Legal Health Checkup
October 8, 2024
With the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, it's a stark reminder of how critical it is to have a comprehensive and actionable emergency response plan for severe weather events.
Legal Health Checkup
October 2, 2024
When it comes to child protection, ministries must take every step possible to ensure that those entrusted with the care of children are trustworthy and well-suited for their roles.
Legal Health Checkup
September 16, 2024
Local law enforcement agencies can serve as invaluable resources.
Legal Health Checkup
September 4, 2024
Ministries and churches hold a critical responsibility to protect children under their care. One of the most effective ways to prevent child abuse is by ensuring that those who work with children are properly vetted.
Legal Health Checkup
August 30, 2024
In a cultural climate where biblical values are increasingly challenged, it is vital for churches and ministries to proactively address issues surrounding marriage and sexuality.
Legal Health Checkup
August 21, 2024
In the realm of political engagement, churches hold a unique position where they must balance their freedom of expression with the legal restrictions tied to their tax-exempt status.
Legal Health Checkup
August 15, 2024
Imagine arriving at church one Sunday morning only to discover that your sanctuary has been burglarized. What would you do?
Legal Health Checkup
August 5, 2024
Money is an inevitable aspect every ministry must navigate. When managed well, it can unify believers around a common mission.
Legal Health Checkup
July 26, 2024
There is no foolproof strategy for avoiding a lawsuit against your ministry. Churches and their associated ministries are often targeted for various reasons.
Legal Health Checkup
July 12, 2024
In recent years, the issue of pastoral plagiarism and copyright violations has come under the spotlight due to widespread media coverage.
Legal Health Checkup
July 8, 2024
Operating a church involves much more than Sunday services. It requires constant vigilance and preparedness to ensure the safety and security of the congregation and property.
Legal Health Checkup
June 19, 2024
In recent years, a sweeping transformation in anti-discrimination laws across various states and localities has significantly impacted churches and ministries.
Legal Health Checkup
June 18, 2024
In recent times, the epidemic of child abuse, including sexual abuse, has not spared churches and Christian ministries. Recognizing this grave reality is the first step toward protecting the innocent and upholding the moral and spiritual mandate entrusted to us by Jesus Christ.
Legal Health Checkup
June 12, 2024
In religious organizations, not every employee needs to be ordained, licensed, or commissioned. The term "ministerial" refers to any employee who is hired on a religious basis, playing a direct role in sharing, teaching, representing, or modeling the faith.
Legal Health Checkup
June 7, 2024
Every church that opens its facilities for internal or external use needs a comprehensive facility usage policy. This policy not only dictates who can use the space and for what purpose but also protects the church legally and financially.
Legal Health Checkup
May 31, 2024
As the 2024 election cycle approaches, many churches are considering how they can participate effectively while respecting legal boundaries. This article guides you on how to approach these conversations.
Legal Health Checkup
May 31, 2024
Churches are unique entities under U.S. law, and understanding whether they need a Letter of Determination from the IRS can be crucial. This article clarifies the requirements and procedures for churches concerning their tax-exempt status under the IRS code and the Constitution.
Legal Health Checkup
May 3, 2024
On April 23, 2024, the Department of Labor announced a significant update to the rules governing overtime pay eligibility. This new rule will affect countless employees, including those in church ministries, by changing the criteria for overtime pay exemptions.
News Alerts
June 10, 2021
Every day, calls come into the National Center for Life and Liberty because the unthinkable has occurred. Someone got into a serious accident with a church-owned vehicle, or a child was injured on church grounds and was rushed to the hospital.
News Alerts
February 9, 2021
“Times Are Changing in America.” The Biden administration has now signed over forty-two executive orders/actions, signaling a dramatic shift in policy in our country. In this episode, we will discuss your organization's statement of faith and code of conduct and why these documents are more critical than ever for your church or ministry.
News Alerts
February 9, 2021
The first four episodes of our “Times Are Changing in America” series covered four major topics for ministries: robust ministerial employment contracts, the cultural redefinition of discrimination, social media pitfalls, and strong statements of faith and codes of conduct.
News Alerts
January 29, 2021
“Times Are Changing in America.” This theme is apt, as many feel frustration, fatigue, or angst as they see our country drifting further into the progressive thinking dominating our culture.
News Alerts
January 22, 2021
“Times Are Changing in America.” This theme is apt, as many feel frustration, fatigue, or angst as they see our country drifting further into the progressive thinking dominating our culture.
News Alerts
January 15, 2021
“Times Are Changing in America.” This theme is apt, as many feel frustration, fatigue, or angst as they see our country drifting further into the progressive thinking dominating our culture.
News Alerts
January 1, 2021
We are in unprecedented times in America. Our President has asked that we do not meet in groups more than ten.
News Alerts
October 21, 2020
Many ministries have called us to request what to do if there is a positive COVID-19 case in their church or school. There are several variations to our response, and they differ between church and school and between staff member and congregant/student.
News Alerts
September 15, 2020
We regularly receive questions from churches and schools requesting information on how to handle confirmed COVID-19 cases.
News Alerts
September 15, 2020
Many churches want to know how they can engage the culture during the 2020 election cycle in the right way.
News Alerts
July 16, 2020
As many states have begun issuing mask mandates, many have contacted our office regarding face coverings and whether or not ordering them to be worn in public is a constitutional overreach on the part of state and local governments.
