The AARLA was registered in the continent of Africa in 2024. However, it has a long history going back to 1888 when the need for the promotion and defense of religious liberty was felt in the Seventh day Adventist church.

In 1889, during an assembly in the Tabernacle in Battle Creek, Michigan USA, 110 Adventist leaders decided to charter a new association to promote and defend religious freedom. The church had been very active in this field. It had already published a magazine on the subject, The Sentinel. But it needed an association that could respond more specifically to the challenges against religious liberty.

They named it the National Religious Liberty Association. The idea was well received outside of North America and in 1893 the association became the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA). Later on, as books and brochures were published, church leaders organized the Library of Religious Liberty. Then the church set up the Bureau of Religious Liberty. In 1901 the General Conference of the SDA church established the Department of Religious Liberty.

In 1946 the IRLA, newly reorganized and officially registered in Washington DC, opened its membership to non-Adventists. Including non-Adventists was a revolution, even if in the past cooperation with those of other beliefs was not excluded. Today the IRLA has members from many different religions and beliefs including non-believers.

The purpose of the association is “To defend, promote, and protect religious freedom for all people everywhere.” The definition of religious freedom we adopted is given in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.

Those who agree with Article 18, have no problem working with the AARLA.

AARLA has operated in Africa as a regional chapter of IRLA for many years until its formal registration in Kenya as a company limited by guarantee. The AARLA Board of Directors has a majority of Adventists from across Africa. No one gets a salary from the AARLA. They work on a voluntary basis.

The AARLA works in partnership with regional and national associations in most countries in Africa. Some are active, some are moderately active, and some are in a state of hibernation but still alive. AARLA also tries to develop Religious Liberty clubs in local churches and institutions.

Since 2003 the need to reorganize a continental organization was felt but it is not until 2024 that it was finally implemented. Every country was also encouraged to organize its own national association rather than being a national chapter of the AARLA.

Instead of having a central world association we have a world network under the umbrella of the IRLA. IRLA does not interfere in the decisions of AARLA or the national associations, but shares information and projects, and can be their advisors.

The Adventist Church supports the AARLA and national associations. It has been understood and accepted that the PARL directors of the three regions of
the SDA church in Africa will serve alternately as the Secretary General.