Southern Seminary, Asbury Seminary sue to block vaccine mandates, citing religious freedom

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary — both in Kentucky — are challenging a federal policy requiring employers with more than 100 workers to require those workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Attorneys for the seminaries filed the  petition Friday (Nov. 5) in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The suit alleges the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules, which went into effect in early November and set a January deadline for those vaccinations, violate the religious freedom of the seminaries.

On Nov. 4, the Biden administration issued a a COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The stated purpose of this rule is “to protect unvaccinated employees of large employers (100 or more employees) from the risk of contracting COVID-19 by strongly encouraging vaccination.” The intent to issue this rule was announced in September. (Read more about the OSHA vaccine mandate here.)

The schools are represented by attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, a major Christian legal nonprofit that often promotes conservative causes. The group has filed similar lawsuits for other Christian employers this week as well.

Asbury, a multi-denominational seminary with ties to Methodist churches, has 1,721 students, according to data from the Association of Theological Seminaries. Southern, a Southern Baptist school, has 3,390 students.

In a press conference Friday, Mohler said he has been vaccinated and has encouraged others to be vaccinated. He said the Biden administration rules turn the seminaries into arms of the federal government, charged with enforcing government rules.

Mohler said the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which has more than 300 employees, has no official position on vaccines and also noted Southern Baptist churches are divided on the issue of vaccines. He also repeated his concern that the mandate is a distraction from the mission of the seminary and changes the relationship between the school and its students.

“The larger issue here for the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is religious liberty. And on that we take our stand,” he said. (TAB Media contributed)