Thursday, October 27, 2016
Thu, 27 Oct 2016
staff
Professors Edna Udobong and Rena Lindevaldsen each presented at the 2016 Conference of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools that took place September 29-30, 2016. The Conference is a biennial event that provides a scholarly symposium for law professors from around the country to discuss how current events relate to a law school’s religious affiliation or mission. The 2016 Conference focused on the “Challenges and Opportunities for Faith Based Legal Education.”
Professor Udobong served on a panel entitled “Pursuing Global Justice.” Professor Udobong’s presentation focused on “The Challenge of a Global Justice: Advocating for Equal Rights in an Unequal World.” The presentation focused on the protection of the human rights of children during international conflicts. She revealed the atrocities committed against children in Syria’s bloody war and other regions during conflict. Udobong stressed that there had been no better time for religiously-affiliated institutions to be involved and to advocate for the rights of the vulnerable using international human rights law than now. Udobong emphasized the importance of advancing legal education with the integration of international law practice that prepares students for global practice. She stated that when students are trained to understand international legal issues, they are able to assist individuals and entities by confronting and redressing violations of those rights in the world. She concluded that advocating for global justice is a means to advancing the mission of religiously-affiliated institutions.
Professor Lindevaldsen served on a panel discussing “Potential Accreditation and Tax Exempt Status Issues for Religiously Affiliated Law Schools after Obergefell.” Her presentation focused on “What Religious Protections are Available under ABA Standard 205 Post Obergefell?” Professor Lindevaldsen highlighted the inevitable clash that is coming between, on the one hand, rights of religiously affiliated educational institutions to maintain educational and hiring policies consistent with their religious affiliation or purpose and, on the other, the current push to treat nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as a compelling government interest. Consistent with prior Supreme Court precedent, she presented a six-point plan for religiously-affiliated law schools to advance a robust First Amendment claim to any attempts to impede their religious affiliation or purpose.
In reflecting on the conference, Professors Lindevaldsen and Udobong both expressed that they “appreciated the opportunity to gather with like-minded faculty from around the nation who understand the need to teach law from a biblical worldview, appreciate the current threats to our religious liberties, and desire to put their faith to action as we seek to impact our nation and, indeed, the entire world with a message of hope, truth, and love.”