ERLC Podcast

This week marked a decisive victory in protecting minors from harmful gender transition procedures. The Supreme Court justices ruled 6-3 in favor of the Tennessee law banning healthcare providers from prescribing medication or performing procedures on minors to “transition” to an identity opposite of their biological sex. The protection of minors from harmful “gender transition” surgeries and interventions is good and appropriate. Furthermore, states have a constitutional responsibility to protect children from harm. Because of this, the ERLC advocated against such procedures, and filed an amicus brief alongside the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in favor of the Tennessee lawmakers and the protection of children. Before the ruling was released, we talked about the importance of this case with Matt Sharp, who serves as senior counsel and director of the Center for Public Policy at Alliance Defending Freedom. Sharp earned his J.D. in 2006 from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. Since joining ADF in 2010, Sharp has authored federal and state legislation, regularly provides testimony and legal analysis on how proposed legislation will impact constitutional freedoms, and advises governors, legislators, and state and national policy organizations on the importance of laws and policies that protect First Amendment rights. 

In the early days of the Southern Baptist Convention, when the costs of ministry opportunities were beginning to expand, convention leaders proposed the 75 Million Campaign, a five-year pledge campaign with the purpose of funding missions. This campaign planted the seed for what would grow to be the Cooperative Program in 1925. Now, 100 years later, the Cooperative Program continues to use every dollar given by faithful Southern Baptists to further the Great Commission. On today's episode, we'll talk to  Tony Wolfe, executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention; and Madison Grace, provost and vice president for academic administration at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tony and Madison will talk through the history, purpose, and impact of the Cooperative Program throughout the decades. They'll also share more about their new book,  A Unity of Purpose: 100 Years of the SBC Cooperative Program.

May 22nd marked a significant milestone in the ongoing work to protect the dignity of every human life. The United States House of Representatives voted to defund Planned Parenthood — a major victory for life and for the countless voices who have tirelessly advocated for this outcome. Planned Parenthood's predatory, deceptive, and destructive practices are destroying preborn lives at the expense of the American taxpayer.Today, we're talking Congressman Nathaniel Moran about this victory and other pro-life priorities. Congressman Moran proudly serves the First District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. He attended West Point, then Texas Tech, where he earned a BA, MBA, and a law degree.Congressman Moran began his elected public service on the Tyler City Council, and in 2016, he became Smith County Judge, a role he continued in until his election to Congress in 2022. In the House, Congressman Moran serves on the Ways and Means Committee, the oldest Committee in Congress and the chief tax-writing Committee in the House.He resides in Texas with his wife of 25 years, Kyna, and their four children.

Whether engaging with issues of life, religious liberty, marriage and family, or human dignity, the ERLC works to ensure that Southern Baptist convictions are at the table in the cultural and policy discussions of our nation's leaders. This Comission also serves as a resource for Southern Baptist pastors and churches, equipping them to think and respond faithfully in a rapidly changing world.On today's episode, we're joined by Scott Foshie, chairman of the ERLC's board of trustees, to explore the far-reaching influence of the ERLC—from the halls of Congress to the heart of the local church.Since 2019, Scott has served as the Church Health Team Leader for the Illinois Baptist State Association. Before joining the state convention staff, Scott pastored churches in Tennessee and Illinois for 20 years. He and his wife, Audra, have been married for 23 years and have three children.

For over a century, the ERLC has upheld its dual mandate to speak into the public square and equip our pastors and churches with resources to engage the culture on moral and ethical issues in areas such as life, religious liberty, marriage and family, and human dignity. Whether serving churches or advocating for Southern Baptist convictions before the halls of Congress, we stand in the gap for and alongside the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention.While we work on policy issues in our nation's capital, much of our ministry centers around supporting churches like yours by providing practical and theological resources, many of them available for free on our website. Our aim is to carry out our mission with the utmost integrity, which is why we're answering some of your most frequently asked questions on our podcast. In addition, we've provided a more extensive list at erlc.com/faqs.  On today's episode, you'll hear from Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC; Miles Mullin, vice president and chief of staff at the ERLC; and Bobby Reed, chief financial officer of the ERLC, as we answer questions about the ERLC Research Institute, our stance on immigration policies, and our work on pro-life legislation.

The ERLC was founded over 100 years ago with a dual mandate to speak into the public square while equipping our pastors and churches with resources to engage the culture on moral and ethical issues in areas such as life, religious liberty, marriage and family, and human dignity. While we work on policy issues in our nation's capital, much of our ministry also includes serving churches like yours with practical, theological resources, many of them available for free on our website. Our aim is to carry out our mission with the utmost integrity, which is why we're answering some of our most frequently asked questions on our podcast. In additions, we've provided a more extensive list at erlc.com/faqs.  On today's episode, you'll hear from Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC; Miles Mullin, vice president and chief of staff at the ERLC; and Bobby Reed, chief financial officer of the ERLC, about how we serves SBC churches, how we work with everyone from state conventions to our nation's leaders, and how we are funded.

