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The Weekly is a highlight of the work the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is doing to strengthen you and our churches for God’s glory.

What you should know about the 2018 SBC state convention resolutions

Within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), resolutions have traditionally been defined as an expression of opinion or concern, as compared to a motion, which calls for action. A resolution is not used to direct an entity of the denomination to specific action other than to communicate the opinion or concern expressed. Each year, resolutions are passed during the annual meetings of the state conventions.

Highlighted below are some examples of resolutions on ERLC related issues from the 2018 conventions:

Missouri Baptist Convention

Resolution No. 4: On Pornography Being a Public Health Crisis

RESOLVED, that the Missouri Baptist Convention calls for education, prevention, research, strict enforcement of obscenity laws, and policy considerations where needed at the church, community and societal level in order to address the pornography epidemic that is harming the people of our state and nation.

State Convention of Baptists in Ohio

Resolution No. 7: On Reaching Refugees and People Groups in Ohio

RESOLVED, That we will be committed to extending Christian love and friendship to all people groups entering our state;

Illinois Baptist State Association

Resolution Concerning Churches’ Compassion Toward Infertility

RESOLVED, that said messengers urge IBSA churches to stand firm and together in helping parents during these times of struggle, indecision, and/or heartbreak so that everyone knows and understands they are part of the greater family of God and that their difficulty, problems, and/or struggles can be overcome through Christ. (Rom. 12:12)

This Week at the ERLC

Earlier this week, Russell Moore joined Sen. Ben Sasse at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., for a Trinity Forum event discussing loneliness, the digital revolution, rootedness, political tribalism, and much more. Watch video from the event here.

Russell Moore was also in Oklahoma this week for an adoption rally organized by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma called "The Gospel, the Church, and Foster Care." In his address, Moore “noted that if each church in America supported one foster or adoptive family, the crisis of children without homes would disappear.” You can read more in this RNS recap.

Dan Darling was featured in Relevant this week, discussing why it’s important to understand privilege. He wrote, “This is a loaded word these days, but it is so important to understanding, and healing, our racial divide.”

What You Need to Know

November is National Alzheimer's Awareness and Family Caregivers Month. As we seek to recognize those who are suffering or helping those who are, Debbie Bethancourt, drawing from her own experience, shares 4 things Christians caring for elderly parents should remember.

In the midst of the hardships associated with caregiving, I take solace in knowing that I am not in control. I have faith that the Lord knows what he is doing by having my mother lying in a bed wasting away while my dad sits by her bed holding her hand, having a conversation with her that does not make sense, all while he can’t hear her anyway.

Tomorrow is World AIDS Day, which gives us an opportunity to highlight a disease that has affected thousands of lives. Supriya G. Reddy gives us her take on this pandemic as a Christian and a professor of public health in her article, HIV/AIDS and our Christian responsibility.

Regardless of how you may perceive those who have been infected with HIV/AIDS, our first cause for concern is not the fight against the global burden of disease. As Christians, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I would encourage you to not be fearful or apprehensive of these individuals.

This week brought the sad news of the loss of a great woman and adoption advocate. Becky Weichhand was the executive director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Kelly Rosati penned a moving tribute to her life and death in Christ: Tirelessly advocating for children: A tribute to Becky Weichhand

[A]s Becky did, we trust that God will use this horrible loss of our beloved friend for both the good of others and for the glory of his merciful name. This is her legacy in her life and death. Becky’s sister Laura wrote this verse on her Facebook page: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Well done, beloved Becky. We miss you already.

Are you starting to think about hi-tech gifts as Christmas approaches? If so, Jason Thacker will help you be thoughtful about various forms of technology, how we view them, and how we use them in his article, The tension of technology: Hope and fear in the digital age. This article was also featured in our print publication. You can check out the latest issue of Light Magazine here.

[A]s we move forward in an increasingly complex and advanced society, we need to remember that all of technology, from “artificial moons” to artificial intelligence, is to be used for the glory of God and the good of others. We must be those who engage it with intentionality, using the wisdom that our God gives freely to partner in his redemptive work.

News From Capitol Hill

With only a few weeks left of the 115th session of Congress, this week on Capitol Hill was busy, and progress was made on two important issues for the ERLC policy team:
First, on Tuesday the House unanimously passed H.R. 390, the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018, which unanimously passed the Senate earlier this fall. The ERLC was eager to see this legislation pass and looks forward to the president signing it into law. H.R. 390 matters because the perpetrators of the genocide in Iraq and Syria must be held accountable, and the surviving victims desperately need aid and humanitarian relief.
Second, on Wednesday House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R–Texas) offered an amendment to repeal the new tax on nonprofts and houses of worship. The ERLC welcomes this positive development from Chairman Brady. The coalition advocating for repeal is grateful to work on this effort with Representatives Walker (R–N.C.), Johnson (R–La.), Hartzler (R–Mo.), and Graves (R–Ga.), as well as Senators Lankford (R–Okla.) and Coons (D–Del.). While important progress was made this week, the tax is not yet repealed. The ERLC continues to call on Congress to repeal this tax on nonprofit parking and transportation benefits through any appropriate vehicle before the end of the year.

For more on ERLC’s legislative priorities, check out this week’s episode of Capitol Conversations: Lame Duck Priorities.

Featured Podcasts

On the Countermoves podcast, Andrew T. Walker talks to Christopher Yuan about his new book on holy sexuality and the gospel. You can check out the latest episode here.

From The Public Square

Study: Most churchgoers still abstain from alcohol
Carol Pipes, Baptist Press

Most churchgoers say the Bible teaches against drunkenness. But that doesn't stop about 4 in 10 from taking a drink now and then, a study released Tuesday (Nov. 27) shows.

Abortion rates continue downward trend, hitting lowest numbers since Roe v. Wade was decided: CDC
Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News

Abortions are down to the lowest rate since the landmark case Roe v. Wade legalized a woman’s right to abortion in 1973, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HHS talks to anti-abortion groups, scientists as it weighs canceling fetal tissue research
Dan Diamond, Politico

The Trump administration is continuing to weigh plans to discontinue more than $100 million in research projects that use fetal tissue, alarming scientists and some HHS officials while invigorating the president’s supporters in the anti-abortion community.

The ‘New York Times’ Reveals Painful Truths about Transgender Lives
Ryan T. Anderson, Public Discourse

Why should a doctor perform surgery when it won’t make the patient happy, it won’t accomplish its intended goal, it won’t improve the underlying condition, it might make the underlying condition worse, and it might increase the likelihood of suicide? Sound medicine isn’t about desire, it’s about healing.

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