Clergy content casting Mary as the “main character” of the Christmas story, infers she possessed the power to abort Jesus. This recast provides a revealing case study of a broader theological and jurisprudential shift. Drawing on constitutional theory, natural law, Christian theology, and historical precedent, the Article argues that such framing reflects the ascendancy of a secular progressive humanist worldview grounded in radical personal autonomy rather than unalienable r

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with chi

There is a real problem with the media in our country. A staggeringly low 28% of people say that they trust the news media. How did we move away from serving the people that we are reporting for? This number is at an all-time low, down from a high of 72% in 1976 and more recently 45% in 2018. With the polarized state of our country, the number is likely to decline. But how have we, as the news, come so far from where we began? There are numerous issues that I have with the me

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

Kaley Chiles is a devoted Christian woman, licensed by the State of Colorado as a counselor. Pet. App.212a-14a.  Her conversations and guidance aid, support, and comfort those with whom she speaks. Pet. App.215a.  As part of her identity as a Christian, and as a matter of religious conscience, Kaley believes that individuals thrive when living in alignment with their biological sex as designed by their Creator. Pet. App. 212a-14a . Kaley merely desires to communicate "in a m

Lansing, MI — October 13, 2025  — The Honorable William R. Wagner, WFFC Distinguished Chair for Faith & Freedom, joined a distinguished group of speakers at a special training session for state school board members. Sponsored by the Mackinac Center, Salt & Light Global, and the Leadership Institute, the event brought together thought leaders and policy experts to equip board members with foundational knowledge and practical tools for effective governance. Professor Wagner del

LANSING, Mich.  — The Hon. William Wagner (Ret.), former chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Religious Liberty Law Section, called on the Michigan Supreme Court to uphold constitutional guarantees of Free Exercise of Religious Conscience and Due Process while opposing proposed amendments to Michigan’s Code of Judicial Conduct and Rules of Professional Conduct. The Michigan Supreme Court is considering ADM File No. 2023-35 , which would revise Canon 3 and Rule 6.5 to prohibi

Each September 17, we pause to honor the wisdom of those who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787. The Constitution they drafted was not merely a framework for government—it was a covenant designed to preserve liberty by restraining power. The Framers, mindful of human fallibility, understood that unchecked authority threatens the unalienable rights endowed to every person by their Creator. They therefore divided power horizontally among three coequal branches, and vertically bet

As a nation mourns, let us celebr ate a life devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. Charlie Kirk was not merely a thinker or a public voice. His heart burned with a desire for truth. His pursuit of truth was never harsh or dismissive, for he understood that to stand firmly for what is right does not require wounding those who disagree. Instead, he chose the higher way—truth spoken in love, conviction bound together with compassion, and courage balanced with respect. A Bold Discip

The Ben Franklin Fellowship Working Group on Human Rights just published a short white paper that is worth the read. It offers a vigorous defense of the natural rights foundation of the United States’ political order, situating the Declaration of Independence within the broader Lockean and Stoic traditions. It emphasizes that governments exist not to create rights, but to secure those unalienable ones—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—through which human beings atta

Faith & Freedom Episode 143  – Professor Wm. Wagner interviews the WFFC’s new Chief Operating Officer, Salvatore Biondo, and explores opportunities with the Center’s Faith & Freedom Fellowship. Listen Here To listen to more episodes of Faith & Freedom with Prof. Wm Wagner, go here:

Here is a special Independence Day message from the Wagner Faith & Freedom Center

Faith & Freedom Episode 142 - Professor Wagner explains how the government uses its power to interfere with religious expression and how the First Amendment can restore this precious freedom.   Listen Here To listen to more episodes of Faith & Freedom with Prof. Wm Wagner, go here:

Conversation censorship laws regulating professions (e.g., lawyers, physicians, pharmacists, counselors, etc) substantially interfere with a Christian person's religious identity and expressive exercise of their religious conscience. WFFC's latest White Paper focuses on Colorado's conversation censorship law that regulates counselors licensed by the State.  Under the law, the State of Colorado deliberately requires a Christian person to renounce her religious expression, cons

Presented by Prof. William Wagner to International Christian Professors 9 April 2025 Good morning, colleagues.  We come from over twenty nations with very different cultures, yet we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a distinct honor share this message with you today. As a fellow Christian and former judge, I stand before you not just with legal experience, but with a shared reverence for the One who authored both law and liberty. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Cor

Episode 135 - Professor Wagner reviews a new Supreme Court case impacting professionals' freedom of religious expression.   Listen Here To see more episodes of Faith & Freedom click the ARBOR logo below:

Faith & Freedom - Episode 121 - Constitutional Protection to Exercise Religious Conscience  - Professor Wagner interviews Counselor Tim Denney, an attorney practicing religious liberty law. Listen Here To view more episodes of Faith & Freedom w/ Prof. Wm Wagner, go here:

We are excited to announce a Sunday Evening Seminar Series with Professor William Wagner to help parents see what’s on the horizon and how they can protect their families. Starting with the wisdom of God’s Word, Professor Wagner will examine issues in the culture and legal protections in place for Christian parents on a wide variety of topics.  Join us at Victory Baptist Church in Manchester, Michigan on July 14th at 6:00 p.m. as we kick off our  “Summer of Parental Rights.”

In this short video Prof. Wm Wagner explains why the First Amendment applies when government pressures private social media platforms to censure speech with which is disagrees.