Gambling has been on the rise in recent years, and now more than ever, it's seeping its way into our everyday lives. From advertisements on our phones to the big screens, the gambling industry is fighting for our attention. But why is this such a problem? This industry preys on the weak and vulnerable, and profits off of those too addicted to turn away. The Bible helps us think about gambling with wisdom and discernment. For example, Matthew 6:24-34 commands us to steward our resources well and to trust God for our provision. In addition, Southern Baptists have opposed gambling for many years, with over 14 resolutions about gambling adopted by messengers. While the problem of gambling is pervasive in many states, South Carolina and Texas are currently faced with legislation that, if passed, would legalize sports betting, leading to physical, emotional, and relational harm, particularly within families and communities.Here to discuss the dangers of this issue is Bryant Simms, chief operations officer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, who will offer advice to pastors on how to oppose this issue in their state. You'll also hear from Dan Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and church engagement strategist at the ERLC. 

Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the United States, responsible for nearly 400,000 abortions annually. This Supreme Court term, there is an important case called Medina vs. Planned Parenthood that will determine whether individual Medicaid beneficiaries have the legal right to challenge a state's decision to exclude certain healthcare providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from Medicaid programs.On today's episode, you'll hear from Christopher Mills, founder of Spero Law in Charleston, S.C., who partnered with the ERLC to write an amicus brief that we submitted to the Supreme Court in the Medina case. Mills will discuss his work on the amicus brief and why this case matters to Southern Baptist churches and ministries across the nation. Mills previously served as a Constitutional Law Fellow at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas. He's currently an Adjunct Professor at Charleston School of Law. He has authored many briefs and motions in the Supreme Court. He graduated summa cum laude from Furman University in 2009 and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2012. You'll also hear from Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, about the ERLC's ongoing campaign to defund Planned Parenthood. Southern Baptists  affirm the sanctity of every human life and believe that Scripture testifies that all people are made in the image of God. It is from this belief that the ERLC has led this campaign calling on Congress to defund Planned Parenthood through the budget reconciliation process.

Over the past few months, the ERLC has actively called on Congress and the administration to take decisive action to defund Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider responsible for nearly 400,000 abortions annually. In March, the ERLC hosted its first pastor advocacy trip where ERLC staff and Southern Baptist pastors hand-delivered 10,000 signatures for the ERLC's campaign to defund Planned Parenthood to Senator Lankford's and Senate Majority Leader John Thune's offices. The group also met with Speaker Mike Johnson, Sens. Ted Cruz and James Lankford, and others, giving them on-the-ground experience with life in D.C. and a better understanding of how the work that the ERLC does matters to the mission of our churches. Today, you'll hear from Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, as he shares more about how pastors are helping to amplify the voice of Southern Baptists to elected officials on issues concerning the protection and dignity of preborn lives.  You'll also hear from Ben Bolin, pastor of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was on the trip and has served in Christian ministry for 20 years.

In a time of intense political polarization, finding examples of faith-informed leadership that brings people together rather than pushing them apart can feel rare. That's why today's conversation between Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Republican Sen. James Lankford from Oklahoma offers such a refreshing perspective on how Christian faith can shape public service.Before serving in Congress, Sen. Lankford worked with students and families for more than 20 years in ministry. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2010 and has served as a US Senator since 2014. Senator Lankford,  is a native of Oklahoma where he lives with his wife and two daughters and is a member of a Southern Baptist church. 

At the ERLC, our goal is to serve our Southern Baptist churches in the public square. As you have heard throughout this series about our work in Washington D.C., having a presence and a voice in our nation's capital allows us to speak up, for, and from our Southern Baptist churches before various audiences. In previous episodes, we have broken down how that work covers all three branches of government and some of the specific ways we seek to engage those arenas. Today, our focus turns to the work of the ERLC's Research team and how they support and undergird the work of the ERLC Policy team. Joining us is Rashan Frost. RaShan serves as the ERLC director of research and senior fellow focused on issues of human dignity. He is the teaching pastor of Centerpoint Church in North Charleston, South Carolina, and is an adjunct professor of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University. Frost earned his doctor of philosophy in theology with a concentration in public theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is active in denominational leadership, serving with the Charleston Baptist Association of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

The ERLC's presence in our nation's capital allows us to speak up, for, and from our Southern Baptist churches before various audiences. In our previous episodes, we've covered the executive and judicial branches, demonstrating the need for Christians' involvement in the various facets of our government because policies have real-world effects on all of us. Today, our focus turns to the legislative branch.To help us better understand the legislative branch and why our involvement matters is David Closson. David serves as the director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council. He researches and writes on life, human sexuality, religious liberty, and related issues from a biblical worldview. David is a Ph.D. candidate in Christian Ethics at Southwestern Seminary. He received his M.Div. and Th.M. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his B.A. in political science from the University of Central Florida. David lives in the Washington, D.C. area and is a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

The ERLC's presence in our nation's capital allows us to speak up, for, and from our Southern Baptist churches before various audiences, including our federal government leaders. In our last episode, we learned about how the ERLC interacts with the executive branch. Today, we'll turn our attention to the judicial branch of government and learn about the importance of advocating for the fundamental rights and liberties that are so important to Southern Baptists. To help us better understand this branch, why we should care about it, and how organization like the ERLC interact with the courts are Lathan Watts and Palmer Williams. Lathan Watts serves as vice president of public affairs for Alliance Defending Freedom. Watts represents ADF at external events, conferences, press conferences, and in the media. Prior to joining ADF, Watts spent nearly 20 years in various roles within the political, public policy, and non-profit sectors. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi and his Bachelor of Arts in history from Harding University.Palmer Williams is general counsel for the ERLC. She specializes in legal and policy analysis related to international human rights, sanctity of life, and government affairs. As a licensed attorney specializing in international law, she has extensive experience advocating for human rights on the international stage, including at the United Nations. She earned her Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt Law School and her B.A. in Political Science and Community Development from Vanderbilt University.

