In a recent NRB member webinar, Michael Farris, NRB general counsel, offered insight into the recent Supreme Court term—briefing members on decisions over the past year, highlighting encouraging trends, and equipping Christian communicators to respond with clarity, confidence, and discernment. The webinar was hosted by Allie da Silva, senior communications strategist at NRB.
While the Court hears dozens of cases each year, this discussion focused on several that directly impact NRB members’ ability to live out and speak biblical truth, particularly in areas of religious freedom, parental rights, and free speech.
Farris characterized the overall tone of the term as hopeful: “Things are going in a good direction…this was a very encouraging Supreme Court term.”
One of the most notable developments was the Court’s reinforcement of parental rights in public education—a major reversal of decades of legal precedent in Mahmud v. Taylor:
“This effectively reverses a 40-year very bad trend that had pretty much stomped out the right of parents to object to bad material in the public schools.”
In Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin, religious organizations also saw a unanimous win. The Court affirmed that ministries acting from sincere faith convictions must be treated equally under the law.
“Governments can’t engage in this kind of theological nitpicking,” Farris said. “If a religious organization is operating in ministry for religious purposes, it gets treated like all other religious organizations.”
In Medina v. Planned Parenthood, the Court ruled that states—not private providers—have authority to determine Medicaid qualifications. Farris emphasized the constitutional process at play: “Let democracy control.”
Farris also celebrated the Court’s commitment to judicial restraint and robust expression protections: “We’re seeing pretty robust protection for freedom of speech…in the Supreme Court.”
And he reminded NRB members that the battle for influence doesn’t end in the courtroom. Christian communicators play a vital role in informing and equipping their audiences. Throughout the webinar, members had the opportunity to ask Farris direct questions to guide their understanding of recent legal issues affecting Christian communicators.
As the culture and laws continue to shift, NRB remains committed to supporting its members with trusted guidance and actionable insight. Together, we stand firm, speak boldly, and communicate truth with wisdom and grace.