News Alerts
July 16, 2020
Many have contacted the NCLL regarding the recent Supreme Court decision that decided in the favor of Our Lady of Guadalupe School. This ruling was deciding whether Ms. Morrissey-Berru’s role in the school in teaching religious studies qualified the school for the First Amendment protections.
News Alerts
July 15, 2020
As many schools are now open, The National Center for Life and Liberty has updated the guidance concerning re-opening for in-person instruction this fall.
News Alerts
July 3, 2020
Many churches received PPP funding at the end of April or the beginning of May, which means that the end of June was the end of the eight-week forgiveness period. As we announced two weeks ago, the timeline to utilize funds was expanded.
News Alerts
July 3, 2020
Many have contacted our office concerning the Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. This case has caused concern for many who believe the Supreme Court legislated from the bench in the same way as in Roe v. Wade. Before providing post-decision analysis, this article will walk through the facts, legal question, and opinions by the Supreme Court, which is now part of official case law in our country.
Ministry Updates
June 12, 2020
We are living today in a culture where the ability to voice our opinion or make our thoughts known on a particular topic is readily available to us. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., give people a platform to express their feelings almost in real time.
Ministry Updates
June 12, 2020
Congress and the president have put into law several updates to the Payroll Protection Program (PPP). These changes will make it easier for organizations who have obtained PPP loans to receive forgiveness.
Ministry Updates
May 29, 2020
As we finish the month of May, the days have seemed to go by quickly, but they’ve also taken their toll on many people. COVID-19 has affected nearly every church, nonprofit, and business across the country. Our office has heard from thousands of churches and individuals as they seek to navigate these uncertain times.
Ministry Updates
May 22, 2020
NCLL attorneys are offering coaching sessions to help you make the best decisions for your ministry in regard to utilizing PPP money.
Ministry Updates
May 14, 2020
Summer 2020 will look different from any other summer in recent memory, as ministries adjust to CDC and state health guidelines. Different from worship services, summer activities and events hold additional liability for churches and ministries.
Ministry Updates
May 14, 2020
Many churches, nonprofits, and charities are facing unprecedented financial challenges. Religious schools and charities are seeing drastic changes in funding. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided several funding opportunities for churches and ministries during this time.
Ministry Updates
May 14, 2020
Many churches and ministries are faced with unprecedented decisions regarding their Christian schools, preschools, and daycares due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Ministry Updates
May 14, 2020
Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk Document Related to Coronavirus/COVID-19
Ministry Updates
May 14, 2020
Many churches across the country have resumed in-person services again as the country begins to open back up. Every state is taking a different approach to re-opening, with extremes on both sides.
Ministry Updates
April 27, 2020
Many have begun contacting our office regarding cloth face coverings and whether or not ordering them to be worn in public is a constitutional overreach on the part of state and local governments. The answer is simple. This is a constitutional overreach in the same way that stay-at-home orders are.
Ministry Updates
April 23, 2020
Many churches and ministries applied for and were approved to receive Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funding to continuing paying their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Some churches and ministries, however, have not received funding due to allocations running out within just two weeks of being made available.
Ministry Updates
April 22, 2020
Many churches and ministries have begun receiving Payroll Protection Program (PPP) monies. We want to help churches and ministries ensure the greatest success in qualifying for loan forgiveness by utilizing these funds the right way. How to use these monies is really ministry- or church-specific.
Ministry Updates
April 16, 2020
Many have reached out to the National Center for Life and Liberty to ask the question, “When should our church begin meeting in our building again?”
Ministry Updates
April 16, 2020
At the NCLL, we encourage a culture of prevention not of paranoia. We want to encourage all churches and ministries to take the right precautions, use common sense, and take appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of those in your care.
Ministry Updates
April 15, 2020
On April 14, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed in support of a Mississippi church that has come under fire for continuing its drive-in services. Additionally, the U.S. attorney general released a statement on religious practice and social distancing.
Ministry Updates
April 10, 2020
During this time of crisis in our country, the celebration of the resurrection of our Savior is more important than ever. This Easter we have the opportunity to demonstrate to hurting people the Hope that is within us.
Ministry Updates
April 10, 2020
Many of you have asked our office, “What should we do next?” As churches hold services this Easter in a variety of formats, many pastors and church leaders are looking to the coming weeks wondering what their next steps should be.
Ministry Updates
April 9, 2020
Across the country, the question is being asked, “Are churches ‘essential businesses’?” The answer is, YES! The National Center for Life and Liberty has maintained throughout the entire COVID-19 quarantine period that churches are indeed essential businesses. We have found little pushback from state and local governments on churches continuing to meet the needs of their people during this time.
Ministry Updates
April 7, 2020
The Trump administration assured small businesses that if the original $350 billion allocated as part of the Paycheck Protection Program runs out, there will be a “refill” pushed through to access additional funds. Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin also announced that he has spoken with the president and leaders of both parties to request additional funds to ensure all small businesses receive needed funding to survive the economic downturn associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Ministry Updates
April 7, 2020
Many churches and ministries have applied for the Economic Injury Disaster (EID) Program. They are somewhat different from Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans. The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) EID program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million to provide vital economic relief to help them overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
Ministry Updates
April 6, 2020
On April 2nd, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim final rule (the Initial Rule) announcing the implementation of sections 1102 and 1106 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act or the Act). Section 1102 of the Act temporarily adds a new program, titled the "Paycheck Protection Program," to the SBA's 7(a) Loan Program.
