Boom! Lawyered Live: How the Supreme Court is Catapulting Us Toward TheocracySaturday, April 22, 11:30–12:30 in the Grand Ballroom
Rewire News Group's Editor at Large Imani Gandy and Executive Editor Jessica Pieklo bring a live version of their award-winning podcast, Boom! Lawyered to audiences for the first time since the pandemic. Jess and Imani will highlight the current threats to religious freedom before the Court, explain how the Courts conservatives are using decisions like Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization to further erode the separation of church and state, and answer questions and respond to comments from the crowd.
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The (Gen) XYZ of Messaging: Communicating Church-State SeparationSaturday, April 22, 11:30–12:30 in National Ballroom A
From traditional letters to the editor and op-eds, to emerging social media platforms, there are a myriad of ways to effectively communicate about church-state separation if you get the message right. AU’s Communications Team will offer guidance for crafting persuasive messages to build support for church-state separation, driven by public opinion research and tried-and-true best practices. This session will offer suggested talking points, tips for getting published in your local newspaper, a crash course on social media trends, and the opportunity to join AU’s Andrew L. Seidel in crafting an on-the-spot TikTok video.
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Public Schools, Vouchers, and the Wider "Parental Rights" MovementSaturday, April 22, 11:30–12:30 in National Ballroom B
Description coming soon
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Maggie Garrett (she/her)
Americans United for Separation of Church and State |
Working Across (Non)Religious Boundaries: Religious Literacy 101Saturday, April 22, 2:30–3:30 in the Grand Ballroom
Most of us do not have a background in the study of religion, but how can we work toward a future of religious freedom without a baseline understanding of the way religion functions in our society? This workshop will provide an introduction to religious literacy and offer concrete skills to talk about religion (and nonreligion) in nuanced, non-devotional ways. We will discuss the basic religious literacy frameworks, their relevance to church-state advocacy, and tips on how to start asking more thoughtful questions to move the conversation forward.
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How to Live and Die Out LoudSaturday, April 22, 2:30–3:30 in National Ballroom A
Religious idealism in America is the reason many people suffering from serious health issues, or diagnosed with terminal diseases have to deal with unwanted religious intrusion in their healthcare experiences. Also, ideas like “you can't play God”, inform Christian’s notion of how and when someone with a terminal disease can die. As someone who lives with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, this affects me personally.
In this session, I will discuss the quality versus quantity of life, how life has meaning in the face of impending death, and the inhumane way we in America force people to remain alive long past their desire to do so. There will be an extensive Q&A session attached to this presentation. |
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Using a Womanist & Black Liberation Theological Approach to Advance Religious, Reproductive, and Sexual Autonomy to Achieve Reproductive JusticeSaturday, April 22, 2:30–3:30 in National Ballroom B
As early as 2010, anti-abortionists have targeted the Black Christian Church and Black male clergy to advance a Christian Extremist agenda. SisterReach, a bible-belt based, Womanist-led reproductive justice organization, has used a Black liberation and Womanist theological approach to educate, train, and organize Black clergy, laity, and advocates to advance religious, reproductive, and sexual autonomy using the reproductive justice lens.
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Fighting in the StatesSaturday, April 22, 3:45–4:45 in the Grand Ballroom
Description coming soon
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Nik Nartowicz (he/him)
Americans United for Separation of Church and State |
Legal Landscape of Church-State Separation & Religious FreedomSaturday, April 22, 3:45–4:45 in National Ballroom A
Description coming soon
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Youth Activism for Church-State SeparationSaturday, April 22, 3:45–4:45 in National Ballroom B
How is the next generation of church-state separation activists fighting for freedom without favor and equality without exception, and how can you join them? In this session, you’ll hear directly from youth activists about their perspectives on church-state separation and how they are advocating for change in their communities and online. We welcome people of all ages who want to learn about strategies and opportunities for youth activism.
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The Ministerial Exception: The Little-Known Doctrine that Threatens to Strip Millions of Workers of their RightsSunday, April 23, 10:45–11:15 in the Grand Ballroom
Religious employers—from schools, to hospitals, to nonprofits—employ nearly two million workers across the country. Like all other employers, they are prohibited by federal and state law from discriminating based on race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, and a host of other protected characteristics. But many employers have started to exploit a legal doctrine called the “ministerial exception” to justify unlawful discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
The ministerial exception allows religious institutions to avoid liability when they fire “ministers”—vital teachers and preachers of the faith. The doctrine is supposed to be confined to individuals who hold important leadership roles in the institution, but by incorporating ministerial language in form employment contracts, dishonest employers have sought to create a loophole that allows them to discriminate with impunity. Americans United fights in the courts to ensure workers are not mischaracterized as ministers and denied their day in court to challenge insidious discrimination. But workers can't rely on the courts alone—now is the time for collective action. Workers can come together to organize and pressure religious employers to stop exploiting the ministerial exception and stop using religion as an excuse to discriminate. This panel will break down the ministerial-exception doctrine, explain how it affects workers, forecast what is to come in the courts, and discuss opportunities for grassroots change. |
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Religion and Reproductive Rights after DobbsSunday, April 23, 10:45–11:15 in National Ballroom A
While conservatives claim that religious and abortion rights are mutually exclusive, the majority of abortion patients are religious, and many faith traditions see reproductive autonomy as a core value. In this session, National Council of Jewish Women, Catholics for Choice, and the Law, Rights, and Religion Project will discuss the power of faith-based abortion advocacy and how religious rights might be used to safeguard and expand access to this essential health care.
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Christian Nationalism and Its Impact on U.S. DemocracySunday, April 23, 10:45–11:15 in National Ballroom B
What is Christian Nationalism? Even as this term increasingly becomes part of our public awareness, there is not one clear, universally agreed-upon definition. This session will explore multiple approaches to understanding Christian Nationalism. We will then dive into how Christian Nationalism is affecting democracy in the United States today.
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