– Religious freedom is the ability to act according to the convictions of one’s faith.

– Everyone has the right to freedom of expression and the free exercise of religion.

– No one should be harassed or threatened by the government for exercising their rights of free speech and religious freedom in public.

– Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect by all levels of government, and lawmakers should dispense justice with fairness, equity and integrity. Although people sometimes disagree profoundly with one another, respect for differences allows for civil discourse and healthy dialogue in a diverse society.

– Everyone should be free to associate with others around shared values and beliefs and to form organizations, businesses and other groups. Such associations should be free to promote their missions and expect their members to share the values, beliefs and mission of the association to ensure a rich and robust marketplace of ideas.

– Churches should be free to act in accordance with their beliefs, free from discrimination by local, state or federal governments.

– When churches stand together, freedom is protected, sister churches are empowered and more people hear the word of God.

We agree with the Manhattan Declaration, which states:

No one should be compelled to embrace any religion against his will, nor should persons of faith be forbidden to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience or to express freely and publicly their deeply held religious convictions.” What is true for individuals applies also to religious communities.

We believe in the law and the rule of law. We recognize the duty to obey the laws, whether we like them or not, unless the laws are grossly unjust or require those subject to them to do something unjust or immoral.