ADF Releases List of Do’s and Don’ts for Pastors, Churches

Elections

Ever wonder what your church can and cannot say or do during an election season?

Is it OK for a candidate to come to your church? Can the pastor talk about a ballot issue from the pulpit? The attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom have you covered.

ADF is one of the nation’s leading legal advocates for religious freedom among churches, ministers, educators, and others. They help pastors and churches know the boundaries of what a pastor or a church can do when it comes to issue advocacy and elections.

We have condensed some of ADF’s guidelines into a simple, one-page flyer available here.

You can also download ADF’s full set of guidelines by clicking here.

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Atheists Block ASU Football Team

Religious Freedom,

For the second time in a month the Freedom From Religion Foundation is making waves in Arkansas–this time over the Arkansas State University football team.

Recently, Red Wolves football players decided to honor two students who died this year. The players met and agreed the best way to do that was by placing a small cross-shaped decal featuring the names of the two students on the backs of their football helmets.

All this was well and good until the university received complaints from people in contact with the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The complaint alleged that by letting the players put a cross on the backs of their helmets, the school was endorsing Christianity. The school has now forced the players to change the stickers.

Now, let’s pause here and think back a few years ago, when Tim Tebow was a star college quarterback  in Florida. Tebow routinely (and openly) discussed his faith and wore scripture references during ballgames. Was the school somehow violating the First Amendment to the United States Constitution by letting him do that? No.

So if it’s alright for Tim Tebow to be seen on national TV with “John 3:16” written on his face in eyeblack, what’s wrong with ASU players wearing crosses on the backs of their helmets to honor their friends? Nothing.

College students do not lose their religious liberty and their freedom of speech by donning a football jersey. Schools do not have the authority to make speech by students religiously-neutral; they do, however, have a responsibility to protect students’ First Amendment rights. In this case, Arkansas State University is failing to do that.

Photo Credit: “ArkSt. facing Northwest” by Intrepidsfsu (talk) – I created this image entirely by myself.. Via Wikipedia.

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Tired of Sitting on the Sideline? Join Us for a Special Meeting.

Religious Freedom, , ,

Religious liberty in America is under attack. We’ve seen this everywhere from the federal government’s controversial mandates under Obamacare all the way down to the “nondiscrimination” ordinance recently passed by the Fayetteville City Council. It seems like almost every day there is some new example of the government making it more difficult for churches and people of faith to live out their religious convictions.

What if I told you there was something you and your church could do about this?

Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., and Vision America Action are bringing a team to Arkansas to help you do just that. All next week, their team will travel across the state, hosting free meetings to help you and your church take a stand for the principles we hold dear.

Topics at the meetings will include helping Christians register to vote and engage in the public arena; understanding a biblical view of the issues facing our culture; and outlining how churches can be involved in this struggle.

Each meeting will include a free meal and an excellent lineup of speakers prepared to share critical information with you and your friends. If you are a pastor or church leader, it is especially important for you to join us. For additional information and to RSVP for free, go to www.Pastors4AR.org.

One of the best ways to stop the assault on religious liberty is for Christians to start exercising their other liberties. There are many ways we can join together to make our state a better place to live and raise a family. Please come to one of meetings below and learn how you and your church can do just that.

Meeting Details

(Free meals provided for all participants) (more…)

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