With origins dating back to 1908, the ERLC and its previous forms, represent a concerted effort on the part of Southern Baptists to bring the Gospel to bear on issues of moral importance in culture.
Southern Baptists have been clear that living consistent with God’s Word is the true path to flourishing. In particular, the ERLC focuses on four main areas where the organization wants to bring the truth to bear on public policy: life, religious liberty, marriage and family, and human dignity.
Each legislative priority taken up by the ERLC is done so in alignment with Scripture and the Baptist Faith & Message and is guided by the resolutions passed at Southern Baptists’ annual meetings. In determining these priorities, the ERLC also takes into account what issues are most pressing or being considered by lawmakers at the given time.
For example, during the 117th and 118th Congress, there has been a concerted effort to undo religious liberty protections currently provided in federal law through bills like the Equality Act. As a result, the ERLC has opposed numerous efforts to include exemptions to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in legislation, which would have a ripple effect and result in massive limitations to religious liberty protections currently provided in federal law. By opposing these measures, the ERLC seeks to protect the religious liberty of every Southern Baptist and each Southern Baptist church to faithfully live out Scripture without fear of retaliation from the federal government.
In this process, the ERLC reviews said legislation, works with coalition partners and legal counsel to assess any potential concerns and questions of subject matter expertise. The ERLC then determines if such legislation is sufficiently within the ERLC’s ministry assignment and supported by SBC resolutions that provide clarity on what the convention has directed the ERLC to do. In many instances, the ERLC has declined to support legislation or take up other priorities because they did not sufficiently meet these standards.
The ERLC’s current legislative priorities, as outlined in its 2024 Public Policy Agenda, are available at erlc.com/policy.
Visit erlc.com/faqs for more answers to frequently asked questions.
