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Here are some of the numerous actions the SBC is taking to deal with the crisis of sexual abuse. No Images? Click here 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 Baptists take action to address church sexual abuseDuring the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting this week in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Baptists took several significant actions to address the crisis of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches. Representatives at the convention, known as “messengers,” voted to adopt one resolution and approve two changes to SBC governing documents that deal with sexual abuse. The first vote changed the SBC bylaws to make the Credentials Committee a standing committee with the authority to address allegations of sexual misconduct made against SBC-affiliated churches. The committee will conduct inquiries about whether churches are acting in accordance with Southern Baptist beliefs on sexual abuse, racism, or other issues, and make recommendations to the Executive Committee on whether an offending church should be deemed as "not in friendly cooperation" with the convention. Read MoreThis Week at the ERLCThis week the ERLC was at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting. We were deeply encouraged by many of the events that took place. We hosted a panel titled “Sexual Abuse and the Southern Baptist Convention,” which included Russell Moore, Beth Moore, and other guests. Russell Moore also spoke on the B21 panel, which included Albert Mohler, Danny Akin, and others. Chelsea Patterson Sobolik spoke on a panel about adoption hosted by NAMB and Lifeline. Elizabeth Graham was on a SEBTS women’s leadership panel. We hosted two panels at the Oklahoma Baptist University booth. CBS Evening News featured Russell Moore as he talked about the sexual abuse crisis What You Need to KnowThe ERLC works tirelessly to protect and promote religious liberty, and Neal Hardin has compiled a list of our various efforts over the last few years. Check out our different areas of work here. Religious Liberty is a core principle in the Baptist Faith and Message (Article 17) and of the ERLC’s mission. As such, we continue to advocate for religious liberty and to protect the conscience rights of all, both at home and abroad. Every year, the ERLC engages in the legislative process to advance and safeguard the cause of religious liberty. Our Legislative Agenda highlights various bills and policy initiatives that we plan to engage in over the course of the year. Jared Kennedy writes about what we can learn about friendship from C.S. Lewis. Read his article here. What I desire for my own children, as my mother once taught me, is not only that they would be a good friend and thus grow to have friends. More than this, I desire for them to know Jesus, the one who laid down his life for his friends (John 15:13). And, as they grow in their knowledge of Christ, my prayer for them, for myself, and for you is that God would make us better friends—the kind who walk side by side toward the Savior. May we give ourselves freely, throw aside jealousy, and lock arms together, knowing that even when we fail to be good friends, our friendship can be saved by Christ’s greater love. Being a father, especially in our day and age is challenging. With Father’s Day this weekend, Eric Ortlund reflects on things he wished he’d known before embarking on this important role. Read his reflections here. I am not giving you a perfect list to raise a perfect family. And even if you do everything listed here and more, you will still stand in need of God’s extraordinary grace to save you and your family. The good news of the gospel, however, is that your heavenly Father gives that grace happily, generously, abundantly, faithfully. One means of that grace is learning from other fathers. As you raise your family, you’ll be a similar help to new fathers who come after you. News From Capitol HillThis week, the ERLC policy team traveled from Washington, D.C., to Birmingham, Alabama, to join the rest of the staff for the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Much happened at the business meeting and various side events in the Exhibit Hall including a live recording of a Capitol Conversations podcast from the ERLC booth (look for it next week!). Of particular interest to public policy work were the series of resolutions speaking to the issues of the day that the 2019 SBC messengers passed. The annual resolutions are an important way for the collective voice of thousands of autonomous churches to be heard. Below are a few of the resolutions which advocate for public policy positions. Southern Baptists officially commended the recent pro-life actions of state legislators and governors in enacting laws to restrict abortion and promote the sanctity of human life, as well as urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. On the resolution addressing the sexual abuse crisis, featured in the Weekly’s lead story, the messengers also encouraged civil authorities to review both privacy laws and statutes of limitations to ensure that such rules, “do not prevent the pursuit of justice on behalf of the abused.” The SBC passed a resolution directed at China and North Korea on religious freedom and human rights, condemning the horrific persecution by the Kim Jong-un regime in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Communist Party in the People’s Republic of China. This resolution also called on the U.S. government to place religious liberty as a top priority in these international relations and ongoing negotiations. Southern Baptists also adopted resolutions related to biblical justice, discouraging the inclusion of women in the Selective Service draft and opposing germline (gene) editing. Finally, in a resolution on gospel allegiance and political engagement, the SBC affirmed that, “our commitment to Christ comes before commitment to any political party,” and called on members to “continually evaluate their political cooperation in light of Scripture’s witness” and to “commit ourselves to model and encourage voices of truth, kindness, and gentleness, rather than those that stir up hostility, strife, dissensions, and factions.”Featured PodcastsDo you ever stop and think just how strange it is that many of us talk to several digital devices as if they were people? We’ve even given them names: Siri and Alexa. As Russell Moore points out, it can be hard to determine where being a human stops and being a machine starts. He addresses this topic this week on the ERLC Podcast. Listen to his talk here. This week on The Way Home, Dan Darling talks to Dan DeWitt about apologetics, defending our faith in this age, and sharing the gospel with our kids. DeWitt leads the Center for Biblical Apologetics & Public Christianity at Cedarville University. Listen to their conversation here.From The Public SquareJudge says Missouri’s lone abortion clinic must remain open for now Missouri’s only abortion clinic will remain open for now after a judge on Monday blocked state officials from closing it because of an ongoing licensing dispute. Alabama governor signs law requiring some sex offenders to undergo chemical castration Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed into law on Monday a bill requiring that individuals convicted of a sex offense against a child 13 or under start chemical castration. The Misplaced Optimism in Legal Pot A new study throws cold water on hopes that more liberal cannabis policies could stem the opioid epidemic. Christian Agencies Fight for Migrant Kids’ Right to Play Bethany Christian Services pledges to keep recreation and education offerings for unaccompanied minors in its care, even if federal funding goes away. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commissionof the Southern Baptist Convention 901 Commerce Street, Suite 550 Nashville, TN 37203 Like Tweet Forward Preferences | Unsubscribe |
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