The ERLC's presence in our nation's capital allows us to speak up, for, and from our Southern Baptist churches before various audiences. More specifically, we're able to interact with the executive branch of our federal government, advocating for policies that positively affect issues Southern Baptists care about and pushing back against harmful policies that violate our biblical convictions. To help us better understand the executive branch, why Christians should care about this part of our government, and how organizations interact with it is Rachel Morrison. Rachel is a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where she directs EPPC's Administrative State Accountability Project. As an attorney, her legal and policy work focuses on religious liberty, health care rights of conscience, the right to life, nondiscrimination, and civil rights. She is also a member of an SBC church. 

The ERLC operates out of two locations—Nashville, as our home base, and Capitol Hill, where we've had a permanent presence for 31 years. Our work in D.C. is focused on making the voice of Southern Baptists heard in the public policy space. We do this by regularly working with lawmakers, coalition partners, and like-minded organizations to increase our influence and maintain the stance of our SBC churches, shape the cultural debates of the day, provide pastors with information they need, and equip the SBC to stand for truth in their communities. On today's episode, we're talking with Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, Hannah Daniel, ERLC's director of public policy, and Allison Cantrell, senior policy associate for the ERLC, to get a better idea of the important work your ERLC does in the public square.

Throughout our marriage and family podcast series, we've looked at our society's gender confusion and how it's affecting our children, especially in schools. We've also heard about an important Supreme Court case that involves protecting our children from “gender transition” medical interventions. In order to hold fast to God's good design for marriage, family, and sexuality, it's important to understand some of the underlying problems with how our society views these fundamental realities. Joining us today to talk about this is Dr. Gregg Allison. Dr. Allison is a senior fellow in Marriage and Family for the ERLC Research Institute. He also serves as professor of Christian Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to that, he taught theology and church history at Western Seminary in Oregon. He is an author and has 18 years of ministry experience at Campus Crusade as well as serving as a missionary in Italy and Switzerland. He is a member at his church in Kentucky.

Part of the mission of the ERLC is to assist churches by helping fellow Baptists understand the moral demands of the gospel. We also apply Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is by partnering with like-minded individuals, churches, and institutions across the Southern Baptist Convention to produce work that is accessible and applicable to both the layperson and the scholar. Today, we'll highlight two instances of cooperation in the area of gender and sexuality issues. The first involves our resource, “God's Good Design: A Practical Guide for Answering Gender Confusion.” The second involves our public policy advocacy with the Baptist Convention of Iowa. Together, we signed onto an amicus brief in defense of parental rights.We'll talk to Dane Hays, family pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Decatur, AL, about the “Gender Guide.” Dane has served in counseling and discipleship for over 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology from UAB and a Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he studied biblical counseling and theology.You'll also hear from Tim Lubinus, the executive director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, about the amicus brief. Prior to his current role, Tim was a missions pastor and served overseas on the mission field with the International Mission Board. He received a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has a Doctor of Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  

As Christians, we know that God's design for raising children is in the context of a home with a loving father and mother—and he gave parents the responsibility to raise their children in accordance with His Word. This may seem obvious, but our society is increasingly pushing back against God's design by undermining “parental rights.” While in a fallen world parents don't always seek what is best for their children and should be held accountable by God-given authorities, in most cases, moms and dads should be able raise their children according to their deeply held beliefs, ensuring their children are protected from things like the harmful effects of radical ideas about gender and sexuality.So, why and how are parental rights being brought up at the Supreme Court this term in a case titled United States v. Skrmetti? On today's episode, you'll hear from two lawyers—Matt Sharp and Kayla Toney—who are well acquainted with these legal challenges and how they are related to radical gender ideology. Matt Sharp serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is the director of the Center for Public Policy. In this role, he leads ADF's team of policy experts as they craft legislation and advise government officials on policies that promote free speech, religious freedom, parental rights, and the sanctity of human life.Sharp has also worked on important cases advancing religious freedom and free speech. He earned his J.D. in 2006 from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. A member of the bar in Georgia and Tennessee, he is also admitted to practice in several federal courts.Kayla Toney is Associate Counsel with First Liberty Institute, concentrating on religious liberty matters and First Amendment rights for clients of all faiths. Prior to joining First Liberty, Kayla litigated religious freedom cases as a Constitutional Law Fellow at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. She clerked for Judge Gregory E. Maggs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Kayla also worked as a litigation associate.Kayla earned her law degree from George Washington University. A native of Michigan, Kayla is based in First Liberty's Washington, D.C. office and is licensed to practice law in Virginia and D.C.

Election Day 2024 was one for the history books. President-elect Donald Trump was decisively returned to the White House by voters. A surprise given how close many commentators thought the race would be. Likewise, there was a Republican sweep in the House and Senate. In addition, the ERLC was closely watching 10 states with abortion ballot initiatives of those three states secured pro-life protections for the pre-born, while sadly, the seven other states enshrined pro-abortion legislation into their state constitutions. On today's episode, you'll hear from ERLC President Brent Leatherwood and our policy director Hannah Daniel. They'll talk about the results of the election, the importance of continuing to stand for the value of every preborn life and the good work we have the opportunity to accomplish with a new administration and Congress. 

