The North American Division partners with the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to advocate on Capitol Hill on behalf of the religious interests of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its members. PARL Government Affairs Director, Melissa Reid, monitors federal legislation and administration policies that potentially impact the religious freedom of the Church or its members. Federal government advocacy efforts include meeting with congressional offices, partnering with fellow religious freedom organizations in coalition efforts, submitting letters of support or concern to federal agencies, and submitting written testimony to congressional committees.
State-level religious freedom advocacy takes place at the Union PARL level. Local or grassroots advocacy is an opportunity for church members to play an essential role in the Church’s religious freedom ministry. Church members often contribute to the religious liberty work of the Adventist Church by hosting religious freedom training events; sponsoring Liberty magazine subscriptions to local government, faith, and community leaders; establishing relationships with local entities that make religious freedom decisions; or contacting their congressional representatives in support or opposition to pending legislation.