Ministry Updates
April 4, 2020
Yesterday, the Small Business Administration (SBA) clarified its position on churches receiving funding through the CARES Act. As you know, churches have a constitutional legal right to discriminate based on religious belief. The SBA and congressional offices have all clarified that there are no strings attached to this funding.
Ministry Updates
April 3, 2020
An Interim Final Rule published by the U.S. Small Business Administration gives clarity to the question of the religious liberty protections for churches and religious nonprofits who choose to take advantage of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) that begins accepting applications today, April 3, 2020.
Ministry Updates
April 2, 2020
Yesterday, the Social Security office released new information regarding Social Security recipients of economic impact payments. As stated in the article below, senior citizens will not be required to file anything additionally to receive the payments.
Ministry Updates
April 1, 2020
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. All loan terms will be the same for everyone.
Ministry Updates
April 1, 2020
This is not a fully exhaustive list. There are executive orders that are being issued daily. However, these are the orders updated by The Council of State Governments.
Ministry Updates
April 1, 2020
Many churches and ministries are faced with unprecedented decisions regarding their Christian schools and preschools due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. This resource will assist your church or ministry in determining best practices during this challenging time. The majority of school districts in the U.S. have closed public schools, requiring distance or virtual education for students. States have requested that private schools follow the same guidelines to protect their students from exposure.
Ministry Updates
March 31, 2020
Many have asked us the status of receiving economic impact payments. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service informed us that they will be working to start providing economic impact payments within three weeks from Monday, March 30, 2020. This will ensure most receive payments no later than June 30, 2020.
Ministry Updates
March 31, 2020
We are now in the next thirty days of social distancing based on the recommendation of the White House COVID-19 task force, the CDC, and a majority of state governors. There are currently over 150,000 individuals who have been reported to have tested positive for the COVID-19, and this number is expected to increase as testing kits become more readily available. Many states are becoming more proactive over the next two weeks to contain the spread of this virus.
News Alerts
March 27, 2020
Many churches, nonprofits, and charities are facing unprecedented financial challenges. Religious schools and charities are seeing drastic changes in funding. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing several funding opportunities for churches and ministries during this time. Some states are also providing state economic disaster funds. These funds are aimed at ensuring the stabilization of small businesses, which include churches and ministries throughout the country.
News Alerts
March 26, 2020
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides standards to handle COVID-19-related employee paid leave, primarily for companies with over fifty employees. If you have more than fifty workers or are subject to the FMLA, this act extends additional coverage for employees who are being directly impacted by COVID-19. All monies required by a company to facilitate these extended benefits will be dollar-for-dollar refunded through tax credits back to the organization.
News Alerts
March 26, 2020
The IRS is making changes to its programs and services as a result of COVID-19. This article will update you regarding their program changes. First, the IRS has delayed the tax filing deadline to July 15, 2020, as well as suspended certain activities against individuals. Second, collection activities have been suspended. And finally, delinquent 2018 filings can be filed without default at this time.
Ministry Updates
March 24, 2020
Churches, schools, preschools, and other religious nonprofits are facing unprecedented financial challenges from the economic devastation of COVID-19 and resulting stay-at-home mandates. The lamentable reality is that this pandemic is forcing ministries to do the unthinkable: implement mandatory layoffs or furlough some or many employees. Many churches and ministries have reached out to the NCLL for advice and assistance on this matter.
Ministry Updates
March 24, 2020
Many churches, nonprofits, and charities are facing unprecedented financial challenges. Religious schools and charities are seeing drastic changes in funding. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing several funding opportunities for churches and ministries during this time. Some states are also providing state economic disaster funds. These funds are aimed at ensuring the stabilization of small businesses, which include churches and ministries throughout the country.
Ministry Updates
March 23, 2020
Across the country, states and counties have added different versions of “stay-safe” or “stay-at-home” orders for their citizens. These stay-at-home orders are intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As said many times during this pandemic, these are unprecedented measures in our country’s history. Your church and ministry must determine how to most effectively minister to those in your care during this challenging time.
Ministry Updates
March 23, 2020
We are in unprecedented times in America. Our President has asked that we do not meet in groups more than ten.
Ministry Updates
March 17, 2020
COVID-19 continues to grow as a public health crisis here in the United States, with over 250,000 confirmed cases and a growing death count. Estimates now predict as many as 250,000 virus-related deaths will occur in the U.S. Every week, we see more drastic measures taken by federal, state, and local officials to contain the pandemic. Your church and ministry are now faced with unprecedented challenges to continue ministering to those in your care. We all know there is nothing occurring today that has caught God by surprise, and we are thankful for His continued protection and provision for His people. However, as ministry leaders, there are challenges we must face in the coming days and weeks in this highly fluid situation that will need to be closely monitored on a daily basis.
Ministry Updates
March 13, 2020
As we face the growing public health concern, now declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, it is likely many in your community will be affected by the flu or COVID-19 in upcoming days and weeks.
News Alerts
March 9, 2020
Shannon Bream hosted attorneys Alex Swoyer (The Washington Times) and David Gibbs III (The National Center for Life and Liberty) for a lively discussion over two controversial flag displays on Friday’s Night Court segment.
Ministry Updates
February 25, 2020
In an increasingly post-Christian culture, how vulnerable is YOUR local church to coercive “anti-discrimination” public accommodation laws?
News Alerts
February 21, 2020
As Christians, we strongly believe in loving those who disagree with us—and speaking the truth in love for their good and God’s glory. Read more about the assault on First Amendment rights in favor of granting special privileges to individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).