Marriage and family are institutions that are pre-political, meaning they may be at the forefront of divisive political discussions and debates, but they originated in the mind of our Creator and were established by him with the creation of Adam and Eve and the command to be fruitful and multiply. In other words, marriage and family are God's good idea and design. One of the areas of debate today regarding our families is concerning gender confusion, and whether or not parents have the right to teach and hold their children to the biblical design as male and female, especially in a school setting. The ERLC has written a white paper detailing the biblical and theological foundations for parental rights. We have also joined briefs in cases about parental rights, affirming before courts what Southern Baptists have affirmed: that parents have a God-given responsibility to raise their children according to a biblical worldview without interference from the government. On today's episode, you'll hear from two parents about raising our children in a sexually confused culture and exercising our parental rights, especially as we send them to school. Krissie Inserra is a pastor's wife, mom, and active member in her local church and community. She has served in pregnancy resource centers and has authored numerous articles. Dr. Benjamin Quinn is a husband, dad, and an ERLC research fellow. He is also assistant professor of Theology and History of Ideas and the director of L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his B.A. from Union University, his M.Div. and Th.M. from Southeastern, and his Ph.D. from University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.

Politics matter because they are the means by which the laws of our country, states, and communities are shaped. And those laws communicate what we value as a society. This November, the issue of life is on the ballot as an initiative in many states where voters will decide on laws related to abortion access. These specific  states include, New York, Maryland, Florida, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, Arizona, and Nevada.Joining us today to help us better understand what these initiatives look like at a grassroots level and how they could impact the pro-life movement are Willie Isaacson and Joel Gilbert. Both Willie and Joel come highly recommended within their state conventions and come with years of experience in local and state policy advocacy.Willie Isaacson is senior pastor of First Baptist, Richmond, Missouri where he has served for over 11 years. He currently serves as the chair of the Missouri Baptist Christian Life Commission and president of the Ministerial Alliance in Richmond, Missouri.Joel Gilbert has served in Baptist churches in the D.C. area for over 25 years and currently serves as pastor at Poolesville Baptist Church in Poolesville, Maryland. He also serves on the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee of the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware.

Article three of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says, and I paraphrase, that “The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.” Because of this biblical truth, we believe that every person, regardless of age, level of ability, or stage of development, reflects the glory and goodness of God and should be treated with dignity and protection. The ERLC will always advocate for the most vulnerable among us, including preborn lives. Over the years, this advocacy work has taken many shapes and forms, but changed drastically in 2022 when the Supreme Court's ruling on the Dobbs decision overturned the deadly precedent set in Roe v. Wade. While in many ways this was a watershed moment for the pro-life movement, we recognize there's still much work to be done in the battle to protect human lives. The landscape has shifted and conversations about abortion rights are now happening at the state-level, where we find ourselves today in the wake of the 2024 election cycle. There are currently 10 states across the country where abortion ballot initiatives are up for a vote this November, many of which seek to harm preborn children and threaten the future of the pro-life movement. Joining us on today's episode to help us better understand these initiatives and what would change should they pass are ERLC President Brent Leatherwood and ERLC Director of Public Policy Hannah Daniel.

Our series on mental health has helped us understand its connection with human dignity. Though God created us as perfect, embodied beings, sin has marred the human experience holistically, not only crippling our relationship with God, but with our bodies as well. As a result, mental illness is a part of living in a broken world, but the gospel has not left us without hope. While we live in the presence of spiritual and physical brokenness, Christ has promised to redeem us, making right what has gone wrong, and that includes our bodies. In the meantime, we live in the tension of what God has already done in providing Jesus, and what he has promised to do in making all things new. And he has given us the gift of the Church and each other to help us as we walk in this world. Specifically, for those who may want specialized help, the Lord has provided counselors to assist us in the daily fight to grow in Jesus in the midst of both our spiritual and mental struggles.  Joining us on today's episode to discuss the role of counseling in the church are Jonathan Holmes and Brad Hambrick. Jonathan Holmes is the founder and executive director of Fieldstone Counseling in Northeast, Ohio. Before founding Fieldstone, he served as a pastor for 15 years. He graduated with his M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and has authored and contributed to a number of books.Brad Hambrick serves as the pastor of counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, N.C. He also serves as assistant professor of biblical counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, and has authored several books.

In a recent article published by The Atlantic, Jonathan Haidt, author “The Anxious Generation,” shares that rates of depression and anxiety in the United States rose by more than 50% in many studies from 2010 to 2019. The suicide rate rose 48% for adolescents ages 10 to 19. For girls ages 10 to 14, it rose 131%. He also notes how loneliness and friendlessness among American teens began to surge around 2012.  It's no surprise that social media use is tied to these staggering statistics. Romans 12:2 tell us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." As Christians who are called to a higher standard of living, how can we exercise discernment and wisdom when it comes to using social media? Joining us on today's episode to discuss technology and mental health is our colleague, Jason Thacker, the director of the ERLC's Research Institute and a senior fellow. You'll also hear from Eliza Huie, the director of counseling at McLean Bible Church located in the Washington D.C. metro area, and Megan Dickerson, a wife and mom who serves in the Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Pastoring and shepherding a church comes with both rewards and challenges. A recent Lifeway Research study shows that stress, discouragement, and loneliness are listed among the top mental challenges for pastors. Similarly, a recent Barna study shows that U.S. pastors, overall, are feeling lonelier and more isolated from others than in years past. While struggling with loneliness and burnout themselves, pastors are often the first ones people in their congregations turn to when they are struggling with mental health issues. What is attributing to these struggles? And how can we encourage pastors to prioritize their own mental health in order to be able to help their congregations?Joining us on today's episode is Mark Dance, director of pastoral wellness for Guidestone Financial Resources, and Kristen Kansiewicz, who serves as an assistant professor and program director of the graduate counseling program at Evangel University.

