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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.

Southern Baptist Military Chaplain investigated for adhering to religious beliefs

An investigation by the U.S. Army recommends that a Southern Baptist chaplain be charged with "dereliction of duty" for failing to accommodate a gay couple in a marriage retreat.

Earlier this year a lesbian soldier filed a complaint against Major Jerry Squires, claiming he discriminated against her and her spouse by not helping facilitate their attendance at the retreat he was hosting.

According to the First Liberty Institute, the organization representing Squires in the legal proceedings, even though Squires ensured the soldier was placed in the next available retreat, the investigator concluded the chaplain’s conduct was discriminatory, and recommended he receive administrative or non-judicial punishment.

Squires’ chaplain assistant, SSG Kasie Griffin, was also included in the investigation for simply informing the chaplain of the couple’s application, and letting the couple know that Chaplain Squires would want to speak with them about the event. Griffin now faces the prospect of losing her opportunity to receive an officer’s commission and a full ride college scholarship because “one general’s intentional indecision,” says First Liberty.

This Week at the ERLC

SBC President J.D. Greear announced that he is partnering with the ERLC to form a Sexual Abuse Presidential Study Group. Dr. Moore affirmed the need for such a group:

“Sexual assault and sexual abuse are Satanic to the core, and churches should be the ones leading the way when it comes to protecting the vulnerable from predators. Thankfully, every Southern Baptist pastor I know cares deeply about these issues. We as a denomination, though, owe it to our pastors and churches to come together and provide the very best resources and recommendations possible to address this crisis. That's exactly what an advisory council like this is able to do, and I am eager to work alongside this group in any way possible to serve our churches and minister to those in our pews who have suffered abuse." Read more here.

Our own Matt Hawkins, who has served faithfully at the ERLC for 17 years, announced that he is leaving the ERLC to pursue Ph.D. studies. Matt was a brilliant, winsome presence on Capitol Hill and will be missed. The good news is he is moving to TN and will be close to our Nashville office. Travis Wussow, the vice president of policy, said,

"I am abundantly grateful for Matt Hawkins. His love for Christ and the church was evidenced in his consistent and humble advancement of our mission to engage Washington, D.C. with the gospel of Christ. Matt’s impact in this city will be felt for years to come."

Don’t miss Dan Darling’s op-ed published this week in USA Today, “On the brink of a post-Roe world, pro-life movement needs a future beyond abortion.”

“Imagine if the end of Roe were not the end of our advocacy, but the beginning? What if we saw ourselves, not merely as conservatives or anti-abortion activists, but as people who are always, everywhere advocating for policies that help the most vulnerable flourish? Imagine a new kind of politics where the ethic of human dignity disrupted our political categories, uniting those who see the humanity of the unborn with those who see the humanity of the immigrant, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly? Imagine a new era of civility where we saw dignity even in our fiercest opponents and worked, with whoever is willing, to end injustices against the innocent?”

We are hiring a new policy director to join the team in Washington, D.C. Our policy team works to advance our public policy interests on Capitol Hill, in the administration, in the judiciary, and in intergovernmental organizations. If you or someone you know is interested in engaging the culture with the gospel of Christ and speaking to issues in the public square, learn more here.​

What You Need to Know

Jennifer Cortez has devoured myriad resources on autism in order to learn the best way to help her son. Finally, after reading Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism, she said,

“I found Uniquely Human by Dr. Barry Prizant to be the rare book about autism that helped lift the weight of my anxiety, counterbalancing fear with the forces of understanding, insight, and encouragement—all powerful and underrated forces, might I add.”

“As believers in Christ, we know that the security of our future rests in the sovereignty of God—not in the governance of man. This principle comes straight out of Scripture, and it is true no matter your party affiliation. . . . Not only that, it tells us that we are to pray for, submit to, and honor our governing authorities.”

News From Capitol Hill

This ERLC policy team met with tax officials at the Department of Treasury this week to discuss the technical tax issue related to nonprofit parking taxation resulting from the recent tax reform legislation. While we continue to seek a permanent legislative fix, we urged the Treasury to provide relief for churches and nonprofits this year. Learn more about ERLC’s engagement here.

Featured Podcasts

In recent months, our society has faced a reckoning over the toxic culture of sexual assault and abuse. And as we’ve seen, the church has not been spared in this upheaval. This has left many to wonder if complementarianism itself will survive. Russell Moore discusses this in his newest episode of Signposts, “Will Complementarianism Survive After the #MeToo Movement?”

Dan Darling continues the human dignity series on The Way Home podcast. This week, he talks with Russell Moore about what Jesus’ earthly life tells us about what it means to be human. Listen to this special series in celebration of Darling’s forthcoming book The Dignity Revolution: Reclaiming God’s Rich Vision for Humanity.

From The Public Square

Christian Student Group Sues University for Rejecting It as Official Club
Jeremiah Poff, The Daily Signal

After expelling several religion-based student groups from campus for “discrimination,” the University of Iowa is being sued for religious discrimination.

Pope's death penalty reversal prompts closer look
David Roach, Baptist Press

Pope Francis' reversal of Catholic teaching on the death penalty continues to draw reaction, with some Southern Baptist theologians saying the move contradicts biblical principles of ethics.

Support for Christians Refusing to Serve Same-Sex Weddings Goes ... Up
Morgan Lee, Christianity Today

PRRI finds most demographics have shifted in favor of religious freedom for small wedding business owners like Masterpiece Cakeshop’s Jack Phillips.

At world’s largest refugee camp, trauma victims seek healing in God
Tonny Onyulo, Religion News Service

"The church gives them new hope, which is important to refugees and any person who has experienced trauma," says a counselor.

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