The 3 - January 26, 2025

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a look at action taken by President Trump during the first few days of his new Administration, including the issuing of an Executive Order restoring the traditional understanding of gender to federal entities and the pardoning of almost two dozen pro-life protestors who were jailed by the previous Administration. And, the attempt to reduce the distribution channels for the abortion pill took a positive step forward with a judge's decision.

President issues Executive Order on gender identity

Within his first three days after taking the oath of office last Monday, President Trump wasted no time in issuing a variety of executive orders.  According to Liberty University's Standing for Freedom Center, topics of actions the President took included...

...religious liberty; free speech; the pro-life movement; border security and national defense; increasing public safety; restoring biological reality; protecting women and girls; eliminating woke ideologies like critical race theory (CRT), diversity, equity, and inclusion policies (DEI), and LGBTQ pride from federal policies; reining in government abuse and weaponization; and unleashing the power of energy and the free markets.

The President followed through on his inaugural declaration that only two genders would be reflected in federal law.  The website notes:

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order called, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government,” which states that the federal government will only recognize two sexes, male and female, and that these sexes are unchangeable.

The order mandates that government-issued identification accurately reflects a person’s sex, not gender. It will also correct the Biden administration’s application of Bostock v. Clayton County to Title IX and protect sex-based distinctions; assess grant funding to ensure taxpayer funds are not used to promote gender ideology; ensure that males are not housed in women’s prisons or detention facilities; enact a policy protecting women seeking safety at a women’s rape shelter; ensure that intimate spaces are designated by sex and not identity; protects the right to express the binary nature of sex and right to single-sex spaces; and ensures that federal funds are not used to perform gender transitions on prisoners.

Trump announces pardons for 23 pro-life protestors

Actions taken by government against pro-life protestors were reversed by an Executive Order by the President, according to The Daily Wire, "pardoning 23 of the pro-life activists targeted by President Joe Biden’s Justice Department." The piece quotes the President saying, in the process of signing that order, “They should not have been prosecuted...Many of them are elderly people. They should not have been prosecuted. This is a great honor to sign this.”

The article noted that these individuals "...were prosecuted under the FACE Act and a Reconstruction-era felony conspiracy charge first used for the first time against pro-life activists by the Biden administration."  FACE stands for Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, and legislation has been introduced into Congress to eliminate it. 

The Thomas More Society represented 21 of the 23, and the article quotes Senior Counsel Steve Crampton, who said, “Today, freedom rings in our great nation,” adding, “The heroic peaceful pro-lifers unjustly imprisoned by Biden’s Justice Department will now be freed and able to return home to their families, eat a family meal, and enjoy the freedom that should have never been taken from them in the first place.”

Challenge to abortion pill distribution moves forward

The area of chemical abortion has become a leading way in which women take the lives of their unborn children.  Thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ladies can order abortion pills in the mail and administer them in their home without a doctor present.  A lawsuit filed against the FDA was turned back last year by the U.S. Supreme Court, noting that the pro-life doctors and organizations bringing the suit were not eligible to sue. 

But, three states claim that they themselves do have this eligibility, or "standing."  As Liberty Counsel reports:

... a federal judge ruled that Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho can move forward with their lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that could restrict future access to the abortion drug Mifepristone. The states argue that the FDA’s deregulation of Mifepristone allows the drug to cross their borders and undermine their abortion laws. The ruling denied the FDA’s request to dismiss the case and granted the states more time to amend and strengthen their complaint.

Liberty Counsel notes that the lawsuit represents a "transition" from that previous suit that was dismissed by the high court. It notes: "The new lawsuit, which continues to be amended, could end up back at the Supreme Court in the future. The states assert they have the legal standing to sue the FDA because its relaxed restrictions involving a dangerous drug like Mifepristone puts lives and health at risk and undermines state pro-life laws protecting women, girls, and unborn children."

The judge issuing this decision is U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who in 2023, according to Liberty Counsel...

...presided over the original abortion pill case from the pro-life doctors and determined that the FDA shouldn’t have approved Mifepristone for public use in 2000 and voided its approval. He noted the agency approved the abortion pill under political pressure, its safety studies were improperly conducted, and that the FDA’s regulatory decisions allowing them to be prescribed via telemedicine, sent by mail, and dispensed at retail pharmacies were unlawful. While the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld his ruling, the Supreme Court vacated the injunction allowing all of the FDA’s deregulation actions to stay in effect.

