8:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Ballroom Foyer
Registration
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Ballroom Foyer
Breakfast
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM | Grand Ballroom
Morning Remarks
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9:15 AM - 10:30 AM | Grand Ballroom |
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Closing KeynoteKatherine StewartAuthor of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism and The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children
Katherine Stewart writes about the religious and political right for a wide variety of publications including The New York Times op ed, The New Republic, and The Guardian. Her latest book is The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. Her previous book, The Good News Club, looked at efforts by the religious right, to infiltrate and undermine public education.
Katherine will discuss the attacks by Christian Nationalist and right-wing extremists on abortion (and bodily autonomy more widely), their war on women and gender equity, how this is manifesting in our politics, and how those of us fighting to preserve and strengthen church-state separation can be a part of the solution. She will be joined by panelists Rachel Laser and Rev. Traci Blackmon. |
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Post-keynote panel
Rachel Laser
Americans United for Separation of Church and State |
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10:45 - 11:45 AM
Breakout Session D
The Ministerial Exception: The Little-Known Doctrine that Threatens to Strip Millions of Workers of their Rights
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Grand Ballroom |
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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.
Panelists:
Gabi Hybel, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Sunu Chandy, National Women's Law Center
Dori Bernstein
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.
Panelists:
Gabi Hybel, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Sunu Chandy, National Women's Law Center
Dori Bernstein
Religion and Reproductive Rights after Dobbs
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.
Panelists:
Smriti Krishnan, National Council of Jewish Women
Elizabeth Reiner Platt, Columbia Law School, The Law, Rights, and Religion Project
Shannon Russell, Catholics for Choice
Panelists:
Smriti Krishnan, National Council of Jewish Women
Elizabeth Reiner Platt, Columbia Law School, The Law, Rights, and Religion Project
Shannon Russell, Catholics for Choice
Christian Nationalism and Its Impact on U.S. Democracy
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.
Panelists:
Marilyn Mayo and Karen Levit, Anti-Defamation League
Jennifer Hawks, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Allyson Shortle, University of Oklahoma
Rob Boston, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Panelists:
Marilyn Mayo and Karen Levit, Anti-Defamation League
Jennifer Hawks, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Allyson Shortle, University of Oklahoma
Rob Boston, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
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12:00 PM - 12:15 PM | Grand Ballroom |
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Closing RemarksRachel LaserPresident & CEO, Americans United for Separation of Church & State
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End of Main Conference Program. Remaining sessions for registrants of Lobby Day only.
12:30 PM - 3:00 PM | National Ballroom
Lobby Day Training & Lunch
Lobby Day registrants only
4:00 PM - Various
Optional Social Activities
Walking Tour of the MonumentsMeet in Hotel Lobby (4pm) or
Washington Monument 14th St NW & Constitution Ave NW (4:40pm) Want to see the sights while you’re in DC? Join us for a guided walking tour of some of the most famous monuments in our nation’s capital! Depart the hotel lobby at 4 PM to walk together (1 mile) or join us at the corner of 14th St NW and Constitution Ave NW at 4:40 PM for the start of the guided tour. The tour will last about two hours and end at the Jefferson Memorial, after which people can walk back together (2 miles) or head out on their own.
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Book Talk and Live Podcast RecordingNational Ballroom
Listen in and ask questions of four experts on church-state separation and white Christian nationalism during a live recording of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, featuring host Bradley Onishi, Katherine Stewart, and AU’s Rob Boston and Andrew Seidel in conversation. The recording will be followed by a book signing and meet and greet with the authors. Bring your own book or a limited number of books will be available for sale.
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© Americans United for Separation of Church and State 2023