From a Tiny Storage Shed to a Nationwide Vaccine Walkout
On the surface, First Harvest Ministries in Waveland, Mississippi, looks more like a farm‑hand’s garage than a church. The only thing that gives it a hint of sacredness is its little spire that pokes out of the roof—and that spire has become a beacon for people on the fringes of the COVID‑19 vaccine mandate.
Shane Vaughn: The Letter‑Crafting Crusader
Pastor Shane Vaughn, a 48‑year‑old Pentecostal shepherd, has been busy sending out form letters that let folks skip the mandate “for religious reasons.” The simple PDFs are available free on his website and have already been downloaded 40,000 times—according to a traffic snapshot he shared with Reuters.
“This is the only way out,” Vaughn says, pointing to a letter that mixes scripture with a stern warning to employers: ignore the request and you might end up in the courtroom.
The Legal Power‑Play
As the Biden administration gears up for a federal vaccine mandate and more state laws and corporate policies bite, advocacy groups such as Liberty Counsel are stepping in. The organization says it has furnished more than 100 letters to companies—including United Airlines and Tyson Foods—threatening litigation if they refuse to honor valid religious exemption requests.
- United Airlines: Received the letter but the airline insists it won’t change its policy.
- Tyson Foods: No comment on the letter.
United has noted that about 2,000 of its 67,000 U.S. employees have asked for religious or medical exemptions. Tyson, on the other hand, says only a “small percentage” of its 100,000+ workforce has requested any accommodation ahead of its November 1 deadline.
Who’s Really In charge?
Under U.S. law, employers must create reasonable job changes to accommodate a worker’s sincerely held religious beliefs. Yet they do have the right to question whether those beliefs are truly religious or merely an excuse to dodge the vaccine.
“We’d love a little guidance from regulators on how to scrutinize exemption requests,” says Roger King of the HR Policy Association. “It protects us from lawsuits alleging wrongfully denied accommodations.”
What About The Church?
Most organized religions don’t actively forbid vaccines. But a Vanderbilt University Medical Center study notes that U.S. law embraces a very wide definition of religion—ranging from mainstream faiths to obscure belief systems with a handful of followers.
So while some may shrug off the idea of a vaccine mandate, others—and especially those with a knack for holiday‑season letter writing—are stepping up to fight the biggest health challenge of our time.
What do you think? Are free‑to‑skip letters the future of workplace policy, or do they stir up more headaches than they solve? Let us know!
Dealing with them on a mass basis
Vaccine Exemptions: The Wild West of Workplace Requests
Employment lawyers are saying that pulling standard exemption letters from the internet might make employers think someone’s beliefs are a bit shady, but proving that is a tall order. The big takeaway? If a request contains a verifiable falsehood about vaccines, an employer can more confidently say “no”.
How the Numbers Look in the Real World
According to Kimberly Harding from Nixon Peabody, religious exemption requests used to be a rare bird. Now, they’re popping up like a viral meme.
- Temple University Health System (10,700 staff) received 180 religious exemption requests in a single season—way above its usual annual flu shot paperwork.
- Some forms came with letter attachments that sounded eerily similar—could be coaching, but not a hard rule for approval.
- What mattered: the person could articulate how their faith blocks a COVID‑19 jab, e.g., tying it to “eternal damnation.”
Real‑World Drama: A Tale of “Factically Incorrect” Links
Lehigh Valley Health Network (Pennsylvania) turned down a nursing student on Sept 7 because the student cited a “factually incorrect” claim that vaccines stem from aborted foetal cells. After a seven‑page letter from Liberty Counsel suggesting “health officials in North Dakota and Louisiana see a link,” Lehigh promptly reversed course and approved the request.
Because the student’s case was publicized, other religious groups have flooded the network with similar complaints—most headlined with “the Pope is vaccinated” or “our denomination endorses shots.” None of those statements affect an individual’s personal convictions.
Litigator’s Perspective
Harry Mihet, an attorney at Liberty Counsel, says the Christian group gets thousands of emails weekly about denied exemption requests. “These employers risk being entangled in lawsuits until kingdom come,” Mihet cautions.
Vaughn’s Comeback Story
Behind the scenes, Vaughn—once a fraudster and auto dealer—now spends 80% of his day helping people craft solid exemption arguments. He’s proud to see companies tightening the process, a sign that his tough‑love approach works.
“It’s not about making it harder; it’s about proving the system works,” he says, hands raised in the classic pastoral pose.
Bottom Line: Employers, Make the Decision!
If you’re in a position to approve or deny vaccine exemptions, remember:
- Head concern for blatant falsehoods.
- Ask staff to explain their beliefs clearly.
- Keep an eye on legal updates—the landscape changes fast.
- And if you’re feeling stressed, humor can be a good stress relief—maybe add a meme to your approvals list!
After all, the line between personal conviction and practicality needs a good mix of empathy, logic, and occasionally a laugh.
