The Research Institute of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission represents an evangelical think tank that includes university and seminary presidents, academic deans, professors, lawyers, doctors, theologians, and other evangelical scholars. The Research Institute serves three primary functions: (1) to provide a professional organization where conservative, evangelical scholars can discuss current trends in American culture; (2) to apply biblical truth to moral, public policy, and religious liberty issues in order to transform American culture; and (3) to develop a comprehensive biblical worldview model to equip Christians to evaluate and interact with the moral and religious liberty issues confronting families in the modern culture.

Research Institute Fellows are leading members of the evangelical academic community who are actively engaged in addressing moral, cultural, or religious liberty issues. All of the Fellows have earned doctorates in Philosophy, Theology, Medicine, or Law. The Fellows contribute to the work of the Research Institute through individual and collaborative efforts.