The 3 - January 19, 2025

On this edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a report on how ministries have been involved in providing help and support for victims of the fires in the Los Angeles area and how some ministries have been affected.  Also, a bill that would prevent biological males from competing in female sports has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.  And, a Christian employers' group has sued the EEOC regarding its attempts to force Christian employers to violate their faith convictions by requiring accommodations for employees who are LGBT.

L.A. fires continue to wreak havoc, Christian ministries affected

While a variety of Christian ministries are involved in helping the victims of the fires that have been affecting the greater Los Angeles area, some ministries find themselves in or close to harm's way.  Recently, Tom Thompson, Senior Vice President of World Help was on The Meeting House on Faith Radio, discussing how his ministry was working in partnership with the Dream Center, which is located in L.A., to provide relief for fire victims.  A recent National Religious Broadcasters article highlighted the work of Operation Blessing, as well as Samaritan's Purse, which is working in tandem with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.

Joni Eareckson Tada, CEO and Founder of Joni and Friends, who is heard regularly on Faith Radio, according to the article...

...released two special episodes of her radio broadcast, Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope, to address the devasting fires in Los Angeles. She shared about her own experience evacuating, as well as the unique challenges of people with disabilities in emergency situations. Tada and her husband Ken are safely back home, but so many have lost everything. Tada encouraged listeners to continue praying...

Jay Flowers, COO of Grace to You, the media ministry of John MacArthur said that while the ministry's headquarters were safe, the church which Dr. MacArthur pastors, Grace Community Church, had experienced an effect; he said: “Sadly, multiple members of Grace Community Church, where Grace to You Bible teacher John MacArthur serves as pastor, with its campus located closer to the fires, lost their homes,” adding, “Our congregation has been activated to help meet immediate needs related to the fires.”

And, the article quotes Pastor Jack Hibbs from a press conference that was presented on the Real Life Network: “We need to pray for salvation and the church’s opportunity to love on Los Angeles like never before..."

Bill to prevent males from competing in female sports passes U.S. House

Another step forward in preventing males from competing in female sports occurred in the U.S. House last week - as CBN News reports:

The House passed a bill on Tuesday requiring all federally-funded schools to defend the safety and the rights of women and girls.

The measure, also known as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, would restrict women's sports to those who are born female.

The bill makes it a violation of Title IX rules to allow transgender females – those who are born male – to take part in women's athletics. It covers most middle schools, high schools, and colleges.

House Speaker Mike Johnson commented: "This comports with commonsense," adding, "It's biology. And biology is not bigotry as we say. Anyone who would accuse the supporters of this legislation otherwise is ill-informed. This is to protect women and girls. It's very clear."

On the Alliance Defending Freedom website, ADF CEO, President, and General Counsel Kristen Waggoner is quoted - she said, in part: "The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act reaffirms the vital protections for women’s sports guaranteed by Title IX, ensuring that women and girls truly have equal athletic opportunities. As we continue to witness increasing incidents nationwide of males dominating girls’ athletic competitions, it is imperative to affirm that biology, not identity, is what matters in athletics."

Christian employers' group pushes back on attempts to force companies to favor LGBT

A new rule issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would force religious groups to adopt practices favorable to LGBT individuals, and the Christian Employers Alliance has teamed up with Alliance Defending Freedom to file a lawsuit challenging the rule.  According to a Center Square article published at Worthy News, the lawsuit states:

“This mandate, published in agency ‘guidance’ and on its website, threatens employers with large penalties if they do not use employees’ self selected pronouns based on gender identity, and if they do not allow males to access female single-sex restrooms, locker rooms, and lactation rooms..."

ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman is quoted as saying: “The employers we represent believe that God purposefully created humans as either male or female, and so it would violate their religious beliefs and free speech to force them to affirm an identity that is not aligned with a person’s sex." He went on to say: “They also believe in the sanctity of human life, and forcing them to promote abortions adds insult to injury. We are urging the court to, once again, uphold the religious freedom of these employers from attacks by the outgoing Biden administration..."

The article also points out:

The same lawsuit argues that recent changes to the interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act “prevents employers from speaking their pro-life beliefs, requires employers to knowingly give employees special leave, including paid leave, to obtain abortions, and precludes employers from enforcing life-affirming workplace policies against employees who engage in conduct contrary to those policies.”