News Alerts
February 17, 2020
We fight for many of the ideals George Washington fought to secure for generations of Americans. As we celebrate his birthday, note his conviction that religious liberty was critical to America’s success as a nation.
News Alerts
January 28, 2020
While most Americans made final preparations for the Christmas holiday, the controversial “parking lot tax” was repealed. The reversal was excellent news for churches and other nonprofits facing a twenty-one percent tax on parking and other transportation benefits for employees.
News Alerts
January 24, 2020
On January 22, 1973, seven U.S. supreme court (SCOTUS) justices unjustly stripped all fifty states (and the District of Columbia) from their legal right to fully protect their weakest, most vulnerable citizens.
Since then, 62 million children have been terminated in their mothers’ wombs—more than the entire current population of California and New York State combined.
Here are seven ways you can boldly support women and children today:
Ministry Updates
January 3, 2020
We trust in the Lord for His comfort and care for the congregation of West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas. Please pray for the loved ones of two congregants, Anton “Tony” Wallace and Richard “Rich” White, who were murdered during Sunday services by a man with a criminal record and a shotgun.
News Alerts
December 11, 2019
On Monday, December 9, 2019, SCOTUS upheld a life-saving Kentucky law that has far-reaching implications for similar informed-consent measures in other states.
News Alerts
December 5, 2019
College football has its own Thanksgiving tradition: rivals matching up for the last week of the regular season. One of the most extraordinary moments from a weekend of remarkable games didn’t come from the field. It came from the press box.
News Alerts
November 24, 2019
As Christians, we have a responsibility to let our “moderation be known unto all men” (Philippians 4:5). The term here is often restated as “reasonableness” or “gentleness,” both of which convey a sense of wise self-restraint.
News Alerts
November 13, 2019
State legislators in Kentucky, Georgia, and Texas are moving to ban puberty blockers from being given to minors in the wake of the James Younger case. Please pray other states will follow suit in protecting children and their developing minds and bodies from radical medical experimentation and abuse.
News Alerts
October 30, 2019
After countless fervent prayers and the public outcry of tens of thousands of Christians on behalf of seven-year-old James Younger , the boy’s father will purportedly have a say in his medical treatment moving forward.
Ministry Updates
October 28, 2019
You may have been following our contentious federal trial in U.S. district court in Tallahassee, FL, in pursuit of justice for veteran law enforcement officer and arson investigator Captain Kevin Fiedor.
News Alerts
October 22, 2019
A recent report compiled by a large foundation-related research organization claims, “Decline of Christianity continues at rapid pace.” In digging beneath the numbers, the problem becomes clearer.
Ministry Updates
October 21, 2019
Sitting Attorney General of the United States William Barr remains highly regarded by many for his previous service to the nation under President George H.W. Bush.
News Alerts
October 8, 2019
Today the U.S. Supreme Court hears opening arguments on the meaning of the term “sex” as defined by federal civil rights law. SCOTUS has agreed to consider three cases as a bundle to deal with the matter in depth as part of its 2019 October term. Revisionists argue the law covers “sexual orientation” and/or “gender identity” (SOGI) . . . despite original intent, related statutes, and an overwhelming body of case law.
News Alerts
September 20, 2019
The trial went well with the judge hearing testimony from both sides. It was clear that God gave great success to Attorney Gibbs III and Attorney Scott Miller.
News Alerts
September 19, 2019
Watch local news story about NCLL lawyers fighting in U.S. District Court for the First Amendment rights of Florida law enforcement veteran, Kevin Fiedor. The arson investigator was unfairly investigated, punished, and demoted for his Christian beliefs.
News Alerts
September 19, 2019
God has given favor in our trial over the state government’s violating the constitutional and civil rights of veteran law enforcement officer Captain Kevin Fiedor—but there’s a long way to go!
News Alerts
September 18, 2019
A quick note before we head into court this week at the U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida. You and I are fighting for MORE than a brave law enforcement officer. Capt. Kevin Fiedor’s future IS important, but the outcome of this federal court case affects the religious liberty of millions of Americans.
Ministry Updates
September 13, 2019
Telescope Media Group, a mom and pop communications company, preemptively sued the state of Minnesota to be able to make wedding videos without having to comply with the state’s unconstitutional “Human Rights Act.”
Ministry Updates
September 11, 2019
As our nation holds September 11, 2001, in our hearts, we trust in the eternal love of the Lord. “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2).
News Alerts
September 10, 2019
Previously, the NCLL reported how Amazon.com banned Christian counseling books on healthy sexuality (it’s dropped even more religious authors since), Apple barred LifeSite from its news platform, and recently a Google whistleblower revealed a “news blacklist site” for Google Now, which includes The Christian Post and several other sympathetic outlets.
News Alerts
August 30, 2019
Tech giants’ assault on the truths of God’s Word continues to snowball. Apple recently declared it was banning LifeSite, “a non-profit service dedicated to issues of culture, life, and family” from its news platform—after approving the ministry only one week earlier.
News Alerts
August 26, 2019
Watch Attorney David Gibbs III speak out against Netflix and its production partner for reportedly misusing its platform to mislead and slander vulnerable individuals for profit and viewership.
Ministry Updates
August 13, 2019
In a pair of radio interviews with Bruce Munsterman, the president of KHCB (Houston Christian Broadcasters), David shared insights and details about the upcoming Protect Your Church Legal Seminar on August 24 in Houston.
