Religious Freedom Annual Review 2017: A Guide to Religion in Schools, the Workplace, and the Public Square

The 2017 Religious Freedom Annual Review, hosted by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS) of BYU Law School, took place 6-7 July 2017 at the Conference Center on the campus of Brigham Young University.

Press Coverage of the Event      Radio interviews:    Senator Flake     Helen Easterling Williams     Asma Uddin

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Welcome

  • Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, and Francis R. Kirkham Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

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Keynote Address

  • Jeff Flake, United States Senator

Watch     BYU Radio Interview with Senator Flake

General Session: Religious Freedom as an Article of Faith

  • Moderator: W. Cole Durham, Jr., Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law, Brigham Young University; Founding Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies
  • Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, and Francis R. Kirkham Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • Katrina Lantos Swett, President, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice

Watch     Professor Scharffs’ Powerpoint

Workshop: How Broad is Religious Freedom? Constitutional & Legislative Protections

  • Melissa Rogers, Nonresident Senior Fellow in Governance Studies, The Brookings Institution

Workshop: Religion in Public Schools: What Rights do Parents and Students Have?

  • Steven T. Collis, Partner, Holland & Hart LLP

Watch     Presentation 

Workshop: Interfaith

  • Brian Farr, Past President, Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable and the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy; Board Member, Utah International Relations and Trade Commission

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Workshop: Religion and the Workplace: What Employers Should Know

  • Derek H. Davis, Former Director, J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State, Baylor University

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Workshop: A Voice of Reason: Shaping Public Policy Through Serving in Local Government

  • Candace Kay Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 2 (California)

Watch     Presentation

Workshop: Using Business to Advance Religious Freedom

  • Brian J. Grim, President, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation

Watch     Presentation

General Session: A Conversation on the Changing Face of Religion in American Public Life

  • Moderator: Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • Daniel Cox, Research Director, Public Religion Research Institute
  • Asma Uddin, Director of Strategy, Center for Islam and Religious Freedom
  • Michael P. Moreland, Professor of Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Watch     BYU Radio Interview with Asma Uddin

General Session: Hot Topics Involving Religion in American Public Life: The Future of Faith-based Partnerships, Reconciling Religion and Other Civil Rights and More

  • Moderator: Gary B. Doxey, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • Stanley Carlson-Thies, Founder and Senior Director, Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance
  • Melissa Rogers, Nonresident Senior Fellow in Governance Studies, The Brookings Institution
  • Alexander Dushku, Shareholder, Kirton & McConkie

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Friday, July 7, 2017

General Session: Why Religious Freedom Matters to Me

  • Moderator: Jane Wise, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • Helen Easterling Williams, EdD, Dean & Professor of Education, Pepperdine University
  • William F. Atkin, Associate General Counsel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Watch     BYU Radio Interview with Professor Williams     William Atkin’s Powerpoint

General Session: Preserving Religious Diversity in Higher Education

  • Moderator: Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, and Francis R. Kirkham Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • John Jackson, President, William Jessup University
  • Patrick Reilly, President, The Cardinal Newman Society
  • Shapri LoMaglio, Vice President for Government Relations and Executive Programs, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
  • Steven M. Sandberg, Deputy General Counsel, Brigham Young University

Watch     John Jackson’s presentation     Shapri LoMaglio’s presentation

Workshop: Religious Liberty & Religious Literacy in American Public Schools

  • Nathan Walker, Executive Director, Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute

Watch     Powerpoint

Workshop: How to Reach Out and Find Common Ground with LGBTQ Communities

  • Moderator: Steven M. Sandberg, Deputy General Counsel, Brigham Young University
  • Elizabeth Darger, Associate Athletic Director (SWA), Brigham Young University
  • Ally Isom, Director of Institutional Messaging, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Addison D. Jenkins, Student, Brigham Young University

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Workshop: Building an A Team for Religious Freedom

  • Jeremiah Morgan, General Counsel, Supreme Court of Missouri

Watch     Powerpoint

Workshop: What does the Separation of Church and State Really Mean? The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause

  • Silas Allard, Associate Director, Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University

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Workshop: Religion and the Workplace: Workers’ rights and Accommodations

  • Samuel P. Nielson, Employee Rights Attorney, Session Kimball

Watch    Powerpoint

Workshop: Freedom of Religion Through Human Rights Education

  • Donald Holsinger, Co-director, Geneva Office for Human Rights Education

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General Session: What Can Make a Difference in Promoting International Religious Freedom:

  • Moderator: Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, and Francis R. Kirkham Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • Katrina Lantos Swett, President, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice
  • W. Cole Durham, Jr., Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law, Brigham Young University; Founding Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies
  • Kent Hill, Executive Director, Religious Freedom Institute (DC)

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Closing Remarks

  • Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, and Francis R. Kirkham Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
  • W. Cole Durham, Jr., Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law, Brigham Young University; Founding Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies

Watch