The 3 - January 12, 2025

In this most recent edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a report on a judge's decision that, in essence, stops the advance of the Biden administration attempts to force a Title IX rewrite to offer protection not just on biological sex for females, but for "gender identity," i.e., males who present as female.  Also, in Florida, it has been found that abortion proponents involved in the petition drive to get a pro-abortion amendment on the November ballot actually, well, cheated, and will pay the price in the form of fines and possible prison time. And, in a reversal, a Georgia college and seminary will now be allowed to participate in a state financial aid program 

Federal judge obliterates Title IX rewrite

It was the #8 topic of 2024 from The Meeting House program - it was relevant to the Christian community because the action itself was a violation of God's created order: an attempt to expand federal protections under Title IX, meant to provide greater opportunities for women, as in biology, to also include gender identity. 

Multiple courts have placed enforcement of new regulations by the U.S. Department of Education on hold, and just recently, the official in charge of the department had already announced that the government would no longer try to expand the rules to allow males to participate in female sports. So, Title IX was in trouble, and a federal judge has dealt the death blow shortly before a new administration takes office.

FoxNews.com reports that:

A federal judge in Kentucky blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to redefine sex in Title IX as "gender identity," striking down the change nationwide.

The U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky Northern Division made the ruling in Cardona v. Tennessee on Thursday.

The article notes:

The ruling came months after the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s emergency request to enforce portions of a new rule that would have included protections from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX.

The sweeping rule was issued in April and clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions."

According to the Fox report, the court stated, "When Title IX is viewed in its entirety, it is abundantly clear that discrimination on the basis of sex means discrimination on the basis of being a male or female...As this Court and others have explained, expanding the meaning of ‘on the basis of sex’ to include ‘gender identity’ turns Title IX on its head."

Group attempting to place pro-abortion amendment on Florida ballot ordered to pay fine

Not only did the attempt by pro-abortion advocates to secure a three-fifths vote of Florida voters in order to amend the state's constitution to contain language allowing abortion throughout a woman's pregnancy, but it will be a costly effort - monetarily and perhaps legally. 

The Christian Post reported:

The group behind the unsuccessful effort to enshrine a right to abortion in the Florida Constitution has paid more than $186,000 in fines in connection with fraudulent signature-gathering activity as investigations into alleged wrongdoing continue.

In a Dec. 20, 2024, memo, Florida Deputy Secretary of State for Legal Affairs and Election Integrity Brad McVay informed state leaders about ongoing investigations into "initiative petition fraud."

Furthermore, regarding this group, called, Floridians Protecting Freedom, the article notes, "Several paid circulators who submitted petitions on behalf of FPF were arrested in early 2024, and at least three were convicted and sentenced to prison terms. The report added that a much larger number of individuals have been referred for criminal investigation for fraudulent activity."

Christian college/seminary in Atlanta can participate in state financial aid program

We have seen cases in which religious entities - for instance, Christian schools - have been prevented from participating in state programs just because they are religious in nature.  The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of religious institutions in the past facing this type of discrimination.

Ministry Watch reports:

Luther Rice College and Seminary has reached a settlement agreement with the State of Georgia that allows its students to participate in the state’s financial aid programs.

Georgia offers a financial aid program to help cover the cost of tuition for undergraduate programs at colleges and universities in the state, including at private and religious institutions.

However, it had a provision that excluded schools of theology and divinity.

A lawsuit was filed by Alliance Defending Freedom in October, and in December, it was announced that the school would be allowed to participate in the program.  The article relates:

According to a news release by ADF, the state has now agreed to let Luther Rice students participate in the financial aid program.

“Georgia officials did the right thing by allowing Luther Rice to participate in student aid programs while still adhering to its religious beliefs, character, and exercise,” ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker said in the press release.

Tucker also stated: “We’re pleased that Georgia high school students can now receive dual credit by taking classes at Luther Rice and that college students who choose Luther Rice can apply for much-needed financial aid. The state should never limit educational opportunities for students based on their faith..."

The 3 - January 5, 2025

This edition of The 3, highlighting three stories impacting the Christian community, includes the response of Christian leaders to the devastating events in New Orleans the morning of January 1st.  Also there is a continued opportunity an Ohio church has to serve the homeless in its community, thanks to a state appeals court. And, a federal appeals court has rendered a positive ruling on behalf of Christian organizations challenging a New York law that threatens their ability to hire people with beliefs consistent with their Christian faith.

