Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the conservative legal organization with a network of over 4,600 attorneys, has designed a new, objective way to rate companies on their respect for freedom of speech and religion. The Viewpoint Diversity Business Index is the first comprehensive measure of corporate respect for free speech and religious liberty in their services, workforces, and public affairs. The index asks corporations to self-report about how they handle sensitive issues like corporate giving and treatment of religious employees.

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Other organizations have been obtaining such reports on their agenda items for years. For example, the Human Rights Campaign is trumpeting “20 Years of Impact” through its Corporate Equality Index that rates workplaces for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ employees. Similarly, the  DEI Scorecard for Library and Information Organizations was developed by the American Library Association. One group even publicized which companies “made statements after George Floyd’s murder.” Monitoring of environmental responsibility gives rise to still more ratings.

ADF’s effort seeks to balance these criteria by raising awareness of considerations like conscientious objection to a corporation’s practices. The survey includes questions about whether corporations have religious accommodation policies, allow faith-based employee resource groups, and refrain from discriminating against workers based on political or religious speech outside of the workplace. Through this survey, ADF hopes to engage with the corporate world by suggesting policies that parallel First Amendment principles, and by enhancing transparency in business decisions that touch upon speech and religion.

Shareholders and stakeholders such as vendors and community members, not just paid extremists, must be considered, even when they are not “squeaky wheels.” Otherwise, only activists shape corporate behavior. As ADF Senior Counsel Ali Kilmartin says: “You can win law cases but lose the public square.” ADF has won 80% of its cases and now wants to win hearts and minds. To obtain a copy of the ADF survey for a business, or if you have questions, contact Marina Moreira at [email protected].

What you can do:

1. Pray that the Lord would grant ADF favor with the corporations they’re contacting, and that despite cultural and political headwinds, ADF would be able to sway executives and employees to respect fundamental freedoms and family values.
2. Pray that the Lord would give the leaders of these corporations courage to stand for biblical truth.
3. Pray that companies would complete the Viewpoint Diversity Survey.
4. Pray that corporations, lawmakers, and courts would protect the freedom of every Christian to bring their faith to work.
5. Share the index with colleagues or contacts at the companies scored on the Viewpoint Diversity Business Index.
6. Make the case for your employer to participate — if you work for one of these companies.
7. Encourage friends or family members who work for any of these companies to participate.

Share some of your prayers for these companies and issues below.

Leah Farish, at LeahFarish.com, is an attorney and the host of the Conversation Balloons podcast, on such major platforms as Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Visit https://open.spotify.com/show/5cNWjjcxsdpl3PAyWKesMa.