John Whitehead established the Rutherford Institute in 1982, envisioning a distinct kind of Christian legal advocacy. Originally, his initiative was unique, aimed at addressing religious liberty through legal means.
At that time, public conversations did not yet include debates over the seasonal designs of Starbucks holiday cups or disputes around bakers creating cakes for same-sex weddings. Whitehead’s formation of a Christian religious liberty law firm was a novel and pioneering effort.
His journey led him to Port St. Joe, Florida, where he has continued to reflect on the evolution of the Christian legal movement. Whitehead’s experiences highlight a shift from the original intentions he had when he first launched the institute.