To increase national awareness for the President’s annual proclamation of Religious Freedom Day (January 16), Gateways has launched Religious Freedom Sunday—to be celebrated each year the Sunday before Religious Freedom Day.

Religious Freedom Sunday is a national event in which churches honor the educators within their congregations and inform their congregations about the freedom of religious expression students from kindergarten through twelfth grade have at school.

The theme for Religious Freedom Sunday comes from the Bible verse quoted on the Liberty Bell—‘proclaim liberty throughout the land’ (Leviticus 25:10).

Drawing Attention to Religious Freedom Day

Each year, the President declares January 16th to be Religious Freedom Day, and calls upon Americans to “observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship.”

The day is the anniversary of the passage, in 1786, of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom. Thomas Jefferson drafted the legislation and considered it one of his greatest achievements. It stopped the practice of taxing people to pay for the support of the local clergy, and it protected the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs without suffering discrimination. For a free, downloadable booklet explaining more about Jefferson’s legislation, visit www.ReligiousFreedomDay.com.

Today, that protection is as important as ever. In too many instances, public school teachers tell Christian students they cannot include their faith in their homework assignments or classroom discussions. However, the U.S. Department of Education has issued guidelines explaining students’ religious liberties. Students can pray, read their Bibles, and talk about their faith at school during school hours. They can organize prayer groups and Bible studies and announce their meetings. They can express their faith in their class work and homework.

Promoting Students' Freedom of Religious Expression

Sunday isn't the only day to inform students, teachers, and parents about religious liberites at school. The week leading up to Religious Freedom Day is a great time for students in campus Bible clubs to distribute information to classmates and educators.

“Free to Speak” is a pocket-sized pamphlet designed for students. If each student in a campus Bible club or church youth group receives ten pamphlets they can keep one and give nine to their friends and teachers during the week leading up to Religious Freedom Day.

REACH YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS: For every package of 100 pamphlets you or your church orders, the Alliance Defense Fund has donated its time to send a six-page letter to the school official of your choice. The letter cites Supreme Court cases clarifying students' and teachers' religious liberties. 

What to Do on Religious Freedom Sunday

Here are three easy ideas your church can incorporate in your January 10th services:

1.  Honor the educators in your congregation and offer a prayer of thanks and blessing for them.

2.  Make a brief announcement explaining Religious Freedom Sunday and provide the congregation with the “Free to Speak” student pamphlet in the bulletin (see www.gtbe.org/store).

3.  Have the Sunday school teachers and youth leaders distribute multiple copies of the “Free to Speak” pamphlet to students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. If each student receives ten pamphlets they can keep one and give nine to their friends and teachers during the week leading up to Religious Freedom Day. In this way, many classrooms will receive the information and gain clarity on freedom of religious expression!

CLICK HERE for a close up view of the pamphlet.

TO ORDER pamphlets, CLICK HERE.