"We are honored by Russell Moore's leadership and by his Evangelical witness on issues like religious liberty, life, marriage and family." -- Mark Tooley, IRD President

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Southern Baptist theologian and ethicist Russell Moore will examine, among other issues, the state of religious liberty in the United States at a lecture and reception hosted by the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) on Wednesday, October 14 at the City Club of Washington, D.C.

Who: Russell Moore, President, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

What: Fifth Annual Diane Knippers Memorial Lecture and Reception

When: Wednesday, October 14, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Where: The City Club, 555 13th St NW, Washington, DC

Moore, author of Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel, is President of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the public policy office of the largest protestant denomination in the United States. Moore previously served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as Dean of the School of Theology.

Moore blogs frequently at his "Moore to the Point" website, and is the author or editor of five books, including Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, and The Kingdom of Christ: The New Evangelical Perspective. In addition to these, Moore is also the author of dozens of scholarly articles and essays within the field of systematic theology and Christian ethics. He is an increasingly important spokesman for sanctity of life, marriage, religious liberty and other issues central to Christianity's social witness.

The lecture and reception honor the legacy of the late IRD President Diane Knippers, a renewal leader within the Episcopal Church and cited by Time magazine as one of America's most influential evangelicals.

Moore's address will be available on IRD's website. Audio will also be available. Media are welcome to attend and should RSVP to: KLarson@TheIRD.org

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

"We are honored by Russell Moore's leadership and by his Evangelical witness on issues like religious liberty, life, marriage and family."

The Institute on Religion & Democracy works to reaffirm the church's biblical and historical teachings, strengthen and reform its role in public life, protect religious freedom, and renew democracy at home and abroad.

www.TheIRD.org