Christian Employers Alliance
A Declaration for Faith, Work, and Freedom
A call to lawmakers: Examine the cost, consequences, and impact on freedom before voting on legislation.
Every vote carries consequences beyond Washington. It can shape whether an employer hires another worker, offers better benefits, serves a neighbor in need, or operates according to sincerely held religious beliefs.
The people affected deserve answers before legislation becomes law.
Christian Employers Alliance calls on lawmakers to examine every proposal through five essential freedoms:
Does this legislation protect religious exercise, conscience, and speech?
Check whether it pressures employers or employees to abandon their beliefs, finances activities that violate conscience, or conditions participation in public life on surrendering religious freedom. Identify explicit protections and whether those protections can be meaningfully enforced.
What will this legislation actually cost, and who will pay?
Examine taxes, borrowing, compliance expenses, and indirect costs to employers, workers, and families. Consider the effect on wages, prices, hiring, investment, and small-business survival.
Does this legislation preserve meaningful choice and conscience?
Examine whether employers and families retain access to affordable coverage consistent with their needs and convictions, and whether healthcare professionals can serve without violating their faith.
Can employers continue to build and operate their organizations responsibly?
Check for unnecessary mandates, intrusive reporting, excessive penalties, and broad agency discretion. Determine whether requirements are clear, workable, and proportionate, and whether employers have a fair opportunity to challenge government decisions.
Does this legislation protect workers while preserving opportunity?
Examine its effect on jobs, flexible work, employee benefits, and the ability of religious organizations to maintain their missions. Consider whether its requirements work across businesses of different sizes and circumstances.
Learn more about the framework: The Five Freedoms of Christian Employers
Before voting, we will read the relevant legislative text, seek input from those affected, examine foreseeable consequences, and explain our conclusions.
We will ask whether claimed benefits are supported by evidence, whether less burdensome approaches are available, and whether essential freedoms are protected in the text itself.
When a proposal falls short, we will seek changes before supporting its passage.
Faith, work, family, and service are central to American life. Our laws should protect the freedom and opportunity that allow them to flourish.
Before you vote, count the cost. Examine the consequences. Protect the freedom to believe, build, and serve.
“I support this declaration and ask lawmakers to count the cost before they vote.”
A five-part series explores the issues behind the declaration. New installments will be added as they are published.
Part 1 Before the Vote, Ask the Religious Freedom Question By Margaret Iuculano · LyceumThe Christian Employers Alliance protects and equips Christian employers with legal defense, policy advocacy, and a community of principled business owners.
Explore CEA membership