Religious liberty, the legal status of church properties and establishing legal offices were among several issues discussed at a joint conference of Seventh-day Adventist lawyers from throughout Africa meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday, February 26. 

Lawyers reviewed their role in serving the church in increasingly complicated operational governance throughout Africa, and compared notes on common concerns regarding religious liberty issues in the country. The activities of the day included legal presentations dealing with church-state relations, responsibilities of lawyers when representing the church in the public and civic arena, as well as the value of legal counsel to the church.

According to Attorney Bob Kyte, chief legal counsel for the Adventist world church headquarters, the “lawyers expressed their strong support for the church and its mission, and that they are committed to be of service to the denomination through their expertise, whether they are in private practice or working as legal counsel for a church organization.”

In Africa, Adventist lawyers face acute issues in a number of countries, and particularly expressed concerns of mandatory exams, which are slated on Saturdays, the day of worship for Seventh-day Adventists.

Attorney Priscille Metonou from Ivory Coast said that the conference emphasized, “how important it is to recognize that many of our legal issues need to be tackled head on.” She singled out the legality of church property. Unless the issue is resolved, property may be lost. “For this reason we are realizing, in our territories, that there is a need to establish legal offices in each administrative organization.”

Sponsored by the world church’s Office of General Counsel, the conference, a first for the African continent, was attended by 45 lawyers and judges from various parts of Africa and was held the day prior to the International Religious Liberty Association’s sixth World Congress, which the lawyers are also attending.

“We are learning from others about their own challenges and mistakes and wish to ensure that our church does not turn a blind eye to misconduct that harms our members,” said Attorney James Standish, from the world church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“There was very positive feedback from the lawyers in attendance,” Kyte said. “Such a meeting provides an important forum to discuss a joint approach to issues in an ever complex world of church-state relations, as well as providing an opportunity to network within the profession and expertise sharing on issues that are particularly acute to the church and its members.”

Kyte said that more such consultations are planned in different parts of the world.