The battle lines are drawn for a showdown over the ERLC at the upcoming SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas
It appears the future of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) will continue to be debated at the upcoming SBC Annual Meeting June 10-11 in Dallas.
At the SBC’s annual meeting in 2024, Florida pastor Tom Ascol, a vocal ERLC critic, made a motion to disband the ERLC entirely, saying the entity “has become increasingly distant from the values and concerns of the churches that finance it.” The motion failed but did get a surprising amount of support – with as many as a third of local church messengers attending the annual meeting voting for it.
The potential elimination of the ERLC joins a number of issues Southern Baptists are expected to discuss in Dallas, which includes the question of women in pastoral leadership and the transparency and accountability of SBC entities such as the North American Mission Board.
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said recently that he has personal concerns about whether the ERLC remains viable in representing the convention on key cultural issues.
In an April 30 episode of the Baptist 21 podcast, Mohler said he “has grave doubts about the utility of the ERLC. And it’s not just about the current moment.” Mohler added that it would be wrong for him to lead an effort to abolish or defund the ERLC, however.
Responding to Mohler and online critics, ERLC leaders and supporters are publicly defended the entity’s work in Washington and its support for churches navigating complex moral topics.
ERLC President Brent Leatherwood said the ERLC is gaining ground in Washington.
“Our focus is on the work Southern Baptists have assigned to us,” Leatherwood said. “We are gaining ground with our allies on the Hill to finally and permanently defund Planned Parenthood. We’re taking aim at banning pornography. At every opportunity, we’re equipping our churches to stand firm against the pervasive transgender ideology that so defines the spirit of the age.”
Former ERLC President Richard Land also weighed in, urging the convention to preserve the entity’s public policy voice.
In an opinion piece for Baptist Press, Land said it would be a mistake to eliminate the ERLC.
“It is a divine assignment to assist and enable Southern Baptists to witness Gospel truth to the complex moral and ethical challenges confronting society today. It is difficult to place adequate value on the ability of the ERLC to help Southern Baptists provide their often uniquely biblical perspective on complex issues such as religious liberty and the sanctity of all human life,” Land wrote. “I can say with confidence, based on much experience, that America will not get the issues surrounding religious liberty balanced correctly without significant Southern Baptist input.”
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