On November 11th in 1620, exactly 400 years ago, the Pilgrims arrived on the American continent with the hope and promise of a new life of liberty and religious freedom.
In celebration of that momentous event, we invite you to attend the Mayflower Promise: 2020, a digital conference celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in America and our heritage of religious freedom. As part of the celebration, we invite Americans from all faith traditions and backgrounds to submit videos sharing why religious freedom is important to them which will be released each day of the conference from November 11-25.
We hope you will join us in what will be an inspiring celebration of that pivotal event in human history and a memorable gathering in the defense of religious freedom.
After learning about the Pilgrims’ desire to establish a society based on the opportunity to worship God freely, please consider sharing your uplifting thoughts about the positive influence of religion in America. By using our hashtags, your video will be reviewed by our team and considered for use during our conference. It may also be included in our playlists and re-shared by our channels.
To receive email reminders to participate, please complete the form below after selecting the Reminders option. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Use this form to invite others to participate. The form will send a pre-written invitation and provide you the opportunity to share some personal comments. Feel free to send a message to yourself to see the draft!
400 years ago, 102 English puritans set sail from Holland on their way to the New World. On November 11th, 1620 they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod and began the process of establishing this land as a land of liberty with the Promise of religious freedom at its core. This Promise did not die with the pilgrims, but was reaffirmed by the Founding Fathers of the United States. Thomas Paine recognized that “Spiritual freedom is the root of political liberty” (Thoughts on Defensive War, 1775) and James Madison, the chief architect of the Constitution, said, “Conscience is the most sacred of all property…more sacred than his castle [home]” (“Property” James Madison, National Gazette, March 29, 1792).
A firm belief in the sacred right of conscience and right of free exercise of religion, being guaranteed in the first amendment to the United States Constitution, has inspired thousands to flee the Old World in search of a better life with religious freedom. While not always perfectly upheld, this Promise has held together the fabric of America. Today, as many question the relevance of religious freedom in a 21st-century pluralistic, secular society, the Promise is in jeopardy. Americans and people of faith must ensure that the Mayflower Promise is kept today.
This conference celebrates those courageous pilgrims’ arrival 400 years ago and the heritage of religious freedom that they, and those that came after them, left us. Throughout the course of this conference, attendees will hear Americans of all faiths and backgrounds share why religious freedom is important today, and speakers highlighting the challenges facing religious freedom and the need for people of faith to unite in its defense.
Join us as we remember the priceless heritage of religious freedom and help ensure that the Mayflower Promise is kept.
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