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LEGAL SERVICESLegal Services
Our expertise is where religion and law intersect. We can help with a wide variety of conflicts. Select a specific issue from the list below to view more details and any related sample letters.
We can also provide referrals. For more information, or to obtain help, contact us
Prisoner Access to Religious Services and Dietary Needs
Congress conducted hearings in the late 90s after the Supreme Court struck down portions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as unconstitutional.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREDefending the Free Exercise of Religion
The Church State Council is the regional leader in mobilizing the interfaith community to protect and defend the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion in the legislature and in the courts.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORELand Use Conflicts Involving Religion
Land use battles between churches and local planning authorities are on the rise. The Church State Council has counseled institutions such as churches, colleges, and religious radio stations on the application of Federal law to the land use process.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREAutonomy of Religious Institutions
Religious freedom is not only an individual right, but a right that pertains to religious communities. These associational rights often enjoy legislative or judicially created exemptions that reflect respect for the autonomy of religious bodies, and the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREReligious Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace
Each year, the Church State Council assists literally hundreds of workers who face discrimination in the workplace due to their religious beliefs and practices. Many of these claims are by Seventh-day Adventists who seek to observe the seventh-day Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, and to refrain from secular employment during those hours.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREFamily Law Conflicts Where Religion is Central
The Church State Council has increasingly been consulted in child custody matters where one parent is allegedly hostile to the religious teaching and practices of the other parent.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREIssues Involving the Separation of Church and State
There is much confusion today about the separation of church and state, what it means, how it is applied, and what our founding fathers intended. The courts are awash in lawsuits over the proper boundaries of the state in matters of religion.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREReligious Objections to Labor Union Membership
Seventh-day Adventists were among the earliest religious objectors to labor union membership. These objections are founded on various principles, including, on principles of liberty of conscience.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREImmigration and Naturalization
The Seventh-day Adventist Church teaches its members not to bear arms in military service. When immigrants seek to obtain United States Citizenship, they are required to swear an oath, including a statement that they are willing to bear arms and serve in the defense of their new nation.
CLICK HERE TO READ MOREDiscrimination and Accommodation Issues in Education
The Church State Council assists those who need accommodation in their course schedules or exam schedules for religious observances, such as Sabbath. No student should be denied the opportunity to complete a course of instruction because of their religion.
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