In October 2023, the NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty ministry hosted its “Reconstructing Religious Liberty in a Time of Religious and Secular Extremes” Conference at the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church on the campus of Southern Adventist University. The goal of the two-day event was to explore new ways to talk about religious freedom within a culturally and politically polarized America. Videos of the conference presentations are available below.
Speakers:
David French
David French joined The New York Times as an Opinion columnist in January 2023. Before that, he was a senior editor at The Dispatch, which he helped start, and a contributing writer at The Atlantic.
Shirley V. Hoogstra
Dr. Hoogstra is a visionary leader who is passionate about Christian higher education and the role it plays in the common good. Dr. Hoogstra became the seventh president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities in September 2014.
Samuel L. Perry
Dr. Perry is an award-winning scholar and teacher. He is among the nation’s leading experts on conservative Christianity and American politics, race, sexuality, and families. He co-authored his latest book, The Flag and the Cross, with Philip Gorski.
Leslie Pollard
Dr. Pollard is a Seventh-day Adventist minister, author, and administrator. Since 2011 he has served as the eleventh president of Oakwood University.
Pastor Ivor Myers
Pastor Myers serves as Lead Pastor of the Living Manna Online Church. He is also the speaker and director of Power of the Lamb ministries. Pastor Myers and his wife co-host the 3ABN series “Battles of Faith.”
Tobias Cremer
Dr. Cremer is a Junior Research Fellow in Religion and the Frontier Challenges at Pembroke College Oxford. His research focuses on the relationship between religion, secularization, and the rise of right-wing identity politics throughout western societies.
NAD PARL Virtual Webinars
“How to Run an Effective Religious Liberty Campaign?” December 9, 2023
“Vaccine Mandates: Overreaching or Responsible?” October 9, 2021
“Christian Witness in an Era of COVID-19, Christian Nationalism, Racial Injustice and the Equality Act” March 20, 2021
“Religious Liberty and Current Events” January 23, 2021
Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast
The NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty team hosts an annual Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast at the Seventh-day Adventist Church's North American Division headquarters. The event features prayers for religious freedom, our community, our nation, elected officials, peace and unity of spirit. In 2023, inspirational keynote remarks were provided by Rabbi Craig Axler from Temple Isaiah in Fulton, Maryland. Our 2024 featured speaker will be Dr. Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.