FROM THE CO-DIRECTORS DRS.
NICHOLAS MILLER & JONATHAN SCRIVEN
This has been the inaugural year of the Branson Fellows Program, named after our friend and mentor, the late Dr. Roy Branson. Roy started the Center for Law and Public Policy twenty-five years ago, and we believe he would be proud of what the student interns who bear his name have accomplished Just as importantly, he would appreciate, we believe, the spiritual philosophy behind the broad range of issues the students have engaged.
Roy taught at the Adventist Seminary for a number of years, and regularly taught a class on the Sabbath In focusing the efforts of the Fellows, we have drawn on Sabbath principles, including the weekly, yearly, and Jubilee Sabbaths. This has led us to a general list of topical areas that we regularly plan to engage. These are: 1. Religious Liberty 2. Racial Reconciliation 3. Ecological Stewardship 4 Peace-making and Non-violence 5 Health Equity 6 Pro-Family Issues and 7 Jubilee Economics
Each of these areas alone could support the work of an entire Institute. But we desire to show how the broad range of Sabbath principles can illuminate a more fair, just, and equitable public policy in a variety of important areas We believe that this will help a new generation see the relevance of the Sabbath, not just as a day of worship and rest one day a week, but as a principal that guides our public lives and social engagement during the other six. We think Roy would be pleased!
Introducing the 20232024 Branson Fellows!
The school year at Washington Adventist University’s Honors College started off with the launch of a special program, the Center of Law and Public Policy’s Branson Fellowship Program Named in honor of the Center’s founder Dr Roy Branson, six highly qualified Honors students have been chosen as the inaugural Fellows of the program. Awarded generous stipends for the year, the Fellows will provide research, writing, and logistical support for church and university leaders who work on Capitol Hill, at the United Nations, and in other forums promoting religious liberty, civil rights, and other public policy commitments of the Adventist Church.
Already, a number of Fellows have attended and supported church conferences on religious liberty and public affairs, and have made trips to events and promotions in downtown Washington DC, and are helping coordinate promotional and advocacy materials for church initiatives. A number of them have contributed articles to this newsletter, telling about more of their activities New Fellows will be appointed on a yearly basis, so Christian young people interested in not only learning about public policy, but contributing to helping shape it for freedom and fairness, should contact the WAU Honors College (honorscollege@wau edu) for more information
Pictured on the cover page are the 2023-2024 Branson Fellows along with their codirectors, Professors Dr Jonathan Scriven and Dr Nicholas Miller From left to right they are: Shea Standish ('25), Cathrina Schoonard ('26), Charis McRoy ('25), Ajeya Watson ('24), Ali Bryan ('27), Gopi Sunkara ('24)
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this report or any written article are those of the author and are not the opinion of Washington Adventist University
MEET OUR 2023-2024 BRANSON FELLOWS
Cathrina Schoonard is a rising junior majoring in Accounting and Honors Interdisciplinary studies. She was assigned to work on the Branson Capital Report and was focused on issues concerning Environmental Stewardship. Cathrina is an active student leader serving as sophomore class secretary, assistant Golden Memories Yearbook Editor, and interned under the VP of Finance at Washington Adventist University.
Ali Bryan is a rising sophomore, pursuing studies in Theology and Music within the Honors College Ali is the president for the Adventist Intercollegiate Association (AIA), representing Adventist universities across America and Canada Additionally, Ali serves as the president of Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society and is interning at Capitol Hill
SDA church under the mentorship of Dr Emil Peeler Ali is involved in Pro Musica and Columbia Collegiate Chorale His role is primarily with Branson media initiatives
Remembering Philippians 4:13, Ali strives for excellence in all endeavors : “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ”
CHARIS MCROY
Charis McRoy is a rising senior double majoring in Biology and Honors Interdisciplinary studies. She is passionate about the field of bioethics, and is planning to pursue a career in law focusing on bioethics. In addition, she has also been involved in the Music Department as a piano minor and a member of the Columbia Collegiate Chorale. Outside of her academic pursuits, she has been involved in a variety of clubs and organizations across campus including Mock Trial, Student Senate, HOSA, and the Omicron Delta Kappa Circle, the latter two of which she served as Vice-President
CATHRINA SCHOONARD
ALI BRYAN
SHEA STANDISH
Shea Standish is a rising Senior studying Political Studies and Honors
Interdisciplinary Studies with a Pre-Law emphasis This year, Shea’s work with the Branson Fellowship focused on Religion Liberty and Public Affairs, mainly with the North American Division’s PARL office Shea is involved in a number of activities on campus, including serving as a Student Ambassador and working in the Admissions Office as a recruiter and events coordinator
Ajeya Watson is a Senior Psychology and Honors
Interdisciplinary Major with a Pre-Law emphasis Ajeya was assigned to support the Counsel on Justice and Conscience with its work on racial reconciliation and equity Ajeya’s Honors thesis focused on the psychological impact on wrongful conviction with an emphasis on The Fuller Case Ajeya is a pivotal student leader on campus, as she has many leadership roles such as serving as the senior class pastor, Student Senator, Black Student Union President, and Honors Officer Ajeya has served as the Mock Trial Team captain for the past two years.