In recent years, the issue of mental health has been more widely recognized and talked about. Whereas it was stigmatized in the past—and still is in some ways— conversations within the Church are turning toward how to help those who struggle with their mental health and how our mental health affects our spiritual health. As an article we posted on erlc.com notes, “a report by Lifeway Research reveals that 26%  of U.S. Protestant pastors overall and 46% of pastors who are under 45 say they face mental health challenges. And more than half of the church leaders have witnessed members of their congregations suffering from conditions like depression and bipolar disorder​.” The Bible doesn't shy away from mental health, though it may not be described in those terms. Biblical figures such as David (Psa. 38:4), Job (Job 3:26), Elijah (1 Kings 19:4), and Jonah (Jonah 4:3) are shown dealing with feelings of despair, anger, depression, and loneliness. And Scripture is clear that we need to bear one another's burdens in community (Gal. 6:2) and be reminded of the hope we have in our Redeemer (Lam. 3:21). On today's episode our guests will address why mental health is an issue we're talking about, how it connects to the work of the ERLC, ways it's related to human dignity, and why it matters for Christians. You'll hear from Brent Leatherwood, the president of the ERLC, as well as RaShan Frost, a senior fellow of the Research Institute of the ERLC and a pastor. 

Since 2016, the name that has been synonymous with our current political environment is President Donald Trump. However, within the Trump administration is a name with which we should be familiar and should want to know more about: Vice President Mike Pence. In a special episode, we're featuring a conversation between Vice President Mike Pence and ERLC President Brent Leatherwood that we hosted at the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. They discuss Vice President Pence's journey into politics, the priority he places on his Christian faith and his family, and how we all can engage with hope in the public square.In a polarized political age, we hope you'll walk away encouraged to seek the good of your neighbors, engage in politics in a distinctly Christian way, and work together to be salt and light in our local communities, in our states, and in our nation. 

Are you tired of our country's partisan and divisive approach to politics? We are too. We believe there is a better way. Like you, we want our nation to be a place where the vulnerable are protected, religious liberty is defended, families can flourish, and the gospel is proclaimed. We believe that Christians have a critical role to play this year and every year in the public square. Today, in the second part of the discussion between ERLC President Brent Leatherwood and Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, they will provide further guidance for engaging the chaotic public square, discuss their issues of concern for this election cycle, and remind us of our anchor and hope as Christians. 

Are you weary as you think about politics in our country? Is it hard to know what to say and do during an election year as you lead your church, talk to your family, interact in your community, and go to the voting booth? We feel those tensions, too, and want to provide encouragement as you seek to bring a distinctly Christian hope to the public square. In a special two-part series, ERLC President Brent Leatherwood and Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, will discuss godly political engagement in a messy political landscape, give an overview of the issues we're watching in this election year and beyond, and talk about how to anchor our trust in Christ as we seek the good of our communities. 

The ERLC's Jason Thacker, Miles Mullin, and Alex Ward discuss the 40th anniversary of the book The Naked Public Square: Religion and Democracy in America by Richard John Neuhaus and how it can inform our understanding of bringing our faith into the public square. 

Political chaos and noisy rhetoric are hard to escape during an election season. So, it's no surprise that even well-meaning Christians get caught up in the fray. Some withdraw from political engagement, feeling as if their voices couldn't possibly be loud enough to make a difference. Others give in to the temptation to vilify those with whom they disagree. Neither is the most constructive way to use whatever measure of influence the Lord has given us to seek the welfare of our earthly home. As Christians, the way for us to engage is with the hope of Jesus Christ. On today's episode, our guests will help us figure out what that looks like on a practical level. You'll hear from Hunter Baker, the provost and dean of the faculty of North Greenville University, and from Shaka Mitchell, the Senior Fellow for the American Federation for Children.  You'll also hear from ERLC President Brent Leatherwood. 

Many of us sense that politics are contentious and messy. They often leave us feeling weary about the future of our country and its leaders. This was certainly the case in the 2020 presidential race. As our nation prepares for yet another presidential election in November, it's helpful for us to be aware of what's happening in our culture and have clear expectations for the season ahead so that, as Christians, we can be “salt and light” in our communities and engage politics with the hope of the gospel. On today's episode, you'll hear from Brooke Medina, who serves as vice president of communications for the John Locke Foundation and an ERLC Research Institute fellow.You'll also hear from Yuval Levin, the director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and Jason Thacker, the senior fellow and director of the research institute at the ERLC. 

