Explainer: Christian baker loses appeal on transgender-celebrating cake case

A nurse practitioner in Texas has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that CVS Pharmacy violated her religious liberty.

How is your church responding to a post-Roe world?

The Dobbs decision marks a true turning point in the pro-life movement — a moment that Christians, pro-life advocates and many others have worked toward tirelessly for 50 years. As we respond to the ruling in this case, we want to be faithful to pray.

This free Dobbs prayer guide contains a list of 48 specific prayer requests to guide you, your family, and your church in your prayers over the coming weeks and months.

This Week in Washington, D.C.

Public policy advocacy is one of the primary ways that the ERLC fulfills its ministry in the public square. This week, we released our 2023 Public Policy Agenda, which outlines more than three dozen policy issues that will shape our work in Washington, D.C., this year.

The first session of the 118th Congress is now underway, and it begins as the nation is grappling with war around the world, inflation at home, and deep division across our nation. This also begins a new era of divided government with a Democratic president, a narrow Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, and a slim Republican majority in the House. This dynamic ensures legislating and governing will be a difficult task.

Just as our government is entering a new season, so too is the ERLC. Though we have been through a season of transition, we continue to carry out our ministry assignment to serve the public policy interests of Southern Baptists. Whether that is in our nation’s capital, before the courts, or in our larger culture, we consider it a privilege to continue on this mission this year under a new administration and with an expanded team.

You can learn more about our priorities for the year and our advocacy for religious liberty, life, marriage and family, and human dignity at erlc.com/policy.

Featured Podcasts

This week on the ERLC Podcast, Brent and Lindsay talk to Hannah Daniel about the ERLC’s advocacy priorities for 2023. These priorities are in the important areas of religious liberty, marriage and family, sanctity of life, and human dignity.

From The Public Square

Biden mulls public health emergency declaration on abortion
Axios

Both abortion rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers have urged the Department of Health and Human Services and President Biden to take such a step in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which they say has created a "full-scale reproductive health crisis" across the U.S.

West Virginia advances school mandate on ‘In God We Trust’
Associated Press

Public schools in West Virginia may soon be required to display the phrase “In God We Trust” in every building if a bill passed by the state Senate on Monday becomes law.

Abusing Religious Freedom for Abortion Access
Public Discourse

States would have to choose between religious liberty laws and every other law they would enforce, nearly all of which burden someone’s conscience and limit behaviors some people consider obligatory. What appears to be a victory for religious liberty is really just the opposite.

Utah bans gender-affirming care for trans minors
Axios

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a controversial bill Saturday that would ban gender-affirming health care and hormone therapy for transgender children and teenagers.

What You Need to Read

Paul David Tripp with How to talk to your teen about culture

Since the fall, people build culture on the basis of many varied and competing authorities. Gone are the simple days of Genesis 1 and 2. Now the cultural canvas is stained with sin, and until eternity human culture will not perfectly reflect the will of God. This is why our response to culture is so important. It is one of our primary moral struggles. Teenagers need to grow up understanding this and being prepared for it.

Justin Mullins with How we can speak to men in the abortion conversation

While pro-choice supporters advocate that abortion is a “women’s rights” issue, we cannot deny the deeply profound implications that abortions have on the male partners. While we continue to fight for the preborn and pray and provide for the mothers, let us not neglect the men who are struggling.

Jordan Wootten with Can Christians make it in American politics?

As those commanded to exercise not just generic morality and virtue, but Christlikeness, how can we reconcile the current political economy with our call to follow in the way of Jesus? Can we bear the fruit of God’s Spirit and still make it in the American political arena, or vice versa? Can we get any notable things done with our integrity intact?