Freedom of conscience encompasses the freedom to form one’s own opinions, beliefs, and convictions—and to act in accordance with them. In today’s current healthcare environment, this freedom is sometimes pressed upon, placing Christian healthcare providers in uncomfortable and distressing situations. This conference digs into what Scripture says to believers who find themselves in ethically difficult situations and practically troubleshoots ways forward for effective clinical practice.
Event Details
Date & Time
Saturday, February 21, 2026
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location
Dallas Theological Seminary: 3909 Swiss Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
Campbell Academic Center (CAC109, Lamb Auditorium)
Recommended Lodging
The Element Dallas – Downtown East (4005 Gaston Avenue) is right on the back side of the seminary and is a wonderful hotel! Thanks to a special relationship we have with them, conference attendees can make discounted reservations by following these steps:
- Visit https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dalea-element-dallas-downtown-east/ and enter the stay dates, number of rooms, choose “Corporate/Promo SET #” then enter S1933 and click on view rates.
- Select your room type and rate.
- Enter your Membership number (optional) or continue as a guest.
- Enter guest information and payment. All rooms must be guaranteed with a debit or credit card. To avoid cancellation fees the rooms must be cancelled 48 hours prior to the arrival date.
(Register before February 19!)
CME Credit
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Christian Medical & Dental Associations and Southwestern Christian Fellowship. The Christian Medical & Dental Associations is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Christian Medical & Dental Associations designates this educational activity for a maximum of 4.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 4.5 Ethics Credits have been awarded to this activity.
We are excited to partner with Southwestern Christian Fellowship for this conference.
Conference Objectives
- Identify the primary moral issues at stake when conflicts of conscience occur in medicine.
- Equip healthcare providers and students with tools to address the bioethics behind questionable treatments through biblical and evidence-based strategies.
- Evaluate the available options for physicians in handling conflicts of conscience.
- Discuss whether physicians have a moral obligation to refer in cases they have opted out of due to a moral or religious objection.
- Involve theologians and scientists in a multidisciplinary conversation regarding these issues.
- Encourage discussions with leaders in the field of bioethics.
Schedule
Saturday, February 21, 2026
8:30 AM
10:15 AM
11:45 AM
12:45 PM
1:45 PM
3:15 PM
5:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
- Advocating for Vulnerable Populations: Voice for the Voiceless
- Ethical Considerations in End of Life Care: Navigating the Complexities
- Facing the Transgender Tsunami: Gender Identity & Treatment
- A Biblical Approach to Gender Identity Issues & Understanding Pronouns
Plenary Speakers
André Van Mol, MD
André Van Mol, MD is a board-certified family physician in full-time practice in California. He co-chairs the Christian Medical & Dental Associations’ Sexual & Gender Identity Task Force and is the transgenderism scholar for both the CMDA and the American Academy of Medical Ethics. He works with Alliance Defending Freedom in a coalition of professionals advising on policy matters addressing sexual orientation and gender identity for high courts. Dr. Van Mol informs legislators, government agencies, and advocacy organizations internationally on sexuality and gender identity. Dr. Van Mol serves on the boards of Bethel Church of Redding and Moral Revolution. He and his wife Evelyn—both former U.S. Naval officers—have two sons and two daughters, the latter of whom were among their nine foster children.
Jeffery J. Barrows, MD
Jeffrey J. Barrows, DO, MA (Ethics), is an obstetrician/gynecologist, author, educator, medical ethicist, and speaker. He dedicated 15 years of his career to fighting human trafficking within the intersection of trafficking and healthcare. In 2008, Dr. Barrows founded Gracehaven, an organization assisting victims of domestic minor sex trafficking in Ohio. In 2019, Dr. Barrows published a novel entitled Finding Freedom, which realistically portrays child sex trafficking in the United States. Dr. Barrows served as Senior Vice President of Bioethics and Public Policy for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations from 2020 to 2025, overseeing their advocacy efforts. He has been married to Kathy for 47 years, with three grown children and four grandchildren.
Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse
Partnership
