VACCINE / RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION
COASTLINE CALVARY CHAPEL STATEMENT
As a local church, we know, love, and respect people on both sides of the vaccine issue. We do, however, support a person’s right to choose what is right for them and their family. We also encourage our people to have a personal relationship with Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in their own life decisions.
COASTLINE’S ROLE IN A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION
The Bible says that “only God knows the heart…” (1 Cor 2:10) Coastline cannot dictate what one believes on any issue; therefore, a statement of one’s beliefs will need to be drafted by the person seeking the exemption.
WHAT WE CAN DO: For people who regularly attend Coastline Calvary Chapel, Gulf Breeze, we are happy to make an honest statement, on their behalf, regarding their faithfulness in attendance, involvement and service.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
When filing for a religious exemption, we have seen letters that have worked. We are happy to pass those along, as well as any other information that might be helpful while we research this topic more and more. Here are some things to consider including in a letter requesting religious exemption:
- A clear statement requesting a religious exemption.
- Religious (not biological) reasons with Biblical references
- A list of religious affiliations
- If possible, organizational (or governmental) statements or bylaws that support your right of choice.
HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES*
YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL:
COMMON SCRIPTURES USED:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
The life of every creature is in its blood. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, 'You must never eat or drink blood, for the life of any creature is in its blood.' So whoever consumes blood will be cut off from the community. (Leviticus 17:14)
Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. (Deuteronomy 12:23)
Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! (Job 14:4)
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT:
Public Law 88-352 (78 Stat. 241). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing.
TEXT OF SECTION 3: FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS OPINIONS:
No law shall, in any case whatsoever, control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience. http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/const/
*resources taken from hoosiersformedicalliberty.com
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
https://www.eeoc.gov/religious-discrimination
EXAMPLE STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SOME CASES
EXAMPLE OF A PERSONAL STATEMENT THAT HAS WORKED FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS:
“A fundamental teaching of my Christian faith is that if my informed conscience cannot be fulfilled, that I, as a Christian, can refuse medical intervention including vaccination. Vaccinations themselves are not morally obligatory and must be voluntary. Another issue that arrises in this is that the vaccine may have been developed or produced using abortion-derived cell lines. I am proudly pro-life; because I do believe that abortion is murder which goes against Biblical teaching.”
CUSTOMIZABLE MEMORANDUM VERBIAGE:
MEMORANDUM
FROM: ________________
SUBJECT: Request for Religious Accommodation Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination
- I respectfully request a religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccination mandated by _____________________ on ___________________(date).
- I make this request for multiple reasons, but my primary reason is connected to my Christian faith. On _________________(date), I re-dedicated my life to serving Jesus Christ, my Savior. As a Christian, I hold the Bible to be entirely authoritative for my faith and life. “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Using Scripture as God’s divinely inspired Word, I believe abortion is against God’s will. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalms 139:13-16). My interpretation of this Scripture is that all life, to include the unborn, is held sacred by God. Since I re-dedicated my life to Christ, I have sought godly discernment in what my family and I should consume. Specifically, I have researched which pharmaceuticals and vaccines were tested, developed, and produced using aborted fetal cells. All currently available COVID-19 vaccines were confirmed by protein testing using abortion-derived cell lines (https://lozierinstitute.org/update-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-and-abortion-derived-cell-lines).
Partaking in a vaccine made from aborted fetuses makes me complicit in an action that offends my personal “pro-life” belief. As such, I cannot, in good conscience and in accordance with my Christian faith, take any such COVID-19 vaccine at this time. Please provide a reasonable accommodation to my belief, as I wish to continue serving honorably until I retire on ____________________.
- I have read the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision of the U.S. government, and understand my American right to Religious Freedom. I am counseled by _____________________ and I faithfully attend ______________________ as an expression of my religious beliefs.
I understand I am temporarily exempted from the mandated COVID-19 vaccine while my religious accommodation request is processing.
EXAMPLE 2.
CUSTOMIZABLE MEMORANDUM VERBIAGE:
SUBJECT: Request for Religious Accommodation Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination
1. I respectfully request a religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccination mandated by ______________ on ______________.
2. Recently, I have researched which pharmaceuticals and vaccines were tested, developed, and produced using aborted fetal cells. All currently available COVID-19 vaccines were confirmed by protein testing using abortion-derived cell lines (https://lozierinstitute.org/update-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-and-abortion-derived-cell-lines). Partaking in a vaccine made from aborted fetuses makes me complicit in an action that offends my personal “pro-life” belief. As such, I cannot, in good conscience and following Christian guidance, take any such COVID-19 vaccine at this time. Please fully consider and approve my reasonable accommodation request so I am not forced to choose between true faith and feeding my family, between being a faithful Christian and my _____-year career.
3. I make this request for multiple reasons, my primary reason is connected to Christian faith and doctrine. On ______________, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Article 1 of Bill of Rights, sections 2 & 3 state; All people shall be secured in the natural right to worship ALMIGHTY GOD, according to the dictates of their own consciences. No law shall, in any case whatever, control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience.
4. As a Christ follower (Christian), I embrace Scripture as God’s divinely inspired Word, I believe abortion is against God’s will. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). “The life of every creature is in its blood. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, 'You must never eat or drink blood, for the life of any creature is in its blood. So whoever consumes blood will be cut off from the community” (Leviticus 17:14). This Scripture clearly states all life, to include the unborn, is held sacred by God.
5. I have read and understand Department of the Air Force Instruction (DAFI) 52-201, Religious Freedom in the Department of the Air Force, I understand the 3 counseling requirements; a military medical provider, a military chaplain, and my commander.
6. Please contact me at ______________. Thank you for your consideration.