ERLC: U.S. takes ‘critical’ steps on religious liberty
WASHINGTON (BP)—Two federal government actions shortly before Christmas are vital to protecting international religious liberty, a Southern Baptist public-policy leader said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Dec. 20 the re-designation of Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as “countries of particular concern” (CPCs), a category reserved under...
Court to review ‘ministerial exception’ rulings
WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to rule once again on the freedom of churches and other religious organizations to make employment decisions without government interference. The justices announced Dec. 18 they would review opinions by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that found two Roman Catholic schools in California do not have the right to fire teachers for the purpose of the “ministerial...
Fairness for All Act draws opposition from both sides
WASHINGTON (BP)—A new congressional proposal seeking to balance religious freedom and gay rights is a misguided effort that will fail to achieve its stated goals, according to the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. The Fairness for All Act, H.R. 5331, gained introduction in the House of Representatives Dec. 6 as an attempt to address the ongoing conflict between religious liberty and sexual liberty. The bill...
Faith inseparable from work, Tennessee Gov. Lee says
NASHVILLE (BP)—Bill Lee’s decision to run for governor of Tennessee and his work in that office cannot be explained without understanding the impact of his faith, the state’s highest office-holder told Christian leaders Dec. 3 at a Southern Baptist-sponsored event in Nashville. “(T)he way that faith plays out most in my life is that I believe that we are called to serve people,” said Lee, who was elected...
New SBC guide released to help churches prevent abuse
NASHVILLE (BP)—Churches may access a new resource produced by a Southern Baptist partnership to provide guidance on preventing sexual abuse and providing care for survivors of such abuse. The Sexual Abuse Advisory Group and the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) unveiled Nov. 19 “The Introductory Guide to Caring Well: A Resource to Help Churches Care Well for Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Implement Policies and...