To hear more about the challenges facing your church and how to protect it, you can listen to both (short) conversations with David and Bruce.
News Alerts
August 6, 2019
Several news outlets, including National Review (NR links in full article), have reported concerns the increasingly biased “fact-checking” site Snopes unfairly mischaracterized yet another post by the Babylon Bee, a satirical site that regularly features Christian themes.
News Alerts
July 24, 2019
U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks ordered Greenville County School District in South Carolina to unconstitutionally restrict free speech and exercise of religion at graduation ceremonies (and even their preparation) after a series of mixed decisions on the issue going back to 2015.
News Alerts
July 23, 2019
We pray for the friends and family grieving the passing of former justice John Paul Stevens. Justice Stevens had suffered a series of strokes in his final days on the court and just before his passing this week. Much has been reported about his appointment by President Gerald Ford, his colorful thirty-five years on the court, and his high-profile comments in the decade following his resignation.
News Alerts
July 19, 2019
We want to thank the administration for their executive order cutting certain Title X funding from being used by Planned Parenthood and others committing or abetting abortion. We also thank the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for upholding the constitutionality of the order. Finally, we want to thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for enforcing the rule immediately in light of the full court’s ruling earlier this month.
News Alerts
July 14, 2019
After initial reports last week that tech giant Amazon.com had dropped the works of Dr. Joseph Nicolosi on reparative therapy, the platform eliminated at least two other resources to help individuals with unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA). In addition to banning the works of Dr. Nicolosi, a Catholic psychologist, Amazon banned a book by Anne Paulk of the Restored Hope Network and one by Joe Dallas of Genesis Counseling.
News Alerts
June 28, 2019
For the last ten years, Renee Bach and Serving His Children have served malnourished children in Uganda. Reputational terrorists are attacking Renee Bach and Serving His Children with false allegations using the platform of social media to create a false reality without factual evidence. These escalating attacks are currently threatening the personal safety of Ms. Bach and her family, as people are believing these lies about her and the services provided by the organization. Several media outlets are escalating these safety risks by globally sharing grossly false information.
News Alerts
June 24, 2019
Trillion-dollar-company Amazon is on the hot seat because their Alexa device has been recording and storing the conversations of minors.
News Alerts
June 24, 2019
In the state-by-state battle over the lives of unborn children, testimony is full of facts and figures, truths and half-truths. As standard-bearers for the truths of God’s Word, Christians need to make sure we deal with reality and the best available information.
News Alerts
June 18, 2019
Clues about whether (and when) the U.S. Supreme Court will revisit Roe v. Wade remain mixed. But a majority of Americans believe the 1973 decision should be overturned or modified according to the May Harvard-Harris monthly poll.
News Alerts
June 13, 2019
Maine no longer requires someone who commits an abortion to be a licensed physician—regardless of the viability of the unborn child outside the womb.
Ministry Updates
June 13, 2019
As Christians are increasingly discriminated against by those who are hostile to the truths of God’s Word, the Texas Legislature passed (and Governor Greg Abbott signed) S.B. 1978 to codify certain First Amendment Rights of its citizens.
News Alerts
June 11, 2019
The leaders of Illinois are the latest to sacrifice the weakest in their state on the altars of fear and self-glory. They passed legislation to systematically overturn a host of important safeguards on life and conscience—like the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act, the Performance Refusal Act, informed consent provisions, and statutes requiring certain medical safeguards and restrictions.
News Alerts
May 30, 2019
We previously reported Hollywood’s threats when Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a heartbeat bill, Living Infants Fairness and Equality [LIFE] Act, into law to protect the most vulnerable among us. Leaders in the entertainment industry threatening to leave Georgia overlook an obvious fact: without life, no other liberty exists—including the right to free speech, which Hollywood depends on to make movies . . . and money.
News Alerts
May 29, 2019
If you’ve been following Vincent Lambert’s story, you know the forty-two-year old Frenchman suffered brain damage in a 2008 auto accident. Vincent has been at the center of an international court battle over the rights of the disabled ever since. Many have dubbed him the “French Terri Schiavo,” and several parallels do exist.
Ministry Updates
May 23, 2019
We recently reported about Alabama State Representative John Rogers’ filibuster of HB 314, when he spewed, “Some kids are unwanted so you kill them now or you kill them later. You bring them in the world unwanted, unloved. You send them to the electric chair. So you kill them now or you kill them later. But the bottom line is that I think we shouldn’t be making this decision.”
News Alerts
May 17, 2019
Thank you for making your voice heard! While the vote for H.R. 5, The Equality Act, ended about how you and I expected (passing by a vote of 236 to 173), the opposition was united and clear. H.R. 5 is NOT about fairness.
News Alerts
May 17, 2019
The vote for H.R. 5, The Equality Act, is scheduled for THIS FRIDAY in the U.S. House of Representatives. All sides are weighing in. Please make your voice heard via email, phone, social media, and/or peaceful visit to your local congressional office to speak God’s truth.
News Alerts
May 16, 2019
Please pray! A year and a month ago, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed H.B. 454, the Live Dismemberment Abortion Law, which would have banned the horrific practice of tearing apart a living, unborn child. But Judge Joseph H. McKinley for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Louisville issued an injunction shortly afterward.
News Alerts
May 14, 2019
David explains our ability as Christians to help serve the “least among us” in a new interview with Jim Brangenberg, host of the iWork4Him Radio program and podcast.