Are you weary from the current state of American politics? Does the noisy rhetoric by some political candidates and the lack of meaningful action leave you tempted to retreat from political engagement altogether? Know you're not alone. Like you, we feel these tensions and want to explore ways that we can bring hope to the public square, together. And, we believe this starts in our own communities, which is why the ERLC produced an extensive state policy agenda for the first time this year, highlighting areas where you can make a difference in your community.On today's episode, you'll hear from our colleague, Hannah Daniel, the ERLC's director of public policy, about how you can get involved in bringing flourishing to your state and neighborhood. You'll also hear again from our friends Tony Beam, the senior director of Church & Community Engagement for North Greenville University, and Lane Wakefield, a professor at Baylor University and candidate for his local school board in Texas.

2024 is a big year for politics. If you ask any person you pass on the street why this is the case, their answer would likely be because of the presidential election; one that, sadly, looks like it will be a contentious repeat of 2020. And they wouldn't be wrong. Federal politics are important. But, most Americans don't give much thought to political issues beyond the national level. This causes us to miss out on the good we can effect at the state and local levels through political engagement. While it might not be as glamorous, popular, or as exciting as a national election, getting involved in the states, cities, and communities in which we live is more important than we might think. On today's episode you'll hear from Tony Beam, who is the senior director of Church & Community Engagement for North Greenville University in South Carolina. He represents South Carolina Baptists at the Statehouse in Columbia as director of the Office of Public Policy. Dr. Beam is also the host of the podcast, "Truth in Politics and Culture with Dr. Tony Beam." You will also hear from Lane Wakefield who is a clinical assistant professor of Marketing at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University. He's also a candidate for the school board in his community. 

Do you sense that American politics is in trouble? Are you frustrated by our inability, even as Christians, to dialogue and disagree across party lines and other differences? In 2019, the ERLC, the Fetzer Institute, and LifeWay Research conducted a study on civility in the public square. The study found that “the single most common adjective” evangelical leaders used to describe the current political discourse was “toxic.” Sadly, not much has changed over the last several years. At the ERLC, we feel the same tensions you feel. On the one hand, it'd be easy to throw up our hands and be done with politics altogether. On the other, we can be tempted to conform to the patterns of the world and adopt the same defensive posture in politics we see on social media and in the news. But, we, as Christians, believe there's a better way and that Scripture guides us in our political engagement—maybe not in the specifics of voting on a certain policy, but certainly, in our speech, how we treat others, and the things we care about. Together, we want to be Southern Baptists who engage in politics and bring hope to the public square. On today's episode, you'll learn what this means from Brent Leatherwood. Brent is the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He has extensive experience working in our nation's capital and in Tennessee politics. He and his wife are committed members of their local church and have three children. 

The reproductive medical technology known as in vitro fertilization, or IVF, has been in the news lately because of a crucial decision by the Alabama Supreme Court that clearly affirmed the personhood of human embryos. IVF is the procedure through which a woman's egg and a man's sperm are harvested and then fertilized outside of the womb. An embryo is created and implanted into the woman's womb in hopes of leading to a pregnancy. IVF has enabled many couples wrestling with infertility to realize their dream of bearing children. Many of us know people who have used this technology. Yet, because it can lead to the good gift of children, most of us have not given the procedure a second thought. On today's episode, Herbie Newell, president and executive director of Lifeline Children's Services and its ministry arms, is going to discuss a vital aspect of thinking carefully about IVF. Lifeline is located in Alabama and is intimately acquainted with helping couples grow their families through adoption and orphan care.

Psalm 139:14 says that each life is “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God. Out of all of his creation, Genesis tells us that human life alone is made in His image. Because of this truth, we bear a responsibility to help preserve and protect all lives. This is why the work of pregnancy resource centers across the country and abroad is vital. The individuals in these centers commit themselves to the work of proclaiming the dignity of preborn lives, doing all they can to give them a chance at life while serving the vulnerable women and families who walk through their doors. And it's also why partnership among Southern Baptists is essential. We can do more to protect life, together. On today's episode, you'll hear from a special guest, Karen Roseberry. She spent much of her life dedicated to serving both women and preborn children as the executive director of Care Net Women's Resource Center in Lancaster, California. Tragically, Karen lost her life in a car accident shortly after we conducted this interview, but the staff of Care Net encouraged us to share her words with you since this work was a great passion of her life.  Karen left a lasting impression everywhere she served and led many women to know Jesus as their Savior and choose life for their babies. She will be greatly missed, but the important work of the center continues onward as they work to provide free support and resources for women and families in their community. You'll also hear from Todd Unzicker who serves as executive director-treasurer for North Carolina Baptists. Todd is passionate about the local church and the Great Commission, and his vision for North Carolina Baptists is focused on rallying them to be a movement of churches on mission together.The ERLC podcast is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.It is produced by Lindsay Nicolet and Elizabeth Bristow.Technical production is provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

As part of the ERLC Podcast, we will feature special episodes from the Research team from time to time to help equip you to think deeply about the most pressing questions we face in the public square.  As we continue our series on life, the Research team is bringing you a special interview today with Scott Klusendorf, the author of The Case for Life. Scott is a respected pro-life speaker and advocate, best known for his work with the Life Training Institute which prepares Christians to be able to articulate and defend the pro-life movement with rational and theological arguments. He has participated in debates against abortion advocates such as the Planned Parenthood directors and attorneys who have argued for abortion access before the Supreme Court. Each year, he trains thousands of pro-life students how to share their beliefs with their classmates and helps them understand the common objections to ending abortion. We hope that this long-form interview will help you begin to understand that Christian pro-life advocacy must be rooted in the image of God and is an intellectually defensible and coherent worldview. Thanks for listening to this production of the ERLC Podcast. Join us next time as we focus on the ERLC's policy work, especially as it relates to life. 

