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: What you should know about COVID-19 antivirals and vaccines

What just happened?

Earlier this week, the University of Oxford announced that patients have been enrolled in clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine, and the U.K.’s health secretary said the country would be “throwing everything” behind the project. Medical researchers at Oxford are among the thousands across the globe who are working on potential treatments and vaccines for the novel coronavirus disease known as COVID-19.

Two weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) said there were three vaccine candidates in the clinical testing phase while 67 potential vaccines are in the preclinical phase. There are also more than 150 different drugs—such as antivirals—being researched and tested as possible treatments for COVID-19.

What are vaccines, and how do they work?

A vaccine is created from the same infectious agent that causes a disease, using extremely small amounts of weak or dead microbes such as viruses, bacteria, or toxins. A vaccine stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly as it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to actually get the disease.

Vaccination is the act of getting a vaccine, usually as a shot, while immunization is the process of becoming immune to (i.e., protected against) a disease. The purpose of vaccination is immunization.

This Week at the ERLC

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik hosted the ERLC’s first Christian Women at Work event online.

Russell Moore just launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up here. He was also on the Typology podcast discussing morality and authenticity.

Jason Thacker was on The World and Everything in It answering the question: Is technology the cure we need?

Helpful Resources On COVID-19

What You Need to Read

It wasn’t Sunday morning that did the trick. It’s not Sunday mornings alone that will do the trick now, especially given many churchgoers only attend once or twice a month. The Sunday service, a quartet of monthly touchpoints, can be a foundation for ministry—but the integrated depth of daily community, service, prayer, and life together will be what leads to a thriving Church and to the Lord adding to our numbers.

Religious liberty protects not the strong but the weak. It is meant to protect not the powerful but the marginalized. Citizens living in the United States today enjoy broad protections when it comes to religion. The First Amendment guarantees that we are able to freely exercise our religious beliefs without fear of punishment or interference at the hands of government. But it has not always been this way.

The Apostle Paul lived with a pastoral concern for his churches. In several of his letters, we encounter the apostle’s heart for Christ’s sheep, especially when they faced suffering and persecution on account of faithfulness to Christ. As pastors seek to lead through the current COVID-19 crisis, I believe we would do well to consider how Paul cared for his congregations in difficult times. To that end, here are three things from 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:2 that we can learn about leading Christ’s sheep.

News From Capitol Hill

“I don’t think it is true that acceptance of these loans invites government interference in the church, and I say why here, but I do think there are reasonable arguments as to why a church should or should not apply for these loans. The best argument as to why I’m wrong about this is, in my view, Bart Barber’s, which can be found here. The main thing is that we affirm together that government funding of the church or its mission is wrong. Most of us are agreed on that. We just disagree about whether this is that. And, on this one, let’s extend, as most people already are, Romans 14 charity about encouraging everyone to act according to conscience.”

Featured Podcasts

In this episode of Signposts, Russell Moore is joined by Gov. John Ellis “Jeb” Bush, the former governor of Florida. They talk about leadership in moments of crisis, how he saw leadership modeled in other members of his family, and how the coronavirus is changing the ways that people practice their faith. Listen here.

On The Way Home, Keith Getty joins Dan Darling to talk about their family hymn sing during the COVID-19 pandemic. An impromptu St. Patrick’s hymn sing that the Gettys did from their home in Nashville garnered great engagement. They’ve since decided to be live on Facebook each Tuesday evening at 7:15 p.m. CT with their children sharing songs and encouragement. Listen here.

From The Public Square

Is the World Ignoring a Christian Genocide in Nigeria?
Lela Gilbert, Providence

How much do Westerners know about Nigeria? Do we recognize it as Africa’s largest nation? Are we aware of its considerable economic importance? Are Western Christians alert to the dangers faced by our fellow believers in Nigeria?

UN Report on Religious Freedom Deems Abortion and Gender Identity as Human Rights
Emilie Kao and Shea Garrison, The Daily Signal

The United Nations report goes so far as to suggest an expanded role for the state in doctrinal matters if a religious institution has “harmful discriminatory gender norms.

Federal judge: Oklahoma abortion ban can't be enforced
Associated Press

A federal judge says Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's attempt to ban abortions during the coronavirus pandemic cannot be enforced.

‘Biblical’ famines could double global hunger as a result of the coronavirus crisis, UN warns
Chloe Taylor, CNBC

Famines of “biblical proportions” are becoming a serious risk as the coronavirus crisis threatens to double the number of people nearing starvation, a U.N. body has warned.