News Alerts
May 11, 2019
As early as Tuesday evening, you and I are facing a direct legislative assault on the truths of God’s Word in the U.S. House of Representatives. Opponents of free speech, religious liberty, and protections for women and girls are trying to assassinate our civil rights. We must not let the lies of the world win the day without speaking out for what’s right and true.
News Alerts
May 9, 2019
“It shall be the policy of the State of Georgia to recognize unborn children as natural persons” (HB 481, the Living Infants Fairness and Equality [LIFE] Act).
Despite powerful (and spiritually needful) Hollywood interests repeatedly threatening him with boycotts, Governor Brian Kemp signed a “heartbeat bill” into law this week.
Ministry Updates
May 9, 2019
This week, pro-life North Carolinians rallied to support three important measures. First, since the state senate voted to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivor Bill, the battle turns to the NC House of Representatives.
News Alerts
May 2, 2019
Last month the United States Supreme Court agreed to review three cases which may define the term “sex” as outlined in federal law. Specifically, the justices will review two employment cases in which the plaintiffs claim “sex” refers to “sexual orientation” and another in which the plaintiff claims it refers to suffering from gender confusion, or the misleading term “transgender.”
News Alerts
May 2, 2019
The Alabama House of Representatives passed a strong defense of unborn children bill to criminalize abortion at every stage of life. HB 314 directly challenges Roe v. Wade by making it a felony for a doctor to commit or attempt an abortion. The bill clearly delineates very narrow exceptions, including efforts
News Alerts
April 22, 2019
Thank you for praying for Ohio’s Heartbeat Bill. Governor Mike DeWine signed the life-protecting measure into law this month right after the legislature passed a reconciled version. As its name implies, the new law would protect babies with a detectable heartbeat (usually at six weeks). John Kasich declined to sign the measure during his governorship, citing concerns it would be struck down in the courts. We believe a court battle over heartbeat bills passed in Ohio and other states is worth fighting.
Ministry Updates
April 16, 2019
Colleges and Universities taking taxpayer funds violate federal law if they discriminate against Christians and others on the basis of religion. Yale University, which takes in more than half-a-billion dollars in taxpayer funds annually, announced it was targeting students who want to work for certain faith-based organizations. Attorney Gibbs responds.
Ministry Updates
April 12, 2019
In 1990, Terri Schiavo suffered brain damage at her home. Over the next three years, she slowly made progress while her husband, Michael Schiavo, filed lawsuits for her care and rehabilitation.
After winning two sizeable medical malpractice awards, Michael refused to use the funds to improve Terri’s situation or provide her rehabilitative care—going against his previous claims in court and the wishes of her loving parents. Instead, he moved in with a woman he later had two children with and eventually married. He then petitioned the court to medically execute Terri.
News Alerts
March 28, 2019
Christians (like you and the NCLL team) respect our opponents enough to lovingly confront them with the truth of God’s Word. “Hate” is NOT an accurate term to describe many of the groups smeared by the half-billion-dollar “Southern Poverty Law Center” (SPLC).
News Alerts
March 15, 2019
Six months after he was arrested for allegations of misdemeanor trespassing at the Mall of America, an agreement was reached for all charges to be dismissed against Christian pastor Ramin Parsa. The charges are suspended for one year to ensure no further incidents occur and will automatically be dismissed after that time.
News Alerts
March 7, 2019
You and I must pray for the very heart and soul of our country, and we must continue our efforts to strengthen every Bible-believing church and Christian who will speak the truth of the Gospel into their communities.
News Alerts
March 7, 2019
David explains our rights to live out our faith at work through an in-depth interview with Jim Brangenberg, host of the iWork4Him Radio program.
News Alerts
February 22, 2019
While we fight against any courts, legislators, or executives who betray the unborn, we also want to praise God for efforts to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
News Alerts
February 20, 2019
In the first six weeks of 2019, the right to life has been viciously attacked from every side. New York led a wave of heartless state measures meant to enshrine (and in many cases exceed) Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton.
One hundred thirty state legislators and Governor Andrew Cuomo cruelly stripped away every legal protection for unborn babies—at every stage—(and their pregnant mothers) from their criminal code.
Ministry Updates
February 18, 2019
CITY VIOLATES U.S. AND NC CONSTITUTIONS, DENIES ALL WRONGDOING!?!
At the end of last year, you may have seen our report of how the city of Lincolnton, NC, attempted to coerce two pastors into silence from preaching publicly.
The city passed (and illegitimately enforced) two ordinances that violate both the North Carolina Constitution and the U.S. Constitution—specifically our First Amendment rights to free speech and religion:
News Alerts
January 31, 2019
Covington Catholic High School Students: A Case for Libel?
Do the CCHS students have a solid case against the national media that rushed to shame them?
News Alerts
January 28, 2019
As Christians, we fight for the absolutes of God’s truth—and we have an obligation to point out basic facts in a culture awash in misleading statements. If you cherish the right to life, please read on for the next forty-five seconds.
News Alerts
January 23, 2019
Last week, during Religious Freedom Day (which President Bill Clinton formally recognized beginning in 1993), a majority of media outlets took the occasion to reveal or amplify their hostility toward constitutionally protected religious liberty. With near uniformity, the stories denounced Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, Virginia, for its statement of faith.
News Alerts
January 17, 2019
With March for Life on Friday, we wanted to make sure you saw our recent year-end series Right to Life: Looking Back over 2018.
