North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

search

Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL)

Phone:
(443) 391-7257
Location:
9705 Patuxent Woods Drive
Columbia, MD 21046-1565, USA
Social:
Ministry Website
Email Us
Recent News
“Pitching” It Forward
July 11, 2025
“Religious Freedom Is a Reflection of Our Commitment to Dignity and Justice,” Says Key Speaker at the 2025 North American Division Annual Prayer Breakfast
March 4, 2025

Defending Freedom for All

We proclaim and defend the God-given gift of religious freedom which is integral to our prophetic role as Seventh-day Adventists and primary evangelistic efforts. Through events like our annual Religious Liberty dinner on Capitol Hill and Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfasts, we bring together diverse faith leaders, government officials, academics, and advocates. Our work ensures that religious liberty remains strong for current and future generations while building bridges of understanding across faith communities.

News
Middle age Black man in Cardinals shirt with baseball smiles
“Pitching” It Forward
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, as the General Conference Session was winding down, G. Alexander Bryant wound up his pitching arm as he chose a different dinner venue — and experience — than the rest of the week. At 6:45 p.m. CT he threw out the first pitch at the St. Louis Cardinals game. It was a rare and deeply meaningful opportunity for the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (NAD).
St. Louis, Mo.
Prayer breakfast attendees bow their heads during one of several prayers
“Religious Freedom Is a Reflection of Our Commitment to Dignity and Justice,” Says Key Speaker at the 2025 North American Division Annual Prayer Breakfast
On Jan. 22, 2025, about 80 people from diverse faith traditions gathered for the sixth Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast hosted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America and organized by its Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department. The event included prayer for religious freedom, elected officials, the community, the nation, peace, and for unity of spirit.
Columbia, Md.
Close-up of a smiling white woman seated at a dinner table
Nearly 100 Attendees Celebrate Freedom of Conscience at NAD Religious Liberty Dinner
The North American Division’s (NAD) 18th annual Religious Liberty dinner, held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., celebrated a central human right — the freedom of religion or belief. It brought together close to 100 religious liberty advocates, government officials, academics, Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders, Washington Adventist University Honors College students, and other guests, for a catered meal, a keynote address and religious liberty awards ceremony.
Columbia, Md.
All News

Our mission

To proclaim and defend the God-given gift of religious freedom, which is integral to our prophetic role as Seventh-day Adventists® and primary evangelistic efforts.

How we serve

  • Distribute Liberty magazine to nearly 200,000 mostly non-Adventist thought leaders, who include federal and state legislators, judiciary, lawyers, mayors, and many others identified as having an interest in religious liberty
  • Maintain a litigation fund to defend Adventists’ religious convictions in the workplace
  • Involve members through the North American Religious Liberty Association, which, together with Liberty magazine and the General Conference, sponsors events in Washington and elsewhere, such as the annual Religious Liberty dinner, congressional visitation, and training sessions for legislative liaison work
  • Interact with public officials and represent our church’s viewpoint to policymakers
  • Produce regular weekly television and radio programs broadcast nationally and internationally