Friend,
As we step into 2026, it’s clear the legal landscape surrounding life, liberty, and ministry is changing faster than ever. This past year brought several important victories for religious freedom, and we are grateful for each one. But those wins also revealed something else: the challenges ahead are real, and they are growing.
Across the country, courts reminded government officials that the Constitution still means what it says. Churches, ministries, and families won cases that protected their right to live out their faith without fear or interference. Those decisions matter.
But at the same time, we watched new regulations roll out, new lawsuits take aim at ministries, and new cultural pressures push the boundaries of what government is willing to control. These trends tell us that none of our freedoms can be taken for granted—not even the ones that seem most settled.
The takeaway from 2025 is simple: We must stay alert, stay prepared, and stay engaged. Every right we defend must be exercised. Every victory must be protected. Every instance of government overreach must be addressed quickly and firmly.
As we begin this new year, our team at the NCLL is already working through the cases, policies, and legal questions we expect to see in the months ahead. Our mission remains unchanged: to stand in the legal gap for churches, schools, and families who need clarity, protection, and strong advocacy.
We are ready for what 2026 brings—and we stand ready to serve you.
David C. Gibbs III
President and General Counsel
One of the clearest areas of movement entering the new year is the growing debate over faith in public education.
States are considering new measures to affirm student prayer rights, protect religious expression, and safeguard parental involvement in matters of conscience. At the same time, school boards and legislatures are wrestling with curriculum standards, classroom policies, and the proper boundaries between neutrality and hostility toward religion.
Even at the federal level, ongoing hearings and reviews show that religious liberty in public schools remains a live, national conversation—one shaped not only by the law, but by competing visions for the role of families, faith, and community in the formation of children.
This increased scrutiny confirms what we at NCLL see daily: the rights of Christian families and ministries inside the school environment remain contested ground. And as 2026 unfolds, these issues will only become more prominent.
A new year always brings new questions—and sometimes new pressures—for churches, schools, and Christian nonprofits. At NCLL, our attorneys field hundreds of calls each week from ministries seeking clarity on issues ranging from personnel and governance to counseling, safety, facility use, and parental rights.
Most situations don’t make headlines. But they matter deeply to the leaders who must make wise decisions in real time.
As your ministry steps into 2026, know that you’re not facing these challenges alone. The NCLL team stands ready to provide the trusted, biblically grounded counsel you need to lead with confidence and safeguard the work God has entrusted to you.
“The Constitution isn’t a machine that runs by itself. It depends on people who are willing to stand up and protect the liberties it promises.” — Justice Neil Gorsuch
