U.S. Congresswoman Addresses Glenridge’s Religious Liberty Forum

Glenridge Pathfinders surround U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards.

Story by Valentine Parillon; Photos by Joanna Samuel 

Donna F. Edwards, the congressional representative of Maryland’s 4th District, was the guest speaker for a special religious liberty forum that was recently held at the Glenridge church in District Heights, Md. The Glenridge Voyagers Pathfinders gave her an enthusiastic welcome.

“We firmly believe that if we as a church, are to fulfill our prophetic mandate to proclaim the everlasting gospel to all the world, we need to be alert and well-informed. We organized the religious liberty forum to advance this belief,” explained Leroy Rowe, the church’s Religious Liberty leader. They chose to focus on theWorkplace Religious Freedom Act, a bill that would require employers to make reasonable accommodation in the areas of religious clothing, grooming and scheduling of religious holidays.

The congregants listened with rapt attention when the congresswoman took to the podium and gave a brief presentation on the topic at hand. She recounted the origin of religious liberty and its current state in our nation, and other parts of the world. She also emphasized the need to protect this liberty and lauded the work that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been doing to promote religious liberty. Her address was followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Evol Ewan, the church’s Religious Liberty elder. During that session, the congresswoman answered questions on religious liberty, creationism and evolution, non-traditional marriage, church-state relations and the Affordable Care Act.

The session was followed by refreshments and music from the church choir and from James John, a member of the Metropolitan church, who played the steel pan.

“Many were informed, blessed, and uplifted by the event,” shared Vernon T. Waters, the church’s pastor. “We pray that Congresswoman Edwards experience God’s grace and mercy as she carries out her duties.”