The Wagner Center joined a coalition of 44 other amici in a U.S. Supreme Court brief defending the right to host a home prayer group. Professor Wagner thanked Advancing American Freedom for writing the brief in Grand v. University Heights. In this case, Daniel Grand, an Orthodox Jew, challenges University Heights, Ohio’s use of its zoning laws to prevent him from hosting a prayer group in his own home. As an Orthodox Jew, Mr. Grand’s religious practice requires prayer with a

WFFC Distinguished Chair for Faith and Freedom at Spring Arbor University, William Wagner, submitted official public comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning the agency’s proposed rule addressing “Medical Aid in Dying” (MAID) within the context of federally funded hospice care. The comments were submitted in response to CMS-1851-P; RIN 0938-AV78, published at 91 Fed. Reg. 17338. The submission urges CMS and the Department of Health and Human S

Consequential Questions Confronting Church and State This week, the Hon. William Wagner (Ret.), WFFC Distinguished Chair for Faith & Freedom, held a Global Online Public Square Briefing, designed to address pressing cultural, constitutional, moral, and public policy issues through the lens of a biblical and constitutional worldview. The global online briefing focused on consequential questions confronting both church and state today: the morality of war and the constitutional

This week in Lansing, the Hon. William Wagner (Ret.), Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, delivered a keynote address before the Religious Liberty Section of the State Bar of Michigan addressing the growing movement to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Michigan and the profound constitutional, moral, and cultural implications surrounding the issue. Speaking from both a constitutional and biblical worldview perspective, Wagner warned that the recently proposed Michig

Dr. Augusto Zimmerman was interviewed on one of Australia's leading Christian radio programs. He talks about the importance of Christian education in Australia and the upcoming International Christian Professors Forum to be hosted by Spring Arbor University. Listen to the full interview HERE.

The Wagner Faith & Freedom Center recently hosted a trip to Washington, D.C. that included daily lectures by the Hon. William Wagner, WFFC Distinguished Chair for Faith & Freedom, and a special presentations by the Under Secretary of State and a Member of Congress. Here is a day by day summary of our learning adventure including titles of the daily lectures and presentations. Day 1 Many of the national monuments reflect biblical principles and Christian faith. World War II M

In a unanimous decision, the United States Supreme Court again affirmed that government must never wield its power to chill the exercise of fundamental freedoms. In First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin, the Court permitted a faith-based ministry to challenge a state subpoena demanding disclosure of its donors, an act that threatened to silence both speech and conscience. This case raises fundamental moral and constitutional questions about the nature of freedom it

Washington, D.C. — In a significant development for religious liberty and constitutional law, the United States Supreme Court on Monday granted certiorari in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy , agreeing to review a case that raises fundamental questions about the First Amendment’s protection of religious institutions in the public square. A number of constitutional attorneys, including Prof. William Wagner, WFFC Distinguished Chair for Faith & Freedom at Spring Arbor Universi

This week, the Wagner Center joined Advancing American Freedom (AAF) and like-minded advocates in filing an amicus curiae brief in Missouri v. FDA —a case that presents profound questions about the rule of law, the proper limits of federal authority, and the government’s obligation to protect innocent human life. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal government used the crisis as a pretext to relax longstanding safety protocols governing mifepristone, a chemical a

The U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Olivier v. City of Brandon marks an important clarification of the relationship between criminal convictions and civil rights litigation under 42 U.S.C. §1983. The Court held that a prior conviction does not categorically bar a plaintiff from seeking forward-looking relief, such as an injunction, challenging the constitutionality of the law used against him. At issue was a street preacher convicted under a municipal ordinance reg

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — March 16, 2026 — Against the warm backdrop of an Arizona spring afternoon, friends and supporters of the Wagner Faith & Freedom Center gathered at the elegant Olive & Ivy restaurant for a memorable luncheon centered on faith, encouragement, and shared purpose. The event brought together members of the Spring Arbor University community and like-minded guests celebrating of faith, connection, and calling. From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere reflect

On The Drew Mariani Show this week, Professor William Wagner addressed the deeply emotional and legally complex question of grandparents’ visitation rights in light of a recent Boston Globe investigation into an ongoing Rhode Island Family Court case. The Globe article highlighted a dispute in which a grieving set of grandparents sought court-ordered contact with their young granddaughter over the objections of her father. Professor Wagner began by acknowledging the prof

The Wagner Faith & Freedom Center at Spring Arbor University is pleased to invite friends and supporters to a special luncheon program in Scottsdale, Arizona , on Monday, March 16, 2026 , at the beautiful Olive & Ivy restaurant. This gathering will bring together members of the Spring Arbor University community for an afternoon of fellowship, encouragement, and thoughtful reflection on the vital intersection of faith, family, freedom, and Christian higher education . Feature

The auditorium at Michigan State University was filled with the rare kind of attention reserved for questions that sit at the intersection of law, power, and national survival. At the center of the stage, the Hon. William Wagner (Ret.)—Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Ben Franklin Fellow, and Chair of the Wagner Faith & Freedom Center at SAU—spoke with the measured calm of a jurist. The debate concerned the President’s recent Venezuela operation, described by administration

Dr. Rubina Feroze Bhatti, a renowned Pakistani human-rights and peace activist, is this month’s featured speaker at the Christian International Professors Forum, hosted jointly by the Instituto dos Juristas Cristãos do Brasil and the Wagner Faith & Freedom Center at Spring Arbor University. Known for her decades of work advancing communal harmony, gender equality, and the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan, Dr. Bhatti brings a deeply practical and hard-won perspective

November 1, 2025 Washington, D.C. / Abuja The United States Department of State announced that Nigeria has been designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, citing what it called “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.” President Donald Trump, in a social-media post on October 31, asserted that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being kil

The Hon. William Wagner, Distinguished Chair of the Wagner Faith & Freedom Center at Spring Arbor University, participated in the 2025 Education Freedom Legal Network (EFLN) Annual Summit held October 23, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. The EFLN—an initiative that convenes attorneys, scholars, and policy advocates focused on protecting and advancing the freedom to educate—brought together leaders from across the country for a day of high-level strategy and collaboration. Advan

Lansing, MI — October 20, 2025 This past Sunday, the Honorable William Wagner , Distinguished Chair for Faith and Freedom at the Wagner Faith & Freedom Center , addressed the congregation of South Church in Lansing with a message centered on courage, conviction, and compassion . Speaking to a packed room, Wagner challenged Christians to live out biblical truth boldly—yet with the humility and respect that reflect Christ’s character. Courage Rooted in Truth Drawing from Scri

Marshal Michigan, October 19, 2025 This past weekend, men from across Michigan gathered at the Historic Withee Farm for the Annual Bonfire Event , a tradition that blends fellowship, faith, and the renewal of purpose. Set against the crisp autumn backdrop of rural Michigan, the two-day gathering offered both reflection and challenge for those committed to living out their faith in public and private life. Fellowship Around the Fire The event opened Friday evening with the li

Lansing, MI — October 11, 2025 This past weekend, the Freedom Embassy in Lansing hosted Go Local: School Board Training , a daylong event equipping current and aspiring school board members to lead their districts with truth, courage, and a firm grounding in constitutional governance. The training was sponsored by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy , the Leadership Institute , and SLG. The program offered practical, faith-informed instruction on issues central to good gove