CONFERENCES
“Reconstructing Religious Liberty in a Time of Religious and Secular Extremes”
October 20-21, Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church, Southern Adventist University
The NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty ministry is excited to announce its upcoming October 20-21 conference “Reconstructing Religious Liberty in a Time of Religious and Secular Extremes.” Hosted by the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church in partnership with Southern Adventist University, this two-day event will explore new ways to talk about religious freedom within a culturally and politically polarized America.
Seventh-day Adventist Christians have long advocated for both strong free exercise protections and a robust separation of church and state. Unfortunately, today’s religious and secular extremes threaten these fundamental values, albeit in very different ways.
A diversity of preliminary speakers and panel discussions will seek to answer the questions:
- How can we effectively engage with those who believe religious freedom is merely a cover for bigotry?
- And, on the other hand, how do we engage with people of faith who increasingly fear cultural marginalization, and who’ve become vulnerable to the appeal of religious nationalism?
Registration is just $79. Register now to join academics, theologians, and religious freedom experts as we consider these increasingly divisive issues.
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.
Schedule:
Thursday, October 19, 2023 |
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4:00 pm-5:00 pm |
Event Check-in |
Friday, October 20, 2023 |
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8:00 am-2:00 pm |
Event Check-in |
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9:00 am-9:30 am |
Welcome/Intro - Orlan Johnson, NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty; Ken Shaw, Southern Adventist University |
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9:35 am-10:30 am |
Plenary Speaker - David French, Op-Ed columnist, New York Times |
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10:35 am-11:25 am |
Plenary Speaker - Dr. Samuel Perry, author, “The Flag and the Cross” |
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11:30 am -12:20 pm |
Panel Discussion - Digital Hatred: the Polarization of Identity Politics Panelists: Jason Thacker, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Alva Johnson, Southern Adventist University; Stephen Kabah, Oakwood University; Adam Fenner, NAD Adventist Learning Community |
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12:25 pm-1:45 pm |
Lunch Provided |
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2:00 pm-2:40 pm |
Plenary Speaker - Dr. Tobias Cremer, Junior Research Fellow, University of Oxford |
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2:45 pm-3:35 pm |
Panel Discussion - The Long View: Lessons from the History of Religious Extremism Moderator: Jennifer Woods, Lake Union Conference Panelists: Michael Campbell, NAD Archives, Research and Statistics; Preston Foster, Oakwood University; Michel Sun Lee, Southern Adventist University; Andrew Polk, Middle Tennessee State University |
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3:40 pm-4:30 pm |
Plenary Speaker - Dr. Shirley Hoogstra, President, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities |
Sabbath, October 21, 2023 |
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9:30 am-12:00 pm |
Event Check-in |
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10:30 am-11:30 am |
Panel Discussion - The Final Crisis: Extremism Counterfeits, and Faithfulness Moderator: Bettina Krause, Liberty Panelists: Cliff Goldstein, GC Adult Bible Study Guide; Greg King, Southern Adventist University; Ifeoma Kwesi, Oakwood University; Kevin James, Southern Union Conference |
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11:45 am-1:00 pm |
Church/Divine Worship - Dr. Leslie Pollard, President, Oakwood University |
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1:15 pm-2:30 pm |
Lunch Provided |
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2:40 pm-3:20 pm |
Plenary Speaker - Pastor Ivor Myers, Lead Pastor, Living Manna Online Church |
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3:25 pm-4:05 pm |
Panel Discussion - Workplace Accommodation: A Battle Won, A Battle Continuing Moderator: Amireh Al-Haddad Panelists: Stephanie Taub, First Liberty; Alan Reinach, Church State Council; Todd McFarland, GC Office of General Counsel |
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4:10 pm-4:50 pm |
Panel Discussion - Transcending GroupThink Politics Moderator: Melissa Reid, NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Panelists: Chris Butler, AND Campaign; John Ashmeade, Atlantic Union Conference; Lisa Clarke Diller, Southern Adventist University; Nicholas Miller, Andrews University Theological Seminary |
NAD PARL Virtual Webinar Series
While the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed in-person events in 2020 and 2021, NAD PARL and its partner ministries have remained vigilant in our religious freedom advocacy and government and communtity outreach initiatives. We launched a quarterly Public Affairs and Religious Liberty webinar and have participated in virtual programming for the Adventist News Network, NAD Health Ministries and the Conscience and Justice Council.
“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
Conscience and Justice Council 2021 Virtual Convention
“Hate & Liberty: Statements, Conversations, or Actions?” September 24 & 25, 2021
Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast
In January 2022 we were able to safely host a scaled down version of our annual Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast. The event featured prayers for religious freedom, our community, our nation, elected officials, global health and healing, peace and unity of spirit. Inspirational keynote remarks were provided by attorney Eric Baxter of Becket Law. Becket is a frequent partner in our religious liberty advocacy efforts.
Missionary Umar Nayyar of the Wasaya Baitur Rehman mosque offered the 2022 Prayer for Our Nation.
Adrienne Townsend-Benton, Lt. Comm., Chaplain Corps., US Navy; Andrew Francis, Chaplain, LCDR CHC USN
Guests at 2020 Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast.
Guest bows his head for one of the event's seven prayers.
NAD President, Dr. Alex Bryant, visits with Temple Isaiah's Rabbi Craig Axler at 2020 Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast.
Takoma Academy Chorale
Jennifer Gray, Office of Community Affairs for the Governor of Maryland's office, recognized at 2020 event.
Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford offered remarks during 2020 Prayer Breakfast.
NAD PARL Director, Orlan Johnson, welcomes attendees to annual Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast.
Zainab Chaudry, Council on American–Islamic Relations offered the Prayer for Community at our 2019 event.
Religious Liberty Dinner
Former General Conference PARL Director, Dr. Bert Beach and wife, Elaine honored at 2014 Religious Liberty Dinner.
Dr. Knox Thames, formerly of the U.S. State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom and Dr. John Graz, former General Conference PARL Director.
2014 Religious Liberty Dinner keynote address given by Melissa Rogers, Executive Director of White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
General Conference PARL Director, Dr. Ganoune Diop; Inaugural U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious, Dr. Robert Seiple; President Emeritus of the Institute for Global Engagement, Dr. Chris Seiple.
2019 Religious Liberty Dinner Award Recipients: Dr. Robert Seiple, inaugural U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom; Dr. Stanley Carlson-Thies, Founder and Senior Director of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance; The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Congress; Dr. Asma Uddin, Freedom Forum Fellow for Religious Liberty, Religious Freedom Center.
Dr. Charles Haynes, Senior Fellow and Religious Freedom Center's Freedom Forum; and Lincoln Steed, former editor of Liberty Magazine.
Dr. Andrew Bennett, Canada's first Ambassador for Religious Freedom; Melissa Reid, NAD PARL Associate Director; and Dwayne Leslie, former General Conference PARL Associate Director.
Senator Orrin Hatch, keynote speaker for 2015 Religious Liberty Dinner.
