Spencerville Church Hosts Panel on Religious Liberty in the Workplace

On April 15, the Spencerville (Silver Spring, Md.) church hosted a panel discussion on religious liberty in the workplace. The event was co-sponsored by Washington Adventist University’s Center for Law and Public Policy. The panel, moderated by Crystal Ward, Spencerville executive pastor, featured experts in the field of religious liberty and law.

Panelists included Todd McFarland, deputy general counsel for the General Conference; Alan Reinach, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Pacific Union; Melissa Reid, associate director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the North American Division; Bill Knott, associate director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the General Conference; and Jennifer Hawks, associate director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

The main focus of the panel discussion was the case of Gerald Groff, an evangelical Christian whose conviction that he should not work on Sunday for religious reasons led him to leave his job with the United States Postal Service. The case, argued before the Supreme Court on April 18, is considered by many to be the most important case on Sabbath keeping in the workplace in nearly 50 years. The central question at stake is the extent to which employers should be legally required to accommodate a worker’s sincerely held religious belief.

During the discussion, panelists explained the details of the case and delved into the major issues at play. They explored the implications of the case for religious liberty and the potential impact on employers and employees across the United States. The panel also weighed in on other current religious liberty issues of note.

For those interested in learning more, a recording of the event is available on the Spencerville church’s YouTube channel.