Alliance Defending Freedom was built on a simple but powerful conviction: that the cause of freedom is best advanced together.
For 16 years, ADF International has stood on that conviction, working across continents and legal systems to defend religious freedom, free speech, and the dignity of every person. Alongside courageous clients and alliance partners, we have secured landmark legal victories and shaped the global conversation on fundamental freedoms, all grounded in our calling to defend the right of every person to live and speak the truth.
We are, at our core, an alliance that has always understood that serving the cause of freedom looks different in different seasons, and that the mission is always bigger than any single role or chapter.
Paul Coleman has been an extraordinary part of that story. Over nearly 15 years of service — including eight as Executive Director — Paul has led our international team with faithfulness and integrity. Under his leadership, and through the dedication of an exceptional team, ADF International grew into a leading voice for fundamental freedoms worldwide.
Now Paul turns his attention to a new mission — addressing broader challenges facing the United Kingdom. The issues he will engage go beyond the courtroom, and we believe he is uniquely prepared for that moment. We are excited to see him play a greater role in bringing renewal and flourishing to the UK, and are proud to call him a lifelong partner.
ADF International moves forward with full confidence. The international leadership team that helped build this organization — nearly all of whom have served for more than a decade — remains in place, deeply committed, and more capable than ever. Our international legal efforts are more needed today than at any point in our history, and we are equipped to meet that moment. The foundation is strong, the team is exceptional, and the mission is unchanged.
We look with great expectation to what lies ahead.
Quote from Kristen Waggoner, CEO, President, and Chief Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom:
“Alliance Defending Freedom was built to serve as an alliance and alliances are defined not only by those who gather, but by those who are sent. Paul Coleman embodies that spirit. His nearly 15 years of service, including eight years leading our international team with dedication, have been a genuine gift to this organization and to the cause of freedom worldwide.
While we will miss his leadership deeply, we celebrate that he is now turning his gifts toward a broader mission in the United Kingdom — and the work he will do there matters enormously.
ADF International moves forward with great confidence. The team Paul helped build is strong, experienced, and fully committed to this mission, and our international legal efforts are more needed than ever. We are grateful Paul will remain a key alliance partner, and look to the coming years with great expectation.”