Gopi Sunkara is a Senior Biology, Political Studies, and Honors Interdisciplinary Major with a Pre-law emphasis Gopi was assigned to support the PARL Department for the General Conference and was focused on international religious liberty issues Gopi’s Honors thesis on the effect of religious leaders on vaccine usage will be presented this year at the Adventist Healthcare Ethics conference in Kettering Ohio Gopi is an active student leader, serving as the senior class President, Student Senate chair, ODK Honors Society Vice President, and Honors College Officer.
AJEYA WATSON
GOPI SUNKARA
Branson Fellows Support the 9th World Congress of the International Religious Liberty Association
Pictured above are two Branson Fellows, Gopi Sunkara and Cathrina Schoonard, along with Bettina Krause, Liberty magazine editor, and Dr Nicholas Miller, Co-Director of the WAU Center for Law and Public Policy. Gopi and Cathrina served as intern assistants for the 9th World Congress of the International Religious Liberty Association held in the Washington DC area. The event happened at the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Springs (where this picture was taken) and the DC Marriot Marquis.
The theme of the conference was “Freedom of Religion or Belief: A Wholistic Understanding of a Pivotal Human Right,” and in attendance were government, religious, and human rights leaders from around the world. The Branson Fellows were able to support both the delegates and organizers in managing the conference and had the opportunity to attend many of the sessions, including the closing banquet at the Marriot Marquis, where Bettina Krause was honored with an award for her contributions to religious freedom
Branson fellows are also slated to attend and support several more religious freedom and social justice conferences this coming semester, both in the D C area and in Tennessee For students interested in learning to work in the field of advocacy and promotion of religious and civil rights, the WAU Honors College is a great place to study!
The Branson Fellows at the Council for Conscience and Justice Conference
From September 28th through October 1st, more than 200 individuals across denominations, including the six Branson Fellows from Washington Adventist University, assembled at the North American Division in Columbia, Maryland, to attend the annual Conscience and Justice Convention Under the leadership of Edward Woods III, PARL Director of the Lake Region Conference, this year’s theme was When the Church Comes to Town, “Promoting Liberty, Pursuing Justice.”
The conference probed the question, “As we seek to promote liberty and pursue justice, who are we assuming the position for?” Speakers argued that social justice plays a necessary role in spreading the gospel A gospel given without becoming an ally of the marginalized, an active pursuer of justice, is counterintuitive; that gospel will not be received Our pursuit of Christ’s righteousness is aligned with standing alongside and advocating against systemic racism, violence, voting disparities, health inequities, and all forms of social injustice.
We are not called simply to respond to the community, but also to be in the community as active allies with our minds focused on promoting liberty and pursuing justice for all Our duty does not waver nor strengthen in the face of commonalities or differences; our duty for justice and liberty permeates; it remains constant This message was cohesively expressed throughout the conference in each presentation via speakers, panels, pre-screenings, breakout sessions, and the trip to Sandtown, Baltimore, to view faith-based efforts to counter gun violence.
Ultimately, attendees were charged with a mission to share a gospel that encapsulated an active and genuine and nondiscriminatory promotion of liberty and the pursuit of justice The message was one that resonated with and strengthened the goals and vision of the Branson Fellowship program, and the Fellows in attendance were inspired to pursue their aspirations and callings with renewed vigor and commitment!
