Tom Strode Stories

International

China asserts more control over clergy through new rules

Regulations issued this year by China have intensified the communist government’s control of clergy among the five state-authorized religious groups and have effectively prohibited the work of pastors and leaders of unregistered churches and other entities, according to a new report.
Ethics

Lankford saves Hyde amendment with late-night move

Opponents of taxpayer funding of abortion gained an encouraging victory in the U.S. Senate, Aug. 10, to the satisfaction of the Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity.
Ethics

Appeals court upholds Tennessee waiting-period law

Pro-life leaders and Tennessee officials commended a federal appeals court opinion Thursday (Aug. 5) that upheld a state law requiring a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion.
Ethics

Appeals court protects church freedom in employment decisions

Religious freedom advocates praised a federal appeals court opinion that protects the freedom of churches and other religious groups in the face of government interference in employment decisions.
Policy

Senate acts to stymie China’s genocide of Uyghurs

The U.S. Senate approved an import ban on goods made by forced labor in western China on the same day global religious freedom advocates brought attention to the Communist Party’s genocidal campaign primarily against Uyghur Muslims in the region.
Ethics

High court rejects florist, gives hope to Maine parents

Barronelle Stutzman’s lengthy legal effort to operate a florist shop in Washington state according to her Christian convictions came to an end, July 2, at the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the high court said it would review another case regarding a Maine tuition-assistance program that excludes schools providing faith-based instruction.
National

ERLC presidential search committee named

A search committee has been named to find a successor to Russell Moore as president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
National

SBC messengers affirm resolutions addressing racial reconciliation, Hyde Amendment, Equality Act

Messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting approved a broad resolution on the Bible’s sufficiency regarding race and racial reconciliation, June 15, but chose not to explicitly address the contentious issue of critical race theory. Among nine resolutions passed, messengers also endorsed statements on the Hyde Amendment and Equality Act.
Ethics

Court upholds freedom of foster-care agency

The U.S Supreme Court unanimously delivered an important victory for religious liberty, June 17, by upholding a faith-based adoption and foster-care agency’s right to carry out its ministry according to its beliefs.
Ethics

Biden’s proposed budget excludes Hyde Amendment

The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity and other pro-life organizations are urging Congress to restore long-standing bans on federal funding of abortion that President Biden excluded from his proposed budget.
Ethics

States on record pace to enact pro-life laws

Already in 2021, a total of 13 states have placed into law 61 abortion restrictions, including eight bans on the procedure, according to a report issued April 30 by the Guttmacher Institute. The number of laws restricting abortion far surpasses the previous record for the first four months of a year – which was 42, including six bans, in 2011, the institute reported.
Policy

SBC leaders praise high court ruling on at-home meetings

Southern Baptist leaders and other religious liberty advocates applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s latest decision supporting the free exercise of religion in the face of government restrictions related to COVID-19.

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