. Join California Family Council and leading legal experts from Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Center for Law & Policy, and Pacific Justice Institute for a critical webinar on what these rulings mean for you.” Register here.

Podcasts of the Week

Resources

• Follow Us! We’re on on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Today’s American Christian Supremacists: In this highly informative piece, Matthew Taylor writes that “in the United States, there a three forms of Christian supremacy that are on the rise, jockeying for power through the Trump administration, and all pushing in slightly different directions. Each frequently gets painted with the broad-brush phrase “Christian nationalism.” …What makes the Independent Charismatics intriguing in contrast to the Reconstructionists: where the militant Calvinists are narrow and gruff, the charismatics are diverse, celebrative, and welcoming. The Calvinists are long-term planners, imagining cultural conquest playing out over generations; the charismatics believe they can bring the eschatological kingdom of God to earth right now, through the right combination of spiritual warfare, revival preaching, and politickin…”

Matthew D. Taylor's Reckonings

The Three Major American Brands of Christian Supremacy

[This is the second part of a series reflecting on the currents, tensions, and evolving structure of Christian nationalism in the United States today. Part one is here…

Read more

5 months ago · 85 likes · 20 comments · Matthew D. Taylor

• Rights Restored: What Recent Court Decisions Mean for Parents & Teachers, & What to Do Next: On Apr 13, 2026 at 07:00 PM the California Family Council will host a webinar that “explains how parents and teachers can take advantage of recent legal victories that restore parental authority and protect teachers’ freedom of conscience. Join California Family Council and leading legal experts from Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Center for Law & Policy, and Pacific Justice Institute for a critical webinar on what these rulings mean for you.” Register here.

• Pete Hegseth Requires US Troops Prove “Sincerely Held” Faith in Latest Crackdown: The Intercept reports that “Federal courts have repeatedly ruled in favor of service members’ rights to observe tenets of faith while in the military, limiting Hegseth’s ability to put in place an outright ban on any facial hair. He has opted instead to tighten the screws on anyone wishing to get an exemption.” This new crackdown appears targeted at Sikhs “who have served in the U.S. military since at least World War I, are required by their faith not to cut the hair on their head, to keep a beard, and to wrap their long hair in a turban. Members of many schools of Muslim tradition likewise have rules around beards and hair length.” Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• April 11, 2026 - Bill Davis speaks at the Santa Ana Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• April 11, 2026 - Loma Linda University presents “A Peculiar People or Christian Nation: Toward an Adventist Critique of Christian Nationalism.” The event will feature Alan Reinach, Bettina Krause, Jeffrey Rosario, Nicholas Miller, and others and will be held at the Damazo Amphitheater Centennial Complex at 3:00 pm.

• April 25, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks at the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bakersfield, California.

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Resources

• Three Great Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics showwhich also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Here at the Church State Council we recently started the Church State Council Today, where we provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

• Sign up Now for Church State Council Day at the Capitol 2026: On Monday, June 22, 2026, the Church State Council will be hosting a lobby day at the California State Capitol. We’ll provide training and lunch. Sign up to join us!

• Is America Ready for Sectarian Public Schools? The Oklahoma Voice reports that “Legal efforts to found the nation’s first religious charter school in Oklahoma have reignited, with a rejected Jewish charter school and a former U.S. congressman filing a lawsuit against the state Tuesday…The founding group of Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School and former Florida U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, who applied to open the school, sued the state’s attorney general and the Statewide Charter School Board in Oklahoma City federal court…The statewide board, which governs charter schools, voted earlier this month to deny the school’s application to open. The Oklahoma Supreme Court forbade the board from permitting state-funded religious schools in a 2024 ruling against a Catholic charter school.” Read more here.

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• Freedom to Shout Religious Insults: The Supreme Court sided unanimously with an evangelical Christian named Gabriel Oliver who had been barred from demonstrating and shouting insults over a loudspeaker. According to reports, Oliver had called people “whores” and “Jezebel” as they were entering and exiting a Mississippi amphitheater. Oliver claimed “his religious and free-speech rights were violated when he was arrested for refusing to move his preaching away from a suburban amphitheater….Olivier wanted to challenge the law as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, but lower courts stopped him from suing because he’d been convicted of breaking it.” The Supreme Court agreed with Oliver. “Olivier’s lawyers said he was demonstrating peacefully when he was arrested for refusing to move to a designated “protest zone.” The legal principle, they argued, affects free-speech cases across the political spectrum.” Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• THIS FRIDAY, April 3, 2026 - “Navigating the Storm in an Age of Rage” - a town hall online conversation at 4:00 pm Pacific/7:00 pm Eastern. Watch here.

• April 4, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty at the San Andreas Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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• April 11, 2026 - Loma Linda University presents “A Peculiar People or Christian Nation: Toward an Adventist Critique of Christian Nationalism.” The event will feature Alan Reinach, Bettina Krause, Jeffrey Rosario, Nicholas Miller, and others and will be held at the Damazo Amphitheater Centennial Complex at 3:00 pm.

Resources

• Three Great Religious Liberty Podcasts: Looking for podcasts with religious liberty content? The Just Liberty Podcast with Alan Reinach and Bettina Krause features in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests including historians, lawyers, politicians, and more. Orlan Johnson hosts the Faith and Politics show which also has meaningful discussion on current religious liberty topics. Here at the Church State Council we recently started the Church State Council Today, where we’ll provide news updates and analysis and interview guests.

• Follow Us! We’re on on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Subscribe to the weekly Church State Council News and the monthly Church + State Dispatch.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.

We also share good news about one of our court cases involving Teresa Brown which was finally settled after almost 13 years of litigation against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation! You can read a 2022 Liberty article about the case here.

Have a great weekend!

• A Double Standard on Religious Freedom: Melissa Rogers writes that “Several Members of Congress are calling for people to be deported from our country due simply to their faith. One has suggested that there’s something sinister about other elected leaders celebrating their religious holidays or placing their hands on their sacred text as they take their oaths of office—he’s even called these leaders “the enemy.” Another has said dogs are preferable to people, if those people practice a particular faith.” She concludes with this: “A true commitment to religious liberty requires us to apply the same rules to all faiths. When public officials single out one faith for unequal treatment, they fail that test.”

• Can a Public School Teacher Secretly Facilitate a Student’s Conversion from Islam to Christianity? ReligiousLiberty.TV writes that this was the issue in a recent federal court case in Illinois, where a "federal judge ultimately “cleared an Illinois history teacher who provided a Bible to a Muslim student and connected her with Christian converts without her parents’ knowledge.” Read more here.

Three Religious Liberty Events Over the Next Three Weekends

• This weekend, March 28, 2026 - Steve Allred speaks on religious liberty at the Antioch Seventh-day Adventist Church.

• Next weekend, April 3, 2026 - “Navigating the Storm in an Age of Rage” - a town hall online conversation at 4:00 pm Pacific/7:00 pm Eastern. Watch here.

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• April 11, 2026 - Loma Linda University presents “A Peculiar People or Christian Nation: Toward an Adventist Critique of Christian Nationalism.” The event will feature Alan Reinach, Bettina Krause, Jeffrey Rosario, Nicholas Miller, and others and will be held at the Damazo Amphitheater Centennial Complex at 3:00 pm.

The Church State Council is the oldest public policy organization in the southwestern United States devoted exclusively to issues of liberty of conscience and religion and the separation of church and state. As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand in the Protestant and Enlightenment traditions of protesting the combination of church and state to define or promote theological “truth,” or to punish “error.” We ask nothing of the state except that it protects religious freedom for all peaceful people of faith. We take our faith seriously, and we defend the right of others to do the same.