Ajeya Watson is a Senior Psychology and Honors Interdisciplinary Major with a Pre-Law Emphasis As a Branson Fellow, she is assigned to support the Counsel on Justice and Conscience with its work on racial reconciliation and equity Ajeya can be reached at aswatson@wau edu
CLPP Directors Dialogue with Adventist Public Policy Leaders
One of the main goals of the WAU Center for Law and Public Policy is to understand how Adventist institutions can work better cooperatively in impacting public policy This topic was the theme of a recent meeting with the General Council PARL department on November 7, attended by CLPP codirectors Drs. Nicholas Miller and Jonathan Scriven, as well as Branson Fellow Gopi Sunkara. The meeting was hosted by GC PARL associate director Dr Bill Knott, and was attended by key leaders from Adventist Healthcare, Adventist Health Ministries, the Offic General Counsel, North American Div Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). The group discusse their pivotal roles and initiatives in th fields of public policy and governmen relations Below are some highlights
Adventist Healthcare: A Mission Beyond Medicine
The Adventist Healthcare team, led b President and CEO Terry Forde, reve that AH has been a cornerstone of th metro-DC area since 1907, where it operates with a mission to extend God's care through physical, mental, and spiritual healing
Its mission is to transform every church into a hub for hope and healing, emphasizing a holistic view of well-being
Office of General Counsel: Legal Guardians of Adventist Interests
Todd McFarland provided insights into the multifaceted role of the Office of General Counsel (OGC), serving as a legal advisor to various church entities. OGC plays a pivotal role in legal matters, legislative support, and facilitating collaboration among different ministries
North American Division Public Affairs and Religious Liberty: Advocating for Freedom
Adventist Health Ministries: A Holistic Approach to Global Wellbeing
Dr Peter Landless, director of Adventist Health Ministries, outlined the department's comprehensive approach to health
NAD PARL, led by Orlan Johnson and Melissa Reid, actively advocates for religious freedom and engages with government officials at various levels Their efforts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted the importance of collaboration on policies and healthcare issues.
Gopi Sunkara is a senior Honors and Biology interdisciplinary major with a political studies minor and a Pre-law emphasis. Gopi can be reached at gsunkara@wau.edu
The Branson Fellows at the Reconstructing Religious Liberty Conference
On Oct 20-21 the WAU Branson Fellows and two students from the Theology department traveled to Collegedale, TN to participate in a conference sponsored by the North American Division's Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) department “Reconstructing Religious Liberty in a Time of Religious and Secular Extremes” was hosted by the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church in partnership with Southern Adventist University
The two-day event explored new ways to talk about religious freedom within a culturally and politically polarized America Guest speakers included David French (NY Times), Samuel Perry (University of Oklahoma), Shirley Hoogstra (Council for Christian Colleges and Universities), Tobias Cremer (Oxford University), and number of Seventhday Adventist pastors, professors, and church leaders
The Fellows assisted and supported NAD leadership on issues of conference logistics and organization, as well as helped provide social media coverage of the conference. Fellow Ali Bryan had the opportunity to do a video interview of New York Times columnist and evangelical lawyer David French, as well as several other speakers.
Israeli/Conflict Letter
Below is a letter drafted by the Branson leaders and Fellows that CLPP sent to our Congressional Representatives regarding the conflict in Israel and Gaza One of the seven main values of the CLPP is biblical principles of peace-making, and this was an opportunity to publicly express this important teaching on a complex and challenging issue
Dear Representative Raskin, Senator Cardin, and Senator Van Hollen,
We are student leaders and faculty directors at the Center for Law and Public Policy at Washington Adventist University, supporting the University on public issues. Along with many people from around the world, we unequivocally condemn the violent and brutal acts of violence and slaughter perpetrated on October 7 by Hamas terrorists against civilian targets in Israel
We believe that through this violent attack, and other acts of terrorism which underscores its commitment to the extermination of the state of Israel, Hamas has long ago forfeited any right or claim to govern or represent any Palestinian people in the international community The Israeli government is within its rights to bring justice to the perpetrators of October 7, and to remove Hamas from any leadership role in Gaza or anywhere else
The manner, however, in which this justice is delivered, and the Hamas leadership is removed, matters. The brutality of the incursion into Israel cannot be matched by a similarly brutal response against a civilian population in Gaza that is nearly half children and juveniles.
