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.

Explainer: A history of the ERLC

May 8, 2020 marks one of the anniversaries of the founding of what would become the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (more on those others below). Further, the year 2020 represents the 110th anniversary of another of the argued foundings of the organization. The ERLC is the Southern Baptist entity tasked with speaking for Southern Baptists in the public square and speaking to Southern Baptists on matters of moral importance. Below are some highlights from the history of the ERLC and all its previous versions.

What’s in a name?

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is just the latest name in the history of this entity. Previously, it has been called the Christian Life Commission (1953-1997) and Social Service Commission (1947-1952). Also, depending on how you want to date the founding of ERLC (information below), you could include a previous Social Service Commission (1913-1942) and a standing Committee on Temperance (1907-1913).

This Week at the ERLC

Jason Thacker hosted a webinar for the EPA titled “Christians and Cancel Culture: Resisting the Allure of Power and Seeking the Good of Our Neighbor.”

Helpful Resources On COVID-19

What You Need to Read

This past week, some states began their phase-by-phase reopening plans. Very soon, churches will be able to hold in-person meetings again. When that time comes, it’s important that church leaders have clear plans outlined to help ensure that everyone—and especially the most vulnerable populations—remain healthy. One essential area to think through carefully is the church’s ministry to children. Children’s ministry thrives on a culture of trust and a reputation for safety.

One of the bright spots of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the immediate and innovative responses of churches to help their local communities. There are countless stories of Christians caring for vulnerable adults, providing meals to healthcare workers, and offering support to those who have recently become unemployed. There are some needs, however, that can easily be overlooked, especially in times like these when the gaps between social circles are disproportionately wide. Our immigrant and refugee neighbors are among those whose needs often fly under the radar.

There is no overstating the importance of mothers in the growth of Christianity. From the devotion of Mary to the faithful example of Lois and Eunice (the mother and grandmother of Timothy), the pages of Scripture are filled with the stories of how mothers have influenced their children to follow the will of God. Church history is no different.

News From Capitol Hill

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in yet another case involving the Little Sisters of the Poor, religious liberty, and the government’s contraception mandate.

Commenting on Little Sisters of the Poor v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the day of the oral arguments, Russell Moore told Baptist Press, “One could be forgiven for thinking ‘haven't we been here already?’ Yes, we have.” Moore continued:

“A 2016 Supreme Court ruling determined and a 2017 rule finalized that the government can ensure access to contraceptives just fine without coercing nuns to deliver them. The Supreme Court should strike down Pennsylvania's attempt to punish the Little Sisters, along with the absurd argument that religious ministries misunderstand their own faith."

Here’s the background. The contraceptive mandate was established in 2010 by the Obama Administration and only had a narrow exception for houses of worship, but not for religious nonprofits or institutions. In response, the Little Sisters, along with Guidestone Financial Resources and many other Baptist institutions, filed suit against HHS to challenge the contraceptive mandate. The ERLC was involved in this challenge from the beginning. These organizations did not ask that the mandate itself be overturned but rather that an exemption be created for those organizations with deeply held religious objections to it. In 2016, the religious groups won, and the court ordered HHS to create a religious exemption, which was finally established by the Trump Administration in 2017. Yet after all of this, a few states are trying to take away this hard-earned religious exemption.

For more on this case, see Jeff Pickering’s article covering Wednesday’s arguments, which were historically convened via conference call line as the justices are working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ERLC is engaged in multiple Supreme Court cases this term, with another important oral argument set for May 11 in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morissey Beru dealing with religious education.

For more on all the cases in which the ERLC is waiting for a ruling from the nation’s highest court, see this article by our policy staff in Washington, D.C.: 5 Supreme Court cases to keep your eye on.

Featured Podcasts

In this episode of Signposts, Russell Moore is joined by Gov. Bill Haslam, the former governor of Tennessee. In this conversation, they talk about leadership and decision-making, criminal justice reform, handling approval and disapproval, and how his faith informed his work as a governor. Listen here.

As spring fades to summer, ERLC intern Hannah Daniel joins Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Brooke Kramer on the Capitol Conversations podcast to reflect on her experiences. The group discusses favorite projects, memorable meetings on Capitol Hill, and how the coronavirus pandemic changed everything. Listen here.

From The Public Square

USCIRF reports progress for global religious freedom
Tom Strode, Baptist Press

Improvements made in the last year by two severe violators demonstrate progress is being made on the international religious freedom front, a bipartisan commission said April 28 in its annual report.

Religious Liberty and the Common Good
William J. Haun, National Affairs

Legal and cultural debates involving religious liberty are converging toward a single question: whether free religious exercise is part of the common good, or what might now be called a society's overall well-being.

There's a New Kind of Pregnancy Center on the Block
Maria Baer, Christianity Today

A new generation of Christian leaders is making the movement more effective by taking a broader look at community dynamics.

'Be our guest': Onsite worship resumes at various churches
Diana Chandler, Baptist Press

Across the nation, some churches practiced safety guidelines and adjusted routines while resuming onsite worship for the first time in nearly two months.