More than 100 religious liberty leaders, ministers and church members attended the religious liberty retreat at Camp Cedar Falls held Nov. 12-14.

The annual retreat provided attendees with the opportunity to see that “religious liberty is not some abstract legal or theological concept; it is at the heart of the gospel,” said Alan Reinach , director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Pacific Union. “God does not coerce people to follow Him, but leads through love. Religious liberty is a practical ministry, and members need to become informed and involved.”

“The reality is that since 9/11 there are an increasing number of policy changes that could drastically affect religious liberty,” Reinach explained. “Through retreats like this, church members can stay aware of what is happening to their freedoms, and how they can make a difference.”

During the three-day retreat, presenters, including conference leaders, ministers, attorneys and laypeople, discussed the history of church-state relations in the context of today’s political environment, provided updates on the changing constitutional landscape, gave practical tips and materials that local religious liberty leaders could effectively use to keep their congregations informed.

Speakers emphasized the importance of community involvement. In her Sabbath morning presentation, Audray Johnson , Southeastern California religious liberty director said, “We are called to be the salt of earth, but we can’t accomplish much while we are still in the shaker.”

The exciting conclusion of this retreat was the inauguration of the Pacific Union chapter of the North American Religious Liberty Association (NARLA). NARLA is a chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), which was founded in 1893 by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. NARLA is an active public policy organization open to people of all faiths who are dedicated to the preservation of freedom of belief and religious practice.

“While we have friends at both the ACLU and [Pat Robertson’s] American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), we also have significant points of disagreement,” said Reinach. “NARLA brings a more reasonable view of public policy to the table. A view that we believe is consistent with our mission.” If you are curious to learn more, don’t miss the next religious liberty retreat, which is scheduled for May 6-8 at Leoni Meadows, an Adventist camp east of Sacramento. For more information and the latest religious liberty updates, visit www.churchstate.org. To learn more about NARLA visit www.religiousliberty.info.