Background. Religion, Autonomy, and Constitutional Change in the Modern Era
With the rise of pluralism, individualized religion, and personalized belief systems, courts must grapple with the definition of religion and the scope of religious entity autonomy. But how independent should religious entities be? What is the scope and limits of that independence? Are any limits structural in the Constitution or are they subject to balancing against other competing interests?
Issue Vision. This issue focuses on the evolving questions surrounding religion, constitutional law, and religious entity autonomy under the Constitution. We are interested in how courts and religious entities navigate shifting “definitions” of religion, claims for religious entities to yield their independence in certain areas, and the boundaries of the “church autonomy” doctrine.
Liberty University Law Review welcomes contributions to this issue. We welcome articles from legal practitioners, academics, and jurists hoping to contribute to this new era of constitutional law.
Article Submission Requirements.
Articles must be between 5,000 and 15,000 words (you may request an exception).
Articles must have sources supported by appropriate footnotes using Bluebook citation.
Articles should provide an in-depth exploration of a topic dealing with the definition of religion, the scope and limits of the church autonomy doctrine, interaction with case law, or its impact on other scholarly research.
Article topics are not limited to the suggested topics below. We are open to consider anything that reasonably intersects with the Issue Vision.
Article Submission Process.
We will consider submissions on a rolling basis.
Please send article outlines, abstracts, drafts, submissions, and questions to the following email adress: lawreview@liberty.edu.
Article Submission Timeline.
An article outline and abstract (400 word minimum) are due by November 13, 2026, to be considered for publication in the issue.
An early draft is due by January 15, 2027. Drafts do not to need to be fully complete, and the Liberty University Law Review will assist in editing and formatting.
The final draft is due by February 19, 2027.
This issue will be published in the Spring of 2027.
Religion in the Modern Era Issue Event.
Liberty University Law Review will host an in-person event on Friday, March 26, 2027, at Liberty Law’s campus in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The purpose of the event is to foster meaningful dialogue, spark insightful discussions, and exchange ideas surrounding the Issue.
The event will include two to three panels of authors who submit abstracts and are selected by the Liberty University Law Review to speak at the event.
Additionally, there will be a keynote speaker, and lunch will be provided.
Suggested Topics for Submission.
What are the difficulties courts face when defining religion under the First Amendment?
How or whether courts should balance individual rights against religious entity autonomy claims?
What is the scope and limits of the church autonomy doctrine?
Is the autonomy guaranteed to religious entities under the Constitution structural or is it balanced against competing interests?
How much institutional independence does the church autonomy doctrine actually guarantee?
What happens in interlocutory appeals of denials of motions to dismiss in church autonomy doctrine cases?
What is the balance between church governance and authority?