In the beginning of the pandemic, Pastor Garry and Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley’s leadership team chose to stream its services online out of concern for congregants.
In early June, Nevada started to reopen. But treating churches fairly was not part of Governor Sisolak’s reopening plan.
Calvary Chapel developed a comprehensive health and safety plan that included reducing the seating capacity for services, practicing social distancing, and limiting the service duration, among other things. Its precautions followed, and often exceeded, CDC guidelines.
Yet that was not enough for Governor Sisolak to treat churches fairly. Nevada restricted church gatherings to 50 people while allowing casinos, restaurants, bars, theme parks, and gyms to operate at half capacity. This means a casino with a capacity of 2,000 would be able to host 1,000 patrons, but a church of the same size could still only accommodate 50 people. This was unconstitutional religious discrimination, plain and simple.
Pastor Garry and Calvary Chapel chose to partner with ADF to file a lawsuit challenging this unconstitutional restriction. In doing so, the church stood up for all churches being treated as second-class. Although Gov. Sisolak changed the regulations in late September, he continues to treat churches worse than casinos and other secular businesses. The case continues at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
ADF Church Alliance continues to work to ensure that government officials do not treat churches worse than secular organizations and to protect the free exercise of religion. Join the legal membership of ADF Church Alliance today to stand with Calvary Chapel and churches across the country that face threats to their religious liberty.
During the Coronavirus crisis, ADF Church Alliance has assisted, or equipped others to assist, over 3,000 churches and ministries across all 50 states. ADF has successfully defended the rights of church and ministry clients in 14 cases that have resulted in legal action against state regulations.
ADF Church Alliance is currently taking action in two ongoing cases: Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak, and Christ’s Church of Mt. Spokane v. Inslee, to regain fair treatment for churches and help them worship together.
While public officials certainly have the authority to protect health and public safety, the First Amendment — including the free exercise of religion — is never suspended. But unfortunately, it seems some government officials are eager to shut down churches and single them out for worse treatment.
ADF Church Alliance is standing with churches like yours against this unjust treatment.
Will you join us?
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Protection from government overreach during the pandemic is not the only way that ADF Church Alliance serves churches. Religious-liberty legal issues persist for churches across the country.
On July 1, religious organizations with biblical views of marriage and sexuality became threatened by an addition to a Virginia state law regarding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” Under the new law, they face a choice: abandon their biblical beliefs or face investigations, lawsuits, fines of up to $100,000 per violation, unlimited legal fees, and court orders forcing them to violate their deeply held convictions.
Here are some of the ways this law directly impacts churches, Christian schools, and other religious ministries:
Because of these harsh consequences, Calvary Road Baptist Church, Community Fellowship Church, Community Christian Academy, and Care Net decided to file a lawsuit, with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, to take a stand against this law and its alarming effects on religious freedom.
Will you join ADF Church Alliance today and stand with these fellow churches and ministries who are
advocating for freedom?
Unfortunately, churches and ministries in Virginia are not the only ones facing religious liberty battles. State officials in California are forcing churches to pay for abortions.
In August 2014, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) mandated that the healthcare plans of churches and religious organizations cover elective abortions. Churches must now cover elective abortions in their healthcare plans or risk paying steep fines under the Affordable Care Act by declining to provide health coverage for its employees.
With the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, Skyline Wesleyan Church filed a lawsuit challenging the DMHC’s abortion-coverage requirement. The case continues after nearly five years in court.
Churches should be free to operate according to their faith without being threatened by the government. ADF Church Alliance helps give you peace of mind and provides a way for your church to protect the religious freedom of fellow churches.
Will you join us?
Learn MoreOver 2,500 churches are becoming better prepared and protected through ADF Church Alliance membership. When your church joins, you help build an Alliance of churches committed to protecting religious liberty, which helps other churches get the help they need when they need it. Membership ensures that churches like Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, Calvary Road Baptist Church, Skyline Wesleyan Church and others receive representation – even up to the Supreme Court if necessary. But ADF Church Alliance membership also gives you access to a variety of valuable religious liberty legal benefits and services.
Your church’s membership in ADF Church Alliance provides you with a variety of legal benefits, all of which may help protect your church’s religious freedom.
We review your church constitution, bylaws, employment documents, and policies from a religious liberty perspective. Then, we make recommendations on how you can provide additional protection to your church. Whenever you make changes to your documents, we are available to review them.
Whenever you have religious liberty legal questions, you can consult directly with an ADF attorney. When legal issues arise threatening your religious liberty, you can have peace of mind knowing we will help you navigate them.
ADF Church Alliance members can access a members-only website with on demand video trainings, sample documents, legal guides, trending news on cases, and more. Members also receive e-newsletters with legal updates that are impacting the Body of Christ.
Your church, and Bible believing churches like yours, can have the legal representation you need when facing a religious liberty threat. If necessary and appropriate, we can represent your church in court at no additional cost to you.
Use Promo Code ADF10 - Get 10% Off Your Membership
Use Promo Code ADF10 - Get 10% Off Your Membership
Activate My Church's MembershipADF Church Alliance provides legal help to churches so they can freely live and preach the Gospel in their communities. You are steps away from legal consultation, customized resources for your church, and personalized support.
