I couldn’t have been prouder of Rebecca while watching her expertly answer the insanely complicated questions her committee was asking, while simultaneously explaining the concepts to the laypeople in the audience. 

This is exactly what’s at the center of ERI. Whether we’re talking to an advanced philosopher or a high school freshman, a pro-life person or a pro-choice person, we work so hard to meet them where they’re at and communicate clearly. Earlier this year, Rebecca taught an engaging seminar for a room full of teenagers. Last week, she went toe to toe with advanced philosophical faculty. She has the amazing ability to work across a massive range of knowledge and experience, and we are so incredibly blessed to have her on our team.

There have been so many times over the past few years working closely with Rebecca that she impressed me not just with her understanding of metaethics and other areas of philosophy but also with her wisdom. 

One of the main reasons I’m not at all worried about the next phase of ERI without me is that we have a “mind at work” like Rebecca’s on the team. She understands the heart, soul, and DNA of Equal Rights Institute as well as anybody ever has. I get to move on to my next chapter knowing that ERI’s philosophical and relational core is safe and flourishing in her hands.

Congratulations, Dr. Carlson!!!

The post Congratulations Dr. Carlson! appeared first on Equal Rights Institute Blog - Clear Pro-Life Thinking.

After 12 years as ERI’s co-founder and President, I am stepping down. My last day will be June 12th.

I spent months considering this from every angle and getting advice from my most trusted friends, and thanks to nine months of hard work and preparation, I’m not worried about ERI surviving this transition. The team is fantastic, and I found someone I’m genuinely thrilled about to take ERI into the next season. 

His name is Greg Austen, and I think you’re going to love him.

Greg brings more than 25 years of experience as a mission-driven executive leader. He cares a lot about what he calls “listening conversations,” training and empowering fresh generations, and a compassionate and intellectually rigorous pro-life movement that is reconnected to character, civility, and a holistic understanding of human life rooted in the Imago Dei. These passions — part of Greg’s core values — are also ERI’s DNA. And knowing Greg and the convictional leader he is, told me everything I needed to know.

Before coming to ERI, Greg served for six and a half years as the Executive Director of Church Outreach and Engagement at Care Net, where he led a national team that equipped pregnancy centers and churches to serve women and men facing pregnancy decisions. Before that, he spent 11 years at the National Fatherhood Initiative as Senior Director of National Programming. He is a licensed Teaching Elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, holds a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary, and is the author of several books, including How I Became a Christian Despite the Church, Christian Nationalism: A Constructive Conversation, and Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads.

While working at Care Net, Greg called me out of the blue seven years ago. He’d read an article I’d written and wanted to talk about it because he saw genuine overlap between what ERI was doing and what he was building at Care Net. Next thing I knew Greg had us presenting together at the next three national Care Net conferences, where we’d co-lead a half-day seminar. We weren’t just filling time; we were working through the same questions from different angles, and it was some of the most energizing collaboration I’d had in years. 

Greg’s ideas and enthusiasm got me more excited about hanging out with him, but that’s not the only thing about him that stuck with me. Greg and I would hang out after the sessions ended over dinner or a drink at the hotel, and we rarely talked shop. He’d ask about my wife, Hannah. About my faith. About what I was wrestling with. He wanted to get into the real stuff, not just compare notes on the pro-life movement, though we had a lot in common when it came to those concerns. I don’t merely respect Greg’s résumé or the books he’s written; I trust him as a good man and leader. And I think you will too.

He is exactly who ERI needs for this next chapter.

As for what’s next for me, I’ve spent my life believing that human dignity is worth fighting for, and I still do. The arena is changing; the conviction isn’t. I’ll have a lot more to say about where I’m headed on my own blog and podcast later this year, after a long-awaited sabbatical. I hope you’ll follow along.

I’m proud of what we’ve built together, and I’m confident it’s in good hands.

For those of you I’ve been privileged to know personally over these years, Greg and I hope to connect with as many of you as possible in the coming weeks. If we don’t get to connect before my last day, please know how much your friendship and support have meant to me.

Thank you for everything you’ve meant to this work. It has been one of the great privileges of my life.

P.S. You can read Greg’s full bio at EqualRightsInstitute.com/Greg. I hope you’ll take a moment to get to know him.

The post A Personal Note About ERI’s Next Chapter appeared first on Equal Rights Institute Blog - Clear Pro-Life Thinking.

31:08

Josh Brahm gives an update on what’s going on behind the scenes at ERI. He’s got good news, pretty good news, bad news, and then some good news.

Have a connection to a school or diocese? Email Josh

Related Links:

Equipped For Life Academy

Equal Rights Institute Website

Equal Rights Institute Blog

Equipped for Life Course

Sidewalk Counseling Masterclass

The post ERI Update – Summer 2025 appeared first on Equal Rights Institute Blog - Clear Pro-Life Thinking.

In this update video, ERI President Josh Brahm announces the recent launch of Equipped for Life Academy, shares details on what comes with it, and pulls the curtain back a little at the technical nightmare that completing the course was. Finally Josh shares about the future of ERI, our 10th anniversary this year as an organization, and how we’re beginning to work with politicians on pro-life messaging.

Correction: Equipped for Life Academy includes 8 core lessons and 6 bonus lessons, not 8 bonus lessons.

Related Links:

Equipped for Life Academy 

Equipped for Life Academy Fact Sheet

ERI Messaging Document

Using Cutting Edge Technology to Transform Global Pro-Life Apologetics

Equal Rights Institute Website

Equal Rights Institute Blog

Equipped for Life Course

Sidewalk Counseling Masterclass

The post ERI Update – Equipped for Life Academy is Launched! appeared first on Equal Rights Institute Blog - Clear Pro-Life Thinking.

MP3 Download | 24:19

Josh Brahm gives an update on what we’ve been working on at ERI, including recent speaking trips in Europe, progress on Equipped for Life Academy, and hiring our new administrator.

Related Links:

Equal Rights Institute Website

Equal Rights Institute Blog

Equipped for Life Course

Sidewalk Counseling Masterclass

The post ERI Update – Spring 2023 appeared first on Equal Rights Institute Blog - Clear Pro-Life Thinking.