2020 Election – A Legal Guide for Churches

For Churches and Pastors:

Given the nuances of the law, many church leaders are uncertain of what they can or cannot do when it comes to engaging in the “political arena.”

If you’re a pastor, member of the clergy, or church leader, some of this guide will help you navigate some of the laws surrounding tax-exempt status for churches. And it will equip you to know what you should be aware of regarding speaking about political issues, supporting a candidate or legislation, engaging in voter education, allowing church facilities to be used for “political” purposes, giving money to a campaign, and more. With this guide, you’ll be empowered to shepherd God’s people while protecting your ministry.

Protecting Your Ministry

For Churches, Christian Schools, and Christian Ministries:

Our Protecting Your Ministry manual will help you prepare for the legal intrusions some churches, Christian schools, and ministries around the country have already faced, along with other threats on the near horizon.

This free resource – meant for a wide range of Protestant, Orthodox, or Catholic faith-based schools, ministries, and churches – provides simple & effective ways to prepare your ministry to stand against lawsuits involving same-sex marriage, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It includes sample language for bylaws, checklists, model policies, client stories, and more.

Protecting Your Pregnancy Center

For Pregnancy Centers and Pro-Life Ministries:

Our Protecting Your Pregnancy Center manual will help you safeguard your organization from legal intrusions some centers around the country have already faced, along with other threats on the horizon. This free resource – meant for a wide range of Protestant, Orthodox, or Catholic faith-based ministries– provides simple and effective ways to prepare your center to stand against lawsuits that would threaten your ability to protect life. It includes sample language for bylaws, model policies, real-life examples, and more.

Create Freely

For Creative Professionals:

As a Christian, your faith is at the very core of who you are, and it naturally guides your art. You should never have to forsake your beliefs in order to create, even though it seems the culture may be demanding just that. Simply put: we want to give you the freedom to make business decisions and choose to use your God-given creative talents only for projects that are consistent with your closely-held beliefs

That’s why we created this publication. We hope that some of the practical steps included inside will be useful as you strive to protect your right to live, work, and create according to your conscience. And we hope you will be encouraged by stories of other artists who are committed to remaining faithful in their work, no matter what.

Faith in the Workplace

For Christian Business Owners:

Your faith is what makes you who you are – it impacts everything about the way you live your life, including the way you run your business. While some business owners are cheered and commended when they blend certain beliefs and work, that isn’t always the case for Christian business owners. Now, more than ever, you need to know that, as a Christian who owns a business, you still have the freedom to run your business consistently with your beliefs.

With recent significant cultural and legal changes in our society, we’ve created a legal guide to help you navigate potential challenges to your business. Whether you are the founder of a brand new start-up, or a veteran CEO, this free resource is for you.

Students Rights Handbook

For students, parents, teachers, professors, and coaches:

From kindergarten through college, those on school campuses across the country are facing an increasing level of censorship and even punishment for speaking up about and living out their Christian values. But being a Christian means living out your faith in all aspects of your life, including at school, and the Constitution protects your right to do so.

Alliance Defending Freedom created this free legal guide to help you understand what your rights are on your school campus and give you the confidence to know that you don’t need to leave your faith at home.

Legal Guide for Healthcare Professionals

For Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Pharmacists, and Medical Students:

As a healthcare professional, your work is a calling, and it is a sacred one. For millennia, healthcare personnel and institutions have adhered to a duty to do no harm; a duty to heal rather than to maim or kill. And as a Christian, you understand that life is sacred – that we are made in the image of God. These principles are the foundation of your life-saving work.

But you may have experienced a trend of increasing pressure to conform to more “socially accepted” beliefs within your own practice. That’s why we have created this free legal manual, to explain the laws that protect your right to practice medicine according to your conscience, and what to do if the right is ever threatened.

Sidewalk Counselor Manual

For Pro-Life Sidewalk Advocates:

As a sidewalk counselor, you can bring hope and clarity to women and men facing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy by connecting with them and empowering them to choose life. To do this work faithfully and effectively, however, you should familiarize yourself with your rights.

Alliance Defending Freedom created this manual to educate you about your legal rights when engaging in sidewalk counseling. We pray this resource will help you be better equipped to serve the women and men entering abortion clinics every day.

Additional Resource Pages:

• Military: https://www.adflegal.org/issues/religious-freedom/military/resources


• University: https://www.adflegal.org/issues/religious-freedom/university/resources


• K-12: https://www.adflegal.org/issues/religious-freedom/k-12/resources


• Public Square: https://www.adflegal.org/issues/religious-freedom/public-square/resources