The death toll in Israel was a ghastly 1200 persons; but the death toll in Gaza is reported to be in excess of 14,000, with thousands more to come if the present blockade of basic necessities, bombardment, and invasion continues in its current form The United Nations reports that as many as 1 5 million Palestinians have been displaced due to the conflict and that a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions is unfolding
We agree that a military response from the Israeli government to bring justice to the October 7 perpetrators, to rescue hostages, and to remove Hamas leaders, is a just cause But certain aspects of the effort appear to challenge the moral principles of war, including those requiring a proportionate response and minimization of civilian injuries and fatalities.
Though it is apparent that Hamas has dispersed itself among the civilian population, this does not relieve the government of Israel of the moral duty to avoid civilian casualties where reasonably possible. When crowded refugee cities are targeted with missiles and bombs, entire apartment buildings are blown up, hospitals are surrounded and deprived of fuel and water, dozens of babies have to be removed from nonfunctioning incubators, and civilian population groups are required to abandon their homes and cities, it appears that the pursuit of Hamas terrorists and leaders is being done in an insufficiently targeted and precise manner
As our tax-payer dollars are helping fund significant parts of this military endeavor, we feel a moral responsibility as Christians and citizens to ask our representatives to call on the Israeli leaders to implement a more targeted, civilian-sensitive strategy in Gaza We support and applaud the recent pause in the conflict which has allowed for the release of hostages and the supply of much needed humanitarian relief to the region We urge that such efforts continue.
Finally, we are very concerned about the rising tides of both antisemitism and Islamaphobia that is emerging around the world and in the United States. We unequivocally oppose both these forms of bigotry, wherever they are found. We have unequivocally condemned the terrorism of Hamas. And we believe that ignoring the apparent excesses of the Israeli government in its war on terror will actually strengthen and inflame anti-Jewish sentiment.
To be true friends of Israel, we must be willing to support them in their work for justice, but constructively critique their leaders when that work exceeds the bounds of justice and civil morality “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful ” Prob 27:6 We desire that America supports Israel, as well as those among the Palestinian people who oppose Hamas and its methods
Branson Fellows Engage Public Servants
Present at NAD Prayer Breakfast
Senate representatives, County officials, including a Sheriff, a Fire Chief, as well as Civil Rights administrators gathered to engage in a moment of communal thanksgiving and prayer for peace and prosperity in our community The many roles of these individuals were as varied as the faith groups represented
There were a number of special guests affiliated with Howard County including Sheriff Marcus Harris along with Mark Verderaime appeared Sheriff Harris, who previously served as Baltimore County Police Detective has been serving Howard County since 2018 Spearheading a Community Outreach Section within the office, one of his goals has been to foster positive relations with individuals in the county by participating in local efforts
Also, present was Fire Chief Louis Winston, who has served over three decades with the county’s fire department, becoming Deputy Chief in 2019. Two years later he was selected for his current role. Other public servants of Howard County included Yolanda Sonnier, administrator of the Office of Human Rights & Equity. Claudia Allen, who also works for the Office of Human Rights & Equity as Outreach and Communications Manager, delivered the closing prayer.
In addition to county officials, also present were representatives from other branches of government. Representing U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Jerome Stephens appeared. Senator Ben Cardin currently serves as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
It was a powerful moment to witness this array of individuals gathered together alongside faith leaders sharing the common goals of promoting safety and amiable relations among members of the community and ultimately the world While often state and religious relationships have been complex in our country, this exemplified the positive relationship that can exist between the two realms even as we maintain a separation between church and state
Photo credit to the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists - Branson Fellows with
Charis McRoy is a Junior Honors and Biology interdisciplinary major As a 2023/2024 Branson Fellow, her focus is on religious liberty Charis can be reached at cmcroy@wauedu
Branson Fellows Engage in Mock Trial
After a semester and a half of preparation, the Mock Trial team finally saw fruition from their hard work as they held their ground in the Regional Tournament at American University. The team performed well and came close in the last round against Virginia Tech, a school with about 30,500 students, approximately 30,000 more than WAU!
On Friday, the first round took place against Howard University, with our Mock Trial team on the side of the defense of Poe Cameron, one of the two fictional co-defendants of the case. The team went up against Swarthmore College the following evening, this time serving as the prosecution of Del la Porta. For the third round, again our team served as the defense of Poe Cameron against the University of Scranton. In the final round, once more our team served as the Prosecution of Del la Porta against the Virginia Tech Team
Witnesses and lawyers performed well, with several receiving recognition on the score sheet for their outstanding role Ajeya Watson was recognized as one of the top four lawyers on all eight score sheets in the four rounds In round three Ajeya was ranked in 1st place for her role as attorney by one of the judges Shea Standish also received recognition in several rounds for her role as attorney, while Reuben Kirkham and Zachary Lowe received recognition for their roles as witnesses In one of his trials, Zachary received a pair of perfect 10s for his performance, a rare occurrence!
