Jan. 16, 1786, was the day that the Virginia Assembly adopted the Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, finally ending the official state-established church in Virginia.
It provided that (1) all individuals would be free from any punishment for not conforming to state-established religious mandates, and (2) one's religious affiliation would no longer affect the civil privileges he could enjoy. In short, in Virginia it legally secured religious toleration and protection for the right of religious conscience.
The Virginia Act, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777, originally failed to pass when brought before the State Assembly in 1779. James Madison later reintroduced the measure, and it was finally enacted in 1786. Jefferson considered it one of his three greatest achievements, ranking it along with penning the Declaration of Independence and establishing the University of Virginia.
This act was reflective of the attitude that had developed across much of America toward securing full religious liberty for all—an attitude later embodied in the federal Bill of Rights' 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Each year, in commemoration of religious freedom (one of the most important of our freedoms), the president proclaims Jan. 16 to be Religious Freedom Day. Religious Freedom Sunday is commemorated the Sunday before Religious Freedom Day, and this year, Religious Freedom Sunday falls on Jan. 11.
Alliance Defending Freedom and Gateways to Better Education have teamed up to provide ways for Christians and churches to celebrate this important day and to participate in encouraging the free exercise of religion. But pastors, don't stop with simply celebrating Religious Freedom Day at your church; make sure the schools in your area also recognize this special holiday. (Gateways for Better Education has a guidebook to help you enlighten those in the education system about this important day.)
Happy Religious Freedom Sunday!
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