We believe it's clear in God's Word that his perfect design is for many people to eventually unite as one man and one woman in a lifetime of marriage. That marriage, in many cases, leads to the blessing of children and establishes a family that glorifies God and benefits society. Unfortunately, in a fallen world, reality is messy. Marriage is put off and misunderstood. Families are broken and difficult. Infertility is faced far too often. And children are vulnerable and in need. That's where adoption and foster care comes in to provide care for these children and help them find the loving and safe families that they were made for. The need for these ministries, organizations, and for people to get involved has only grown since the Dobbs decision overturning a federal right to abortion. Joining us on this episode is Herbie Newell, someone who understands this reality more than most. He's the president & executive director of Lifeline Children's Services and its ministry arms. Under Herbie's leadership, Lifeline has increased international outreach to 25 countries through adoption and strategic orphan care, obtained licensure in 17 states, and established the foster care arm at Lifeline. The ERLC podcast is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.It is produced by Lindsay Nicolet and Elizabeth Bristow.Technical production is provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

The mission entrusted to the ERLC by the Southern Baptist Convention includes applying Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy and promoting religious liberty. One of the ways we do this is through our public policy advocacy, both in Washington, D.C., and throughout individual states. Every year, we compile and release a public policy agenda, highlighting the key pieces of federal legislation our staff is watching and working on within our four categories of priority: life, religious liberty, marriage and family, and human dignity.  More recently, we've also started assembling a state policy agenda, focusing on our cooperation with Baptist state conventions in advocating at the state level. On today's episode, you'll hear from Hannah Daniel, our director of public policy who is based in D.C., and Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC. They'll explain the importance of our policy agendas and highlight major pieces of legislation that matter to Southern Baptists. The ERLC podcast is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.It is produced by Lindsay Nicolet and Elizabeth Bristow.Technical production is provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

God's Word, from the very beginning, affirms the dignity of all human life. Genesis 1 tells us that at the end of the creation process, “God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' … 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This reveals to us that every person is made in the imago Dei, the image of God. And this means that every life, regardless of age, ability, or any other feature, has infinite value that cannot be taken away. The rest of the Bible unwaveringly affirms this truth. The pro-life movement is grounded in this reality and, most fundamentally, has sought to protect our tiniest citizens from the horrors of abortion. The culmination of this work was realized on  June 24, 2022, a historic day of celebration as the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the constitutional right to abortion and return abortion legislation back to the states. This was a long-time unifying goal of the pro-life movement. According to The New York Times, since the court's ruling, abortion access has dropped overall, with 21 states banning or restricting it and others reinforcing abortion protections.However, the fight for life and the mission of the pro-life movement is far from over, and there's still much work to be done on the local, state, and federal levels. New frontiers have arisen, with abortion tourism, or travel for abortions across state lines, and chemical abortions, or abortion pills, gaining momentum across our country. As we begin our series, we'll talk to several guests who will give us a clear picture of the current state of the pro-life movement since last year's historic Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. You'll hear from Benjamin Watson, a former NFL tight end, as well as a writer, speaker, and activist. He is the author of, “The New Fight for Life: Roe, Race, and a Pro-Life Commitment to Justice.” He serves as vice president of strategic relationships with the Human Coalition, one of the largest pro-life and pro-woman organizations in the country. Along with his wife, Kirsten, he is the founder of The Watson 7 Foundation, a nonprofit focused on strengthening families. The Watsons live in Georgia with their seven children.Also joining us is Herbie Newell, president & executive director of Lifeline Children's Services and its ministry arms. He holds a Master's of Business Administration in Accounting from Samford University. Under Herbie's leadership, Lifeline has increased international outreach to 25 countries through adoption and strategic orphan care, obtained licensure in 17 states, and established the foster care arm at Lifeline. Finally, you'll hear from Dr. Bart Barber, who is pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention.Our goal on the ERLC Podcast is to help you think biblically about today's cultural issues. As we discuss important topics that matter to Southern Baptists, you might have additional questions. We'd love to hear from you. Please e-mail us at erlcpodcast@erlc.com and let us know how you're processing the conversations featured on the podcast. And just a reminder, we want to make sure you are kept up to date about the important work the ERLC is doing on behalf of Southern Baptists. The best way to do that is by joining us at ERLC.com/updates. Signing up for email updates allows you to hear directly from us about our work and ways we are serving you on the issues that matter most to Southern Baptists. Become an email subscriber at ERLC.com/updates.The ERLC podcast is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.It is produced by Lindsay Nicolet and Elizabeth Bristow.Technical production is provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.Thanks for listening, and we're looking forward to being back together with you next time.

Throughout this series, we've been seeking biblical answers and practical wisdom to apply to questions of gender and sexuality swirling around in our culture, our churches, and in our hearts. It's been a joy to explore these issues with you and spur one another on to hold fast to Christ and love our neighbors. On this last episode in our series, we're going to focus more on pastors and how they can shepherd their people to better understand the biblical sexual ethic and how to apply that to their daily lives. As we discuss these important topics, you might have additional questions. We'd love to hear from you. Please e-mail us at erlcpodcast@erlc.com and let us know how you're processing this conversation. Joining us on today's podcast is Dr. Bart Barber. Bart is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Bart has a B.A. from Baylor University in their University Scholars program, an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Ph.D. in Church History, also from Southwestern. You'll also hear from Matt McCullough, pastor of Edgefield Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Before joining Edgefield, Matt helped to plant Trinity Church near Vanderbilt University and served as pastor there for 10 years. He completed a Ph.D. in American religious history. Matt and his wife are the parents of three boys.