This was the first time that all but two of the students had taken part in a Mock Trial competition. International student Reuben Kirkham, of the UK, said of his involvement, “It was a brilliant experience and I loved every second of it, albeit it was a lot of hard work. It’s amazing to have actual, licensed lawyers turn around and tell teams that they have more knowledge and understanding of the trial process than they did in their 3rd year at law school… I would recommend it to everyone not just those considering pre-law.”
Ultimately, in hindsight, the team considered it a success. Despite being at a disadvantage of being a smaller team with not as much experience, they gave their all and were recognized for it. From this experience, they only expect to continue on the road upward and meet with more success next year.
Charis McRoy is a Biology and Honors interdisciplinary major As a 2023/2024 Branson Fellow, she will be focused on religious liberty. Charis can be reached at cmcroy@wau.edu.
Protecting Religious Schools or Provoking Conflict?
I recently participated in a lobbying trip, along with representatives of the Seventhday Adventist Church, to Capitol Hill to try to help protect private schools from being regulated out of existence. There was a simple question we were dealing with. Does an organization with a not-for-profit status receive a “benefit” from the state? A federal court’s ruling that it does would have a significant impact on the ability of notfor-profit schools, religious and otherwise, to continue to operate. If the mere status of being “not for profit” is viewed as a state benefit, then all sorts of burdensome government regulation will follow that will swamp many smaller schools.
First, some background to the trip. It would seem that no matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on, we can all agree that protecting not-for-profit educational organizations is important About 10%, or around 6 million American elementary and secondary students are enrolled in private, not-for-profit schools, nearly 75% of which are religious Such schools are very important to religious communities and bear parts of the educational burden taking stress away from the public-school systems, as well as providing a religious option for parents
With the 2024 Presidential election coming up, some are asking if this piece of legislation, seeking to overturn the court ruling, has been brought in a genuine effort to protect nonprofits? Or has it been brought to serve as a conservative talking point as we draw closer to November? Many pieces of legislation recently have been blocked or stalled by Republicans and Democrats alike, particularly as bipartisan sentiment has decreased.
The North American Division of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department has been collaborating with the Branson Fellows and nonprofits from multiple faith organizations to urge Democratic Senators to make this act bipartisan, even in this time of partisan politics This brings us back to my trip Accompanied by Melissa Reid, the public affairs representative from the North American Division, we visited several Democratic offices to try to get bi-partisan sponsors for the legislation
We had important conversations with various Senate aides and are praying that these will lead to further support for this important bill We should not let partisan politics stop us from working for the greater good of America’s young people and providing quality Christian education to those young people who desire it
Shea Standish is a Junior Honors and Political Studies Interdisciplinary major with a pre-law emphasis. As a 2023/2024 Branon Fellow her focus is on Religious Liberty and Public Affairs. You can reach her at sstandis@wau.edu.
Apart from the Message from the Co-Directors, all the articles in this year in review have been excerpted from articles written by Branson Fellow students throughout the year for the Branson Capital Report, the bi-weekly newsletter of the Center for Law and Public Policy The issues, with the full stories, as well as other stories and reports, can be viewed via the Washington Adventist University website (search for Branson Capital Report)
If you would like to regularly receive the Branson Capital Report or know someone who would be interested in becoming a Branson Fellow, please send an e-mail request to honorscollege@wau.edu .
Our Vision
To be a premier resource for the study of law and public policy within the Seventhday Adventist educational community and to be an interdisciplinary hub for faculty, students, and professionals in the field of law and public policy on a local, national, and global level
Our Mission
To prepare students for ethically reflective, and technically competent careers in law and/or public policy, to encourage dynamic, faith-informed civil discourse on a wide range of topics viewed through the lens of the law,
To provide high-quality interdisciplinary academic learning opportunities that will enrich the learning environment at Washington Adventist University,
To supply legal professionals and policy-makers with morally-informed perspectives on the most pressing legal and public policy issues of our time