The Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) Department exists to assist members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who are struggling with discrimination because of their religious beliefs. We seek to ensure that religious freedom is respected for all faiths.

For us it is a Biblical principle.

The Scripture teaches us of a God who allows humans the freedom to disobey. The New Testament teaches that God is so committed to the principles of persuasion that He sent His own Son to reveal salvation by love and grace rather than of power and domination. Violence was rejected as a means of conversion. Nothing in Scripture justifies an Inquisition or legislative force of religious compliance. Jesus is our example of freedom, "Whosoever will..." is His message.

At the PARL Department we see ourselves as ambassadors for religious freedom. We preach the Gospel message in a spirit of love and peace. That means there are times when we have to engage in dialogue with the society around us with the view of protecting religious freedom.

AdventistLawyer.ca is dedicated to the collegial enhancement of Seventh-day Adventist lawyers and law students in Canada. This is your opportunity to connect with fellow church members of the bar.

Barry W. Bussey is a native of Newfoundland, Canada. After obtaining his B.A. in Theology (Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska) Barry served as pastor for two churches in Newfoundland. In 1992 he graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario.

He practiced law for four years in Newfoundland before taking the position of Trust Services and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) Director at the Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Since January 1, 2003, he is serving as the General Counsel/Public Affairs Director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada.

In May 2002, He was awarded a M.A. Degree in Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John's, Newfoundland). Currently he is studying for the LL.M. Degree in Constitutional Law at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University (Toronto, Ontario).

Barry is married to LaVonna (nee Corkum) and they have three children, Carmelle, Adam, and Seth.