Ministry Updates
January 16, 2019
We wrote previously about the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and enacted on January 16, 1786, which later informed the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment right to free exercise of religion and the Establishment Clause.
News Alerts
January 7, 2019
Less than a year after his father’s passing, Rev. Franklin Graham was suspended from a major social media outlet during Christmas week—for a 2016 post. Rev. Graham had posted in favor of legislation that protects “the safety and privacy of women and children” in public bathrooms.
News Alerts
January 4, 2019
Several news outlets have recently noted abortion as the world’s leading cause of death for 2018. In the United States, the most recent data documents nearly one million abortions, a higher loss than the six hundred thirty-five thousand heart disease fatalities and six hundred thousand deaths caused by cancer.
News Alerts
December 29, 2018
Mississippi: House Bill 1510 passed into law in March and would have restricted abortion to within the first fifteen weeks of gestation with health exceptions, that is until Judge Carlton Reeves for the Southern District of Mississippi immediately issued a temporary restraining order and eight months later ruled against the measure. The Gestational Age Act was widely considered one of the country’s strongest protections for unborn children.
News Alerts
December 28, 2018
Ohio passed a heartbeat bill through the house and senate, but outgoing governor John Kasich followed through on his promise to veto the measure, claiming it would be counterproductive because of its perceived unconstitutionality. While it’s uncertain at the time of this writing if the legislature will be able to override Kasich’s veto, incoming governor Mike DeWine has indicated he would sign a similar measure if passed in the new legislative session.
News Alerts
December 27, 2018
While the headlines were dominated with the confirmation of the second United States Supreme Court justice in as many years, it’s important to note several other news items with right-to-life implications in 2018. While this series of posts isn’t comprehensive, it covers several important and pending issues we as Christians should be aware of and praying over.
Ministry Updates
December 20, 2018
One year ago, the City of Lincolnton, NC, passed two ordinances that violate both the U.S. Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution. Lincolnton officials specifically (and illegally) targeted the peaceful, protected activities of street preachers. The following spring, city police issued “City Ordinance Ticket[s]” (written on parking tickets) to Pastors Jeffrey and Jeremy Shook while the brothers preached outside a local festival.
News Alerts
December 14, 2018
In West Point, Virginia, local school administrators discriminated against, attempted to coerce, then (after a four-hour hearing) wrongly dismissed and defamed Christian teacher Peter Vlaming. On December 6, the day before Pearl Harbor Day, the West Point School Board voted unanimously to violate Mr. Vlaming’s constitutional civil rights because he refused to go against his faith and conscience and start calling a gender-confused female student by male pronouns
News Alerts
December 6, 2018
“We know what works: Freedom works. We know what's right: Freedom is right. We know how to secure a more just and prosperous life for man on Earth: through free markets, free speech, free elections, and the exercise of free will unhampered by the state.”
U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush
Inaugural Address, January 20, 1989
News Alerts
December 4, 2018
Six-year-old James Younger is a victim of today’s celebration of transgender ideology in the culture, the courts, and the classroom.
News Alerts
November 18, 2018
In the war on the absolutes of God’s Word, this ad is an abomination. Too many in the culture twist language in an attempt to confuse, distort, and create their own reality. The little girl in this video was created in the image of God. She is a daughter of our Great High King. She is a miracle. She is not a “choice.”
News Alerts
November 6, 2018
For over forty-five years, Christians have prayed for Roe v. Wade to be overturned. A recent case decided by the Alabama Supreme Court may be the means to finding it unconstitutional.
Jessie Phillips v. State of Alabama established that Phillips “was convicted in the Marshall Circuit Court of the capital offense of murder of ‘two or more persons’ for the intentional killing of his wife, Erica Phillips, and their unborn child, ‘Baby Doe.’”
News Alerts
November 5, 2018
The host of “Let’s Talk Church,” DJ Harry, interviewed David C. Gibbs III, NCLL president and chief counsel, on the issue of “Politics and the Pulpit.” David expanded on why the solutions for America go beyond the courthouse, the statehouse, and the White House—and straight to the “church house.”
News Alerts
October 25, 2018
You’ve seen stories about the state of Christianity in our country. This October 31, an estimated 175 million Americans plan on celebrating Halloween (70% of the adult population). By contrast, 40% of adults self-report attending church on any given Sunday. And studies show ACTUAL attendance closer to 20% over a typical weekend. Realistically, only 50 million Americans will worship together on October 28.
Ministry Updates
October 22, 2018
Praying for Restoration and Recovery
As you know, this has been a trying time for many of our brothers and sisters in the southeastern part of the country. With back-to-back hurricanes only a month apart, more than one hundred deaths have been attributed to Hurricanes Florence and Michael.
News Alerts
October 21, 2018
“Churches that choose to bury their heads and ignore these issues most likely aren't going to survive. They will die out or they will get litigated out of existence. And so if churches want to not just survive into the future but literally thrive, these are key issues that they need to be looking at and working on.”
News Alerts
October 17, 2018
Last week, Pastor Ken and Liv Hauge filed a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Please pray as they witness to the world, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
News Alerts
October 4, 2018
As children bring their Bibles to school today, please share your prayers for them, their classmates, their teachers, and their families. Every school day in America should be considered “Bring Your Bible to School Day.”
News Alerts
September 28, 2018
Listen in on the gripping origins of the National Center for Life and Liberty in a conversation with president and founder David C. Gibbs III.
