Asbury Seminary joined a petition on Nov. 5 to challenge the Biden administration’s private employer vaccination mandate. The Alliance Defending Freedom filed a petition and motion on behalf of the Seminary and one other party. In doing so, the Seminary joins a host of other parties challenging the constitutionality and religious freedom impacts of the new rules that would take effect January 4, 2022.

The federal mandate requires that businesses with more than 100 employees require either the COVID-19 vaccination or receive weekly testing. This lawsuit requests the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit to halt enforcement of the upcoming vaccine rules. The decision to join the lawsuit was made by the Board of Trustees during an executive session this past week.

“Asbury Seminary strongly affirms vaccines and encourages every single member of our community (who is able) to receive a vaccine,” Dr. Timothy C. Tennent, President of Asbury Seminary, said. “But our Trustees believe our personal medical decisions are private, and we will not be deputized by the state to divide our community.”

The Asbury Seminary community will be updated as more information becomes available.