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Welcome to the Family Beacon, your source for news and commentary on life, family, and religious freedom in Minnesota and beyond! This week:

One quick note: If you have friends and family who want to get pro-life, pro-family Minnesota news every week, here's a shareable link so they can sign up. 

Carl Trueman Discusses the Transgender Issue and More! - The Family Beacon: Season 1, Episode 24

Dr. Carl Trueman is one of our generation's most incisive Christian thinkers. In his recent book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Trueman tackles some of the most pervasive ideas in our culture and how they have influenced issues like the rise of transgender identification and the glorification of abortion, to name just two. In this special episode, Dr. Trueman talks with us about how these problems came to affect Minnesota and the nation and why there is HOPE for the future!

 

Blog: Fewer Americans Say Couples with Kids Should Marry

A recent Gallup survey found that just 29% of Americans believe it is very important for a couple who has children together to be married, down from 49% in 2006. The survey also found that only 38% of Americans said that it is very important for a couple that plans to stay together for the rest of their lives to be married — a disparity that indicates a shift in how Americans think about marriage and family, with fewer Americans seeing the two as going hand in hand.

Several commentators have pointed out that while marriage rates have been dropping for some time, and our culture increasingly minimizes the importance of marriage in forming stable families, Gallup’s research shows a significant and alarming decline in support for marriage among groups that have traditionally been pro-marriage and family, including conservatives, Americans over the age of 55, and people who attend church weekly. While 67% of weekly church attendees said that it is very important for a couple who plans to stay together for the rest of their lives to be married, only 45% of weekly church attendees said that it is very important for a couple who has children together to be married. Even in the church, a shrinking number of people recognize how important it is for couples who have children together to be married.

Another subgroup that surprisingly did not place a higher value on parents being married was respondents with children under the age of 18. Gallup reports,

Parents of minor children (30%) are not significantly more likely than nonparents (27%) to view marriage as critical. Those who are currently married (33%) are slightly more likely than those who are not married (25%) to say it is important, though the current eight-percentage-point gap between these two groups has narrowed from 16 points in 2006.

Cohabitation is not the same as marriage, and the difference is clear when looking at the data for how children fare when raised by cohabiting versus married parents. Additionally, two out of every three unmarried couples who have children together split up by the time their child is 12 years old, meaning that children cohabitating couples are more likely to face the very real loss of fatherlessness or motherlessness than not.  

 

Are You Ready to Caucus?

On February 1st you'll have a chance to impact our state by participating in party caucuses. This is a wonderful opportunity to love our neighbors and to be "salt and light" for the direction of a political party and the selection of candidates for office at the most basic level. When we as Christians bring our convictions of life, family, and religious freedom to the caucus process, we have a real chance of improving the political discourse in our state - and I think we can all agree that it must be improved!  

Second, this year, your participation is crucial. You have a chance to influence the choice of candidates for local and statewide office, and the direction of your party for years to come. Are you ready? Let's get started! 

Click here to download our 2022 Caucus Participation Guide! 

 

Find your caucus location here: http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us

Please note that if you intend to caucus with the DFL this year, the rules may look different because of COVID-19 restrictions. Read more here.

IMPORTANT: choose which party you want to caucus for. Here is a comparison of the two major parties in Minnesota from our friends at FRC Action (note: this comparison is from 2020).

Remember to show up!  Honestly, this is the most important thing. At this level, the party is quite literally run by those who show up. Visit with your neighbors before and after you sign in at 6:30 p.m. 

The caucus should convene promptly at 7 p.m., and as things begin, don’t be shy about asking questions – everybody is a volunteer and, often, half the people in any given precinct are there for the first time. 

There will be somebody who convenes the meeting in your precinct, and the first order of business is to elect somebody to run the caucus – it may or may not be the convener. Then there will usually be some precinct organizing done, such as electing a “precinct chair” who will be active for the coming two-year cycle (or longer).  This is also the time and place to submit a resolution to influence your party’s official platform with caucus resolutions. 

Okay, let's talk about how to create a caucus resolution.

They often start with “Whereas…” “Whereas” is a way to introduce a reason, or a series of reasons, supporting the action item. They’re a form of persuasion or logical argument; the whereas parts let somebody make the case. 