News Alerts
September 22, 2018
In a rare move, the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission (AERC) sued a law firm defending one of the commission’s targets. The AERC sued The Hope Center, a Christian-run shelter that offers care for abused and battered women during nighttime hours.
News Alerts
September 21, 2018
As this school year unfolds, the sustained educational and cultural assault on the first words of the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) attempts to undermine the faith of another generation. Please stand with us to help churches and parents continue to reveal Biblical truth to these young people.
News Alerts
September 7, 2018
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:” Romans 1:26
In 2013, G.G., a high school freshman girl suffering from Gender Dysphoria was advised by her psychologist to start living as a male and to be given hormones. According to court documents, the psychologist wrote a letter telling others G.G. “should be treated as a boy in all respects, including with respect to his use of the restroom."
News Alerts
September 6, 2018
Thank you for your fervent prayers. After people of faith persevered against its many free-speech restrictions, AB 2943 did NOT become law.
News Alerts
September 5, 2018
Can state government discriminate against families and schools based on religion? On Fox News @ Night’s “Night Court,” David C. Gibbs III covered the key legal arguments every Christian parent and grandparent need to know—no matter their students’ educational environment. Enjoy the clear, compelling insights David shared with Shannon Bream and the rest of America going into Labor Day Weekend.
News Alerts
September 4, 2018
How can you protect your child or grandchild from being forced to undress in front of a gender-confused student—especially one (or more) of the opposite sex?
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21
News Alerts
August 31, 2018
On August 3, another federal judge ruled against the bodily privacy rights of the vast majority of students. U.S. District Judge William T. Lawrence ordered a preliminary injunction to forcibly enable the delusions of a gender dysphoric student—only weeks before the Indiana school year began.
News Alerts
August 28, 2018
A senior-living community threatened Lutheran pastor Ken Hauge and his wife, Liv, with terminating their lease if they continued conducting a Bible study in their apartment or the area commons.
In an ironic twist, The Evergreens at Smith Run is located in the same city where Thomas Jefferson drafted the precursor to the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.
News Alerts
August 24, 2018
In another assault on truth and personal freedom, the California State Senate passed legislation to muzzle professionals and ban books that would help gender-dysphoric and same-sex attracted adults.
News Alerts
August 21, 2018
After failing in their responsibilities, Planet Fitness revoked a woman’s membership for confronting a genetic male in the women’s locker room (who then called 911 against her). Watch Attorney Gibbs’ response.
Ministry Updates
August 14, 2018
Christians need to protect our constitutional freedoms, especially our ability to freely exercise our faith and speak biblical truth into our communities. The Millennial Generation has little biblical literacy, attends services at a record low rate, and fewer than half (43%) believe in “the God of the Bible,” according to the Pew Research Center.
News Alerts
August 13, 2018
As the NCLL fights for your religious liberty in federal court (against tech giant Amazon and the SPLC), the U.S. Department of Justice recently signaled a renewed commitment to our shared cause.
News Alerts
July 26, 2018
In the issue of legislative-led prayer, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case Rowan County v. Lund. Justice Clarence Thomas, issuing a dissent joined by Justice Gorsuch, argued plainly the Fourth District turned its back on history and precedent, “For as long as this country has had legislative prayer, legislators have led it.”
News Alerts
July 26, 2018
On the week most Americans celebrated our national independence, the California senate was poised to pass a bill to criminalize “advertising” or “selling” of goods and services that support a biblical view of sexuality and gender.
News Alerts
July 23, 2018
In our ongoing fight for life and liberty, we thank God for the twin win at the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on June 26. The right to free speech, explicitly protected by the First Amendment, was affirmed for California crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs).
Ministry Updates
June 15, 2018
This past month has been busy as we’ve had several major cases proceed forward. In the day that we live, churches are under greater and greater attack. We’re thankful for your partnership as we fight to keep churches focused on sharing the Gospel in their communities.
Ministry Updates
April 1, 2018
"Statesmen, my dear sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand." - JOHN ADAMS, JUNE 21, 1776
Ministry Updates
March 1, 2018
This Easter, as you prepare to celebrate the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus, Christians everywhere are reminded of His great grace upon us all. Together, we trust in God’s great power to accomplish our shared goals, especially defending your right to live out the Gospel in all areas of your life.
News Alerts
February 28, 2018
As many Americans grieve the loss of a modern hero-of-the-faith, the staff of the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL) invites you to celebrate the Reverend Billy Graham’s legacy.
News Alerts
February 5, 2018
In a partial victory, the University of Iowa was forced to temporarily reinstate a Christian student group it discriminated against.
News Alerts
February 1, 2018
Every January, Pro-Life Americans somberly, prayerfully mark the dark anniversary of Roe v. Wade. More abortions have been committed in the United States since 1973 than the current population of New York and California combined—over sixty million unborn have been killed in the womb.
Ministry Updates
January 1, 2018
Thank you for your prayerful support and interest in the NCLL. Please join me in giving thanks for God’s protection and provision over the last FIVE years. Launched in January 2013, the NCLL has been used by God to help promote, defend, and restore our first and most precious right—LIFE!
News Alerts
October 16, 2017
Despite no public complaints against either display, two nearby southern Virginia counties have ordered the removal of Scripture in the last six months, dishonoring the first responders they were meant to support.
News Alerts
June 26, 2017
In ruling on Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, the United States Supreme Court confirmed that the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment protects against “indirect coercion or penalties on the free exercise of religion, not just outright prohibitions.”
