Kelly Shackelford Discusses Religious Freedom at DBU's Distinguished Gallup Lecture Series

Since the beginning of our nation's founding, religious freedom has been recognized as a fundamental right for each and every citizen. Exploring how it serves as the foundation for all the rights enjoyed by American citizens, Kelly Shackelford addressed students, educators, and guests at Dallas Baptist University's George H. Gallup Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series.

Each year, as part of the George H. Gallup, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series, DBU welcomes leaders from all over the world whose faith has shaped their lives and professional work. This year's speaker, Kelly Shackelford, serves as a constitutional lawyer and President of First Liberty Institute, an organization dedicated to defending religious freedom.

First speaking in Chapel, Shackelford explained how religious freedom is the right to believe, practice, or not practice a religion without government interference. He emphasizes how this serves as the basis for all other rights citizens have.

Shackelford highlighted how prayer, faith, and God's guidance are critical in achieving success in defending our freedoms and faith. That everyone, including students, has a responsibility to stay informed, pray, and begin engaging in advocating for the future of religious freedom. "The future of our country is going to come from our young people, who know the Lord, and are ready to stand for what they believe," Shackelford says.

As he transitioned to the guests of the Gallup Luncheon following Chapel, Shackelford continued to explore the idea of religious freedom and how, when this liberty is threatened, our other freedoms, like free speech and political rights, are also at risk.

Providing the audience with real-world legal cases involving students, teachers, pastors, workers, and families who have faced legal challenges for openly expressing their faith, he emphasized the very real nature of this conflict is in today's society. Religious liberty is increasingly under pressure in schools, the workplace, and even in public spaces.

Shackelford then described how First Liberty's legal model leverages top volunteer attorneys to defend individuals facing religious freedom cases. First Liberty has secured numerous victories before the U.S. Supreme Court, extending protection for those expressing their faith in school and in the workplace.

As Shackelford concluded, he emphasized the pivotal moment the U.S. currently stands in. The opportunity has presented itself to strengthen religious freedom through court decisions, education, and public engagement.

"We are responsible for stewarding the freedoms God has given us, not burying them," Shackelford states. All it takes is everyone, whether you are a student, educator, or in another vocation, playing their role in protecting the freedoms we have been blessed with, beginning with religious freedom.

Shackelford's message served as both a reminder and a call to action for those in attendance—that religious freedom is not only a foundational right, but one that requires vigilance, faith, and active stewardship. As students, educators, and leaders left the lecture, they were challenged to not only understand the importance of this liberty but to take part in preserving it for future generations.