Russell Moore’s complex relationship with the Southern Baptist Convention
The former ERLC president's tenure was highly controversial and in many ways appeared disconnected with the values of the average Southern Baptist.
Analysis
Editor’s note: With the approaching annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 11-12 in Indianapolis, Ind., The Baptist Report revisits notable events and current issues of the nation’s largest and most influential Protestant denomination.
Russell Moore, a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), left an indelible mark on the denomination — many believe not in a good way — when he left the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) after eight years to become pastor of Immanuel Nashville, and later joining the liberal-leaning Christianity Today.
The ERLC serves as the moral and public policy agency of the SBC, advocating for Christian values and engaging with cultural and political issues. Moore’s leadership at the ERLC was characterized by a commitment to social justice, religious freedom, and ethical integrity. Critics argue that his approach to these issues diverged from the prevailing sentiments within the SBC.
Moore’s tenure as ERLC president was highly controversial at best, and in many ways illustrates vividly his disconnect with the interests of the average Southern Baptist in the pew. Moore’s proponents argued that as the Southern Baptists’ lead ethicist, Moore often had to grapple with complex issues that challenged the status quo of the denomination. However, Moore’s critics believe his tenure — and ultimately his departure from the SBC — reflects deeper fissures and fractures between the denomination’s leadership and Southern Baptists.
At Odds with Traditional Southern Baptists
Why did Moore not seem to represent the interests of many Southern Baptists, particularly those from smaller to medium-sized churches that comprise the largest segment of the denomination? Several factors were at play during his tumultuous tenure.
Cultural Shifts: Moore’s positions often aligned with progressive cultural shifts. He advocated for racial reconciliation, addressing systemic racism, and caring for refugees. While these issues resonate with some younger Southern Baptists, they can be unsettling for traditional Southern Baptists who view them as compromising biblical orthodoxy.
Political Engagement: Moore’s outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign and his presidency drew sharp reactions. Some Southern Baptists felt that Moore’s stance was out of step with the majority, who supported Trump. His call for a more nuanced political engagement clashed with the prevailing conservative political alignment within the SBC.
Theological Disagreements: Moore’s theological convictions were often out of step with Southern Baptists. He emphasized compassion, justice, and the dignity of all people. However, some Southern Baptists prioritize doctrinal purity and adherence to traditional interpretations of Scripture. An example of this is Moore’s emphasis on social justice and cultural engagement that seemed at odds with Scripture, according to some Southern Baptist leaders who say social justice is influenced by secular ideologies rather than biblical principles, and fear it may compromise core biblical doctrines and distract from the gospel message.
Size and Influence: The SBC is a diverse body, comprising large megachurches and smaller congregations. Moore’s leadership style and priorities resonated more with urban and progressive segments. Many SBC churches, often located in rural areas, felt marginalized. They saw Moore as representing an elite perspective that did not fully understand their context and challenges.
Beth Moore Controversy: The controversy surrounding Beth Moore, a prominent Bible teacher (unrelated to Russell Moore), further strained relations. Beth Moore’s rebuke and departure from the SBC highlighted gender issues and theological disagreements. Russell Moore's advocacy for women's voices and concerns added to the tension.
Recent Criticism
As an illustration of Moore’s disconnect with traditional Southern Baptists, he recently drew harsh criticism from journalist and author Megan Basham in an interview with Tucker Carlson.
During a discussion of the anti-Christian Nationalist movie “God & Country” by liberal director Rob Reiner — in which Moore appeared — Basham told Carlson, “They are calling evangelicals, particularly evangelicals who engage in the political process, a ‘threat to democracy.’ And I think that’s the important thing to know that (evangelicals) are 32% of the American electorate. The Atlantic quite rightly called them in 2021 America’s most powerful voting block, so they’re right about that; they are essentially the only obstacle that we still have to the left-wing agenda. If you remove them you removed all the brakes.”
Basham added, “I mean there’s been an entire cottage industry of books from staff writers at The Atlantic, from Russell Moore, who is in this film himself claiming to speak for the sober-minded, non-politically idolatrous Christians which, you know, that in itself, given how political someone like Russell Moore who is the editor of Christianity Today himself is, is hugely ironic….Russell Moore is absolutely a political actor in a much more deliberate and well-funded way than any of the people that this movie is criticizing.” You can watch the interview with Basham on YouTube.
In Moore’s latest book, “Losing Our Religion,” he recounts how he witnessed Christian leaders acting during the Trump era and how a Baptist leader told him he was playing the game of leadership wrong, according to an article about the book by Bob Smietana of the Religious News Service.
“The leader suggested that Moore should give people 90% of the red meat they expect — referring to conservative politics and the culture wars — and then he could spend 10% of his time on things he cared about, like immigration.”
It seems odd that Moore thought his job was to pander to Southern Baptists rather than represent their interests.
Final Analysis
Russell Moore’s departure from the SBC in 2021 marked a significant moment. His move to Immanuel Nashville, a non-denominational, Acts 29-affiliated church, revealed his personal and theological shift away from the traditional values of the SBC.
However, Moore’s tenure at the ERLC reflects the broader challenges faced by the SBC as it grapples with questions of identity, cultural engagement, and theological diversity within its ranks.
In the end, Russell Moore’s SBC legacy is multifaceted. While he championed causes important to Southern Baptists at times, his tenure also exposed his progressive theology leanings and tensions within the conservative base of the SBC. Moore’s impact will remain a subject of debate and reflection in Southern Baptist circles for many years.