Alliance Defending Freedom is on a mission to keep the legal doors open for the Gospel. This can only be accomplished with God’s blessing and when churches know their rights and learn what is happening in the culture at large.
You can learn more about current legal cases and issues impacting churches on our blog.
We’ve also made the following resources available to you for free. The information below is only a portion of the religious liberty resources available to members.
Supreme Court cases have the potential to impact every church in America. Learn about recent cases that affect churches and ministries by downloading the documents below.
Our Lady of Guadalupe School – 2020 Supreme Court Case
When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Our Lady of Guadalupe School, it clarified and broadened the scope of the ministerial exception. This important employment case allows for greater freedom for churches and ministries as they make decisions about who will teach and represent their faith.
In Bostock, the Supreme Court ruled that an employer cannot fire or decline to hire an employee solely because of the employee’s sexual orientation or transgender status. Because the opinion leaves open all questions regarding religious-liberty rights, it is still unclear how this ruling may affect churches and ministries.
In Espinoza, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that religious schools and religious families cannot be discriminated against in state tax credit programs simply because they are religious. This case paves the way for equal treatment for religious people and organizations.
Little Sisters of the Poor – 2020 Supreme Court Case
In Little Sisters of the Poor, the Supreme Court ruled that the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury had the authority to create exemptions from the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive-coverage mandate for employers who object on religious or moral grounds. While this ruling was primarily about procedures and rulemaking, the decision’s effect is greater freedom for religious organizations.
Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley– 2020 Supreme Court Case
In Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, the Supreme Court declined to provide emergency relief to a Nevada church that the state’s COVID-19 regulations treat worse than similarly-situated secular businesses and protests. The Court’s ruling does not end the church’s case; it simply declined to halt Nevada’s unequal treatment of the church while the case continues in lower federal courts.
ADF has created legal guides that help churches navigate some legal pitfalls and better understand what some of their key religious liberty rights are. Learn more about the publicly available guides below.
Understanding Church Autonomy
Church autonomy is vital to your church, but what is it exactly and why is it important?
Check out this resource to learn about the legal principle of church autonomy. Learn about how it helps safeguard your church from government interference, the freedoms it secures, your church’s religious liberty legal rights, and more.
As a church leader, being able to speak freely and proclaim the Gospel matters. Having the freedom to share your faith not only in your house of worship but also in the public square is crucial to your ministry.
Review this resource to learn about your legal rights in this critical area.
Pastors, Churches, and Politics – Five Things to Know
There are boundaries for what churches and pastors can say – and do – during election seasons. But what are the boundaries? What can your church and your pastor say and do without risking your tax-exempt status?
We’ve created a guide that helps you navigate some key legal issues this election season.
As Americans, church leaders have a voice in how our government functions. That voice, with God’s blessing, can affect change and impact law and culture for the good of the Church and our neighbors. Read this short guide to learn more about how church leaders can practice civic engagement and then contact an ADF attorney to obtain legal advice specific to your situation.