Religious Liberty / Legal

North American Division Position on Requests for Religious Exemptions to Vaccine Requirements Voted recommendations to NAD Administration regarding requests for religious exemptions to vaccine requirements: The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD) is committed to sharing hope and wholeness through the healing ministry of Christ by promoting the Church’s historic health message. This includes caring for our own bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19,20) and ministering to the health of others within our community (Isaiah 58). In line with this commitment, the NAD fully supports the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s statement encouraging “responsible immunization/vaccination,” and as [...]

Q: What are some of the legal, ethical, and moral issues related to government or employer vaccine mandates? The question of vaccine mandates is not a new one in the United States. In fact, it’s something that has been considered by the government and its court system for more than 100 years.  As early as 1905, the US Supreme Court ruled that local governments could require vaccination of its citizens.[1]  A few years later, the Court ruled that Supreme Court says states can prohibit unvaccinated students from attending school.[2]  While these are relatively old cases, the Court has re-affirmed [...]

Q: What are the employment rights of someone who refuses to get a vaccine? What is a religious accommodation and what is the legal definition of “my religious beliefs”? Can an individual define that or is it limited to church teaching or doctrine? Generally speaking, an employer can require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to certain restrictions in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Employees who have a sincerely held religious belief objecting to being vaccinated are entitled to ask for a reasonable accommodation from their [...]

Q: Can my employer or the school I attend request my vaccination status? Is that a violation of my rights? What about HIPAA? HIPAA applies to covered entities, meaning healthcare providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and their business associates. If an employer is not considered a covered entity HIPAA rules do not apply and it is not a HIPAA violation for employers to request vaccination status of their employees.[1] According to guidance from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers can request vaccination status from their employees, but must keep the information confidential.[2] Schools also have the right [...]