ERLC - The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

As a state convention of more than 2,000 churches, Mississippi Baptists are seeking to equip local churches to make disciples in Mississippi and around the world. From college campuses to prison systems to communities experiencing poverty, they are taking opportunities to share the hope of the gospel in every corner of Mississippi.

Today, ERLC President Dr. Evan Lenow sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche, congratulating him on his recent confirmation and urging consideration of Southern Baptist priorities as he leads the Department of Justice (DOJ). In the letter, Dr. Lenow covered three areas: Religious freedom: Dr. Lenow commended the DOJ for its recently updated religious liberty guidance, which applies to all federal agencies and executive branch departments.

Several years ago, Dr. Mark Liederbach, senior professor of ethics, theology, and culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Dr. Evan Lenow, president of the ERLC, collaborated on a book titled “Ethics as Worship: The Pursuit of Moral Discipleship,” which released in 2021.

Michigan has become an abortion destination in recent years, changing the landscape of pro-life ministry across the state. As abortion access has expanded, the Bay Area Baptist Association in Michigan, led by associational mission strategist David Roberts, and other Michigan Baptists have recognized one way to counter abortion is to strengthen pregnancy resource centers that save preborn lives.

This week, ERLC President Dr. Evan Lenow signed a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche urging him to enforce the Comstock Act. This letter, organized by Advancing American Freedom, calls on the Department of Justice to correctly interpret the statute and effectively bar the mailing of chemical abortion drugs.

Our nation’s 250th anniversary was a momentous occasion. To celebrate America’s founding and Christianity’s influence throughout her history, we hosted an event on Monday night of this year’s SBC Annual Meeting, featuring a keynote and a panel based on the ERLC’s newest collection of essays titled “One Nation Under God: Reflections on 250 Years of Faith and Democracy”.

On Aug. 5, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will be marking up a slate of online safety and technology bills intended to protect kids online, including two bills supported by the ERLC. The CHATBOT Act (S. 4407), introduced by Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX), would require children under the age of 13 to have chatbot accounts monitored by parents under a family plan, allowing parents to set the safety settings of their child’s interactions with a chatbot.

In our current, independence-driven culture that finds its greatest meaning in satisfying the self, the smallest members of our society are often pushed to the side. Today, many view children as an affront to personal autonomy, merely as depletions of our time, energy, and resources. This forces us to ask, is this an accurate perspective? How should we view these little human beings who need extra time and care? Are children an inconvenience or a blessing?

On June 30, the Supreme Court issued its final decisions of the 2025–2026 term, many of which were monumental and established new precedent for American courts. The ERLC engaged five cases within our purview by signing onto amicus briefs, resourcing churches on the implications of these weighty cases with issues of moral importance, and working with coalition partners to support their efforts in safeguarding fundamental rights.

On Monday night of this year’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, the ERLC hosted a packed dinner event in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary. During the event, the room was greeted by Dr. Evan Lenow during his second week as ERLC president, in addition to hearing a keynote address and a panel.