What is ERLC and Why Does it Matter?
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission exists to assist your church by helping you understand the moral demands of the gospel, apply Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy, and to promote religious liberty in cooperation with churches and other Southern Baptist entities.
Featured
Addressing Gambling In the Church
The primary purpose of this church guide is to come alongside pastors and other church leaders to help them as they provide spiritual guidance to their members regarding gambling and its related vices.
ERLC’s New Research on ART
This practical guide to addressing reproductive technologies is to assist Southern Baptist churches in navigating this complex and emotionally fraught issue from an explicitly Christian, pro-life framework.
2026 Sanctity of Human Life
Every life is valuable and deserves to be protected. This collection of resources will equip and educate for conversations regarding the sanctity of human life.
Articles and Issues
Opposing Marijuana Legalization
Even as Oklahoma Baptists continue to provide ministry for those facing substance addictions, we have spoken out strongly against the legalization of recreational marijuana, warning the drugs leave “neighborhoods and schools vulnerable for exploitation.”
Sanctity of Life Sunday
As Southern Baptists, we have strongly held beliefs, grounded in Scripture, regarding the sanctity and value of all human life. We believe every person’s life, from conception to natural death, is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27).
Ethical and Theological Considerations
Scripture clearly speaks to the dignity and value of every human being, no matter their location or capacities (Genesis 1:26-28, Exodus 20:13, Joshua 20:3-6, Psalm 139:13, Proverbs 6:16-17, Luke 1:41). This value is not dependent on what one does or contributes but simply on the fact that they are made by God as biological human beings on whom God bestows value.
Ways Christians Can Confront the Assisted Suicide Movement
As Christians, we need to uphold policies and values that do no harm and oppose the ideas and efforts of the assisted suicide movement with sound, biblically based wisdom and arguments.
Rose Day
Each year, hundreds gather at the Capitol at the beginning of the new legislative session to promote and support the lives of unborn babies by meeting with their state senators and representatives and presenting them red roses, which represent the sanctity of the unborn.
Reasons Taxpayers should Defund Planned Parenthood
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has initiated a strategic effort to leverage politicians to defund Planned Parenthood by eliminating the organization’s federal funding. Here are seven reasons why every taxpayer, especially Southern Baptists, should support efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.
Foster Care Grants
Through the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptist churches, we are able to offer grants for foster care ministry in our state, showing the compassionate love of Got to children and families in need.
Don’t Bet On It
We can no longer ignore the high cost of legalized sports betting and gambling addictions. Whether talking about policymakers considering the approval of sports betting, or talking to young people allured by sports betting, our message needs to be clear: Don’t bet on it. There is a better way.
ERLC Podcasts
2025-2026 Committee Members
Charlie Blount
Tristan Martin
Aileen Sadler
Emberly Kincer
Luke Sills
Jim Westmoreland
Jim Paslay
Jeremy Smith
Mitzi Woodson
ERLC Liaison
Brian Hobbs
Oklahoma City, OK
Ex Officio Board Members
Dr. Todd Fisher
Executive Director-Treasurer
Oklahoma Baptists
Owen Nease
President, Oklahoma Baptists
OKC, Emmaus
Contact Your Legislator
Gather phone numbers, email addresses and other information about Oklahoma legislators on the Web at http://www.oklegislature.gov/. A directory of Representatives and Senators from any legislator’s office is available at the capital.
CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR
If Internet access is unavailable, call:
The House switchboard at:
(405) 521-2711or (800) 522-8502
The Senate switchboard at: (405) 524-0126
Should you write, fax or email a Representative or Senator:
(Your legislator’s name)
Oklahoma State Senate or House
State Capitol Building
2300 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
In order to be effective in influencing legislation, the right people must be contacted in the right way.
Always be polite and identify:
- who you are
- where you live
- your address
- your phone number
Do this for every form of communication you use – a call, fax or email without this information will be ignored by most legislators. Never cover more than one bill at a time, and be brief, but polite. You may contact a legislature by phone, fax, email or mail, but it is best to use three methods of communication. By contacting a legislator and key people, (such as committee chairs and members and conferees) a powerful message is sent that a certain bill or issue is important to Oklahomans. Remember, a non-voter or person who lives outside the legislator’s district carries less weight than a voter who lives in the district, but all communication is important. If the line is busy… do not give up.