NC Baptist leaders urge veto override on 12-week abortion ban; Sills refiles suit in TN: Legal Digest, Religious liberty of California churches upheld; 4 things to consider when seeking a seminary

The heads of North Carolina’s largest Protestant group and the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention have sent a joint letter to N.C. lawmakers encouraging them to override an impending gubernatorial veto of recently passed legislation that would ban most abortions in the state after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Last week, state lawmakers passed the Republican-backed legislation in party-line votes in both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly. The measure – which would ban most abortions after 12 weeks instead of the state’s current ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy – was sent to Cooper for consideration after passing the N.C. Senate 29-20 on Thursday, May 4. One day earlier, the House of Representatives passed the measure 71-46.

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, immediately vowed to veto the bill, but Republicans have enough seats in the General Assembly to override the governor’s veto. Cooper needs every Democrat and at least one Republican in the House or Senate to vote to uphold his veto and stop the bill from becoming law.

In separate California lawsuits, judges have ruled the California Department of Managed Health Care was wrong in forcing four churches from declining elective abortion coverage in their health insurance plans.

ADF attorney Jeremiah Galus called the decision a win for religious liberty, “The government can’t force a church or any other religious employer to violate their faith and conscience by participating in funding abortion,” Galus said. “For years, California officials, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, have unconstitutionally targeted faith-based organizations.”

ADF represented Skyline Wesleyan Church, located in the San Diego area, in one federal lawsuit, and Foothill Church in Glendora, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino, and The Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch in the other.

The court ordered the churches be paid $1.4 million to cover legal expenses. 

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Know someone who’s considering seminary? In the Baptist Press Toolbox, Pastor H.B. Charles offers four tips to remember when considering theological education.

First, seminaries don’t make pastors and preachers. Charles stresses this is a calling of God.

Second, if you go, go to a Bible-believing school.

Third, whether you go to school, be a life long learner. Charles writes, “True leaders are learners. Even if school is not for you now, keep studying. We really have no excuses these days for ignorance.”

Fourth he says don’t go to school just because you want to be a pastor. “A degree from a school does not tell you if a man has a godly character, a pastor’s heart, or a gift to preach and teach,” he writes.