Presented by the Commission on Christian Action, adopted by the delegates to the 108th Covenant Annual Meeting.

WHEREAS, the constitutions of the United States and Canada guarantee religious freedom; and

WHEREAS, many of our spiritual forebears immigrated to these countries in the hope of worshipping God free of government control; and

WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court on April 17, 1990, reinterpreted the U.S. Constitution in the case known as Employment Division vs. Smith to lessen the protection for the free exercise of religious rights; and

WHEREAS, the interests of First Covenant Church of Seattle were threatened by this decision prior to vindication by the Supreme Court of the State of Washington, be it therefore

RESOLVED, that the 108th Annual Meeting express its support for the proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act pending in the Congress of the United States to increase protection for religious rights; and be it further

RESOLVED, that Covenanters express this intent to their own members of the federal Congress.