You fill in the form and present it to your precinct caucus chair (or some other volunteer) the particular rules and procedures for adopting them will be made clear by your caucus chairperson, but you can start filling out the form at any time. 

Here are three resolutions that will help your party move toward more strongly protecting life, family, and religious freedom:

Combating Physician-Assisted Suicide

Preserving Religious Freedom

Recognizing Pornography as a Public Health Crisis

When presenting your resolution, make sure to use the correct form for your party: GOP Resolution Form DFL Resolution Form

Finally, it's important to note that though caucusing is not difficult, it requires patience and perseverance while everyone gets a chance to have their say, and to follow procedure for an orderly process. Besides voting, it's the most basic level of political involvement; it will take thousands of Minnesotans working together at this level to achieve the changes we want to see in the party platforms - changes that would benefit all Minnesotans who value life, family, and religious freedom – and to choose candidates for elected office who will champion those values if elected! 

So, don’t be intimidated or discouraged from attending because you’re uncertain how it will work! Let’s exercise “citizenship worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27) and boldly let our voices be heard and our light shine in the 2022 caucuses!  

Parts of this caucus participation explainer have been adapted with permission from the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

 

LEAD Registration is Open - Sign Your Teen Up for Our Leadership Camp (July 24-29)

High school students ages 13–19 are invited to LEAD July 24-29th to be equipped for a lifetime of culture-shaping impact! At this weeklong leadership and worldview camp, students will learn the legislative process in a hands-on way while working with real bills that have been proposed in our state, study how the gospel shapes our response to tough cultural issues, and hear from renowned speakers. 

To register now, click here or go to www.leadminnesota.org to learn more about LEAD.

More Info: 

Who: Highschool students ages 13–19. 

What: A hands-on leadership and worldview camp equipping the next generation of Christian leaders to engage the culture. 

When: July 24-29, 2022 

Why: LEAD equips the next generation by providing students with an opportunity to strengthen their worldview, develop leadership skills, and learn the legislative process! 

LEAD equips students for a lifetime of culture-shaping impact! At the beginning of the week, students are sworn in as members of the Minnesota House and Senate. As they take on the responsibilities of lawmakers, they get to learn the legislative process in a memorable, hands-on way while working with real bills that have been proposed here in our state! 

Throughout the week, students also study biblical worldview and think about how the gospel shapes our response to tough cultural issues, hear from renowned speakers on topics like the sanctity of life, and grow in leadership skills as they work with their caucus to pass their legislation.  

We hope to see your teen at LEAD next summer! Click here to learn more and register. Watch the LEAD 2022 video now.

 

Promoted: Critical Race Theory Conference - February 26

From Christ Bible Church:

2022 CBC Conference

What is critical race theory (CRT) and why is it important? How has CRT influenced and infiltrated the Church? What can we do about it? Join Christ Bible Church as we host a timely discussion on CRT and the church. You will hear from Darrell Harrison and Virgil Walker from the Just Thinking Podcast about how the church can combat this wicked ideology and advance the gospel of Christ.

 

Did you know that when you shop with Amazon Smile, Amazon makes a donation to Minnesota Family Institute at no cost to you? You can support LIFE, FAMILY, and RELIGIOUS FREEDOM while you shop by clicking here (smile.amazon.com/ch/41-1439560) or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app and AmazonSmile donates to Minnesota Family Institute. Bookmark Amazon Smile in your browser so that Amazon will donate every time you make a purchase!

 
 
 

Get the Parent Resource Guide

Responding to the transgender trend with truth and compassion starts with the Parent Resource Guide. Get your copy HERE today and invite a friend to do the same! Click to order your copy today:

 

Thank you for sharing Minnesota Family Council’s vision for strong families, communities and culture through Christ. As we rise to meet challenges at the state and federal level, we need your support now more than ever. Click here to give now. We are grateful for your partnership with us through prayer and financial support.

For life, family, and religious freedom,

John Helmberger, CEO

Minnesota Family Council and Institute

Minnesota Family Council
2855 Anthony Lane S, Suite 150 | Minneapolis, Minnesota  55418-3265
612-789-8811 | [email protected]

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