Working together on freedom of religion for all Julia Doxat-Purser EEA Religious Liberty Coordinator & Socio-Political Representative 1

Challenges to religious freedom Dominant State Church Suspicion Fear of Islam Controlling government Secularism Hate speech laws LGBT issues Evangelical disunity We are not speaking up Registration issues Fear of diversity Threat to conscientious objection Ignorance Religious freedom is redefined & limited “Religion is bad news” Evangelicals are not in the public arena “Evangelicals are extremists” 2

Our key questions What are we doing in our nations as Alliances to What are we doing in our nations as Alliances to Proactively promote religious freedom? Proactively promote religious freedom? Equip Evangelicals to react wisely to problems & witness freely anyway? Equip Evangelicals to react wisely to problems & witness freely anyway? What is happening politically at European level? What is happening politically at European level? 3

What were people saying? Don’t underestimate people’s ignorance about religious freedom… so explain it. Don’t underestimate people’s ignorance about religious freedom… so explain it. It takes professionalism, relationship building, calmness & persistence. It takes professionalism, relationship building, calmness & persistence. Religious freedom is diminishing across Europe. Our response? Give confidence to keep witnessing. Religious freedom is diminishing across Europe. Our response? Give confidence to keep witnessing. Provide legal security for your members and the tools of dialogue to resolve problems. Provide legal security for your members and the tools of dialogue to resolve problems. Work with others. Work with others. 4

And… Be Good News People. Be Good News People. “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12. Let’s pray for our religious freedom work. Let’s pray for our religious freedom work. 5