We began our gender and sexuality series by examining what the Bible teaches us about these important topics. And as we close out this series with two more episodes, we're going to concentrate on the Church and how pastors and leaders can disciple their members to wrestle with and hold fast to God's good design for us. Because gender confusion has disproportionately affected younger generations, we'll spend a lot of time today focusing on discipling those at the forefront this ideological assault. As we discuss these important topics, you might have additional questions. We'd love to hear from you. Please e-mail us at erlcpodcast@erlc.com and let us know how you're processing this conversation. Joining us on today's episode are several of our former guests: Katie McCoy, the director of women's ministry at Texas Baptists; Steven and Amy Castello from City on a Hill Church in Boston, where Steven is the lead pastor and Amy is the director for women's discipleship and care; and Christopher Yuan, a professor and the creator of “The Holy Sexuality Project.”You'll also hear from Dr. Dub Oliver. Dr. Oliver is the president of Union University, a Southern Baptist college. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Baylor University, Master of Science degree in educational psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational administration from Texas A&M. Dr. Oliver and his wife, Susie, have one daughter and two grandchildren. 

On our previous episode about gender and sexuality, we looked at the family and how parents can approach these important topics with their children. Today, we're turning our attention to an issue that has caused anxiety for some parents: gender and sexuality in schools and how to direct our children as they are confronted with teaching and examples that contradict what the Bible says. As we discuss these important topics, you might have additional questions. We'd love to hear from you. Please e-mail us at erlcpodcast@erlc.com and let us know how you're processing this conversation. Joining us on today's episode is Shaka Mitchell. Shaka serves as a Senior Fellow for the American Federation for Children. He is also an elder at his local church.  He has previously served as Associate Director of Policy and Planning at the D.C.-based Center for Education Reform and led outreach efforts at the Institute for Justice, a constitutional law firm based in Arlington, Virgina. He is an alumnus of Belmont University where he teaches as an adjunct faculty member. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the Wake Forest University School of Law. Shaka and his wife live in Nashville with their children and are active in several non-profit organizations.

So far in our gender and sexuality series, we've learned what the Bible teaches about God's design, we've traced the sexual revolution in our society, and we've heard a powerful testimony of honoring God in the midst of a struggle with sexual sin. Today, we're going to talk about the family. As we discuss these important topics, you might have additional questions. We'd love to hear from you. Please e-mail us at erlcpodcast@erlc.com and let us know how you're processing this conversation. On this episode, Steven and Amy Castello are going to help us think through some important aspects of teaching our kids God's intent for gender and sexuality. Steven is the Lead Pastor and planter for City on a Hill Church in Boston, MA. He previously planted Immanuel Church in Birmingham, AL, before moving to Boston. Steven holds an undergraduate degree from Samford University and a M.Div from Birmingham Theological Seminary. Amy is the Director for Women's Discipleship and Care for City on a Hill Church. She also serves as the Spouse Care Advocate for a non-profit in Boston called “For Greater Boston”. Amy has served in the local church, discipling and counseling women since 2009. Steven and Amy are parents to four daughters who are in middle school and high school. You'll also hear briefly from our friend Katie McCoy.

So far in this series, we've learned what the Bible teaches about gender and sexuality, how the fall affects our perception of ourselves and God, and what role the sexual revolution played in where we are today as a culture. Today, we will hear an incredible testimony from a man who has learned to honor God with his sexuality. We're also going to hear how we can respond when someone we love struggles with sexual sin and gender confusion. Joining us on the podcast today for the first time is Christopher Yuan. You'll also hear again from our friend Katie McCoy, the director of women's ministry at Texas Baptists.   Dr. Christopher Yuan is a writer, speaker, and the creator of The Holy Sexuality Project, a first-of-its-kind video series designed to help parents and grandparents empower their teens to understand, embrace, and celebrate biblical sexuality. Christopher graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005, received a master's in biblical exegesis in 2007 and a doctorate of ministry in 2014. He has taught the Bible at Moody for over a decade.We would love to hear from you about how you're processing this conversation and what questions you're facing related to issues of gender and sexuality. You can e-mail us at erlcpodcast@erlc.com. 

On Oct. 7, we woke up to the news that Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,400 people in what has been referred to as Israel's 9/11. In the days following, we have seen the horrendous images, heard the horrifying stories, and learned more about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. To help us understand these events and how we can think clearly about them is Paul D. Miller. Dr. Miller is a professor in the Practice of International Affairs at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He serves as co-chair of the Global Politics and Security concentration in the MSFS program. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council and a research fellow with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Dr. Miller previously served in the US Army (including a tour in Afghanistan), as an analyst with the CIA, and as Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council staff. We'll also talk with ERLC President Brent Leatherwood about the Evangelical Statement in Support of Israel and how Southern Baptists should continue to respond to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Here is Dr. Miller's most recent article at The Dispatch on the Israeli-Hamas war: "To Stand With the Palestinians, Support Israel Against Hamas"