National, local Christian leaders respond to New Orleans tragedy

The day following the tragic events of the morning of New Year's Day in New Orleans, church leaders were on the streets of the city in prayer.  Baptist Press reported:

Southern Baptist pastors and chaplaincy leaders were among clergy who joined city elected officials in the 10-block procession at noon Jan. 2.

The article mentioned that "Vieux Carre’ Baptist Church Pastor Alex Brian, who participated in the prayerwalk, was awaiting the opportunity to check on his church’s meeting location" on Thursday - the church is located a block from a portion of Bourbon Street closed to pedestrians.

Baptist Press went on to say:

Brian is praying for and supporting chaplains in the locked-down area, including those under the command of Col. Page Brooks, state command chaplain for the Louisiana National Guard and pastor of Canal Street Mosaic Community Church, a Southern Baptist congregation that collaborates with Brian on various ministry outreaches.

The National Guard deployed 100 soldiers and two chaplains in response to the attack, said Brian, who was walking the streets of the French Quarter to provide counseling and check on soldiers and first responders when he spoke with Baptist Press.

Former Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter, Senior Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, was also part of the prayerwalk, noted, "...our entire city has been impacted because of this terrorist attack." He added that, "...prayers for our city and the families who lost loved ones are truly needed."

On Saturday, Family Research Council announced that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who is a resident of Louisiana and former state representative, would be hosting a one-hour broadcast called, "Pray for the Nation"  

Christian leaders due to participate included: Pastor Carter Conlon, Pastor Jack Hibbs, Michele Bachmann, Dr. David Goza, Troy Miller, and Pastor Art Reyes. Mike Clark, who is a chaplain with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and has been doing ministry in New Orleans was also part of the lineup. That event was scheduled for Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Perkins, Conlon, and Hibbs are Faith Radio programmers.  Goza is President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Miller is President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, and Reyes is Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Downey, California. 

OH church devoted to serving the homeless allowed to remain open

Dad's Place, a church in Bryan, Ohio pastored by Chris Avell, has been in and out of court as the result of its desire to serve the homeless of its area, remaining open so that people will have a warm, safe place to rest.  For this, Pastor Avell has been arrested and the church has run the risk of having to cease these services.

A key decision has been handed down by an Ohio appeals court, according to the website of First Liberty, which is representing the church in court action. 

The Court of Appeals of Ohio, Sixth Appellate District, stayed an injunction against the church "pending appeal." Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel for First Liberty, stated: “We are grateful to the court for recognizing the weighty issues of Constitutional law and temporarily pausing the city’s aggressive campaign against Dad’s Place. Without this decision by the Court of Appeals, as the judges explained, the city would ‘prohibit Dad’s Place from practicing what it maintains is an important part of its religious beliefs for several months.’ America is better with people like Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place, who compassionately open their doors to people who have nowhere else to go, keeping them from freezing on the snowy sidewalks.”

The appeals court wrote, according to First Liberty, "[G]ranting a stay of the preliminary injunction would preserve the status quo and permit Dad’s Place to continue to exercise its professed religious beliefs during the pendency of its appeal..."

Federal appeals court uphold right of faith-based organizations to hire people who embrace their ideals

The state of New York has a law that, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom website, "...required employers—including churches, religious schools, faith-based pregnancy care centers, and religious nonprofits—to undermine their own beliefs about abortion, contraception, and sexual morality by forcing them to employ those who cannot effectively convey the groups’ message because they refuse to abide by the organizations’ statements of faith and core principles about such issues."

ADF challenged the law on behalf of three Christian ministries: " CompassCare, a faith-based pregnancy center in Rochester; First Bible Baptist Church; and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, an association of pro-life pregnancy centers."

In 2023, ADF reported: "ADF attorneys asked a federal district court to rule that New York’s SB 660 violates the groups’ freedom of speech, religion, and association. The court declined to do so in full, which led to the appeal, though the court did rule that a requirement that the law be communicated to employees in employee handbooks was unconstitutional."

Last week, according to the ADF website, the "U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled...to reinstate an expressive association claim seeking to affirm the freedom of faith-based pregnancy centers and churches to employ individuals who agree with their fundamental beliefs and missions."