ERLC

“The letter, signed by Bart Barber, Ed Litton, J.D. Greear, Steve Gaines, Fred Luter, Bryant Wright, James Merritt, Tom Elliff, Jim Henry and Jimmy Draper, is a response to recent calls from some corners to shutter the entity.” - Baptist Press

Related…

“…some of the president’s policy decisions and personal conduct have clashed with Baptist ethics and beliefs. That’s left the ERLC, which speaks to ethical issues and public policy debates, occasionally at odds with the denomination’s 12.7 million members, leading to three attempts to disband or defund the agency over the past decade.” - RNS

“A recent critique complains that the ERLC… is ‘too busy with woke stuff to help conservative policy efforts.’ The article doesn’t detail what qualifies as ‘woke,’ since ERLC’s positions remain unchanged. Instead, the article claims ERLC has become ‘irrelevant’ ” - Juicy Ecumenism

“The ERLC will press forward on the issues that matter to Southern Baptists: protecting life, safeguarding religious liberty, bolstering marriage and families, and upholding human dignity.” - Baptist Press

“Ethics & Religious Liberty President Brent Leatherwood and Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley submitted a joint letter… to both President Joe Biden and U.S. congressional leaders expressing Southern Baptists’ continued support for Israel.” - Baptist Press

“Ethics & Religious Liberty trustees issued a statement Sept. 10 affirming the ‘good work’ of President Brent Leatherwood and his staff in a step ‘to acknowledge and address concerns and to create a greater sense of understanding, unity and trust’ - Baptist Press

“Jason Thacker, who directs the Research Institute at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, described this latest revelation as ‘deeply disturbing.’” - The Baptist Paper

“In light of ongoing questions surrounding the recent events at the ERLC, the executive board of the trustees wishes to affirm our support for Brent Leatherwood as president and his leadership of the organization. Our goal is to do everything within our power to set up the ERLC and its staff for success” - Baptist Press

“In a head-scratching turn of events, the executive board of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm now says its leader has not been fired.” - RNS

“In accordance with our bylaws, the executive committee has removed Brent Leatherwood as president. Further details, as well as plans for the transition, will be provided at our September board meeting.” - The Baptist Paper