Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64evidence of your mission’s religious character and convictions is incredibly valuable practi- cally in persuading a judge, jury, or investigator against possible preconceptions and prejudices of the essential role that religious convictions play in your mission’s care for those in need. • Claiming religious exemptions. Clearly articu- lating its religious identity enables your mission to invoke important religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws. The most notable are the employment discrimination prohibitions under the primary federal civil rights law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). Title VII (which applies to private employers with 15 or more employees) prohibits discrimi- nation in hiring, firing, compensation, and other “terms, conditions, or privileges” of employment based upon an employee’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. But there is an express exemption for religious organiza- tions. Section 702 of Title VII states that the nondiscrimination requirements of Title VII “shall not apply” to “a religious corporation… with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such corporation…of its activities.” (Many, but not all, states have similar anti-discrimination laws and religious exemptions.) Several points about this “Section 702 exemp- tion” bear emphasis. First, it applies to the entire organization, not just specific positions. Second, it applies to both religious and secular activities of a nonprofit religious organization. And third, the term “religion” is defined very broadly to include “all aspects of religious observance and practice, Ī WWW.AGRM.ORG JULY/AUGUST 2016 9