MISSION:
The mission of the North American Division PUBLIC AFFAIRS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (PARL) ministry is simple but all-encompassing: to proclaim and defend the God-given gift of religious freedom which is integral to our identity as Seventh-day Adventist Christians. The most effective way for us to accomplish this mission is to build relationships with civic leaders, religious groups, and community leaders throughout North America. We believe in the power of the “Advent Message,” which compels us to defend freedom of conscience for all people, everywhere.
HISTORY:
The Adventist Church established the first Department of Religious Liberty in 1901 and a few years later, in 1906, the department began publishing Liberty: A Magazine of Religious Freedom. At the time, Liberty was the only magazine on religious freedom in the Americas. Today, the magazine is the oldest continuously published journal on religious liberty and continues to advocate for religious freedom for all and for the separation of church and state.
PARL - The practical side: A central component of the ministry of PARL is Public Affairs. Through building key relationships in the community, PARL seeks to position the Seventh-day Adventist Church to a standing of credibility, trust, and relevance in the public space.
SHARON MOHAMMED, Director