The Seventh-day Adventist Church will take part in a Religious Freedom Weekend, organised by Freedom for Faith, from June 11 to 13, with Seventh-day Adventists participating on Sabbath June 12.
The opportunity will allow congregations to spend time in prayer for people of faith who suffer without religious freedom rights while highlighting Australia’s precious religious freedom rights.
The weekend’s goal is to remind people of faith that although Australians are blessed to enjoy religious freedom, these rights are currently being threatened due to the lack of action by the Government on the Religious Discrimination Bill, which will protect freedom of religion in Australia and prohibits discrimination based on religious belief.
“Over the past several years we have been working towards having positive protections for freedom of religion approved by the Government so that people of faith in Australia will have the freedom to live according to their beliefs,” explained Pastor Michael Worker, general secretary and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) director at the Australian Union Conference.
“We live in a society with many cultures, faiths, beliefs and views. Being able to live together peacefully and respect our differences is important. We do not want to impose our beliefs on others, but we do want the freedom to live according to them,” added Pastor Worker.
The Religious Freedom Weekend will allow congregations to talk about this issue and encourage members to take action by engaging their local Members or Senators about the Bill. The weekend will also remind people to keep praying for religious freedom in the country and around the world.
Resources for churches are available at https://www.religiousfreedomweekend.com.au/
