In a turn of events that has confounded even longtime observers of the denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission removed its chairman from his position Monday night and again Tuesday morning, then announced he would remain in his position. The back-and-forth began Monday night when the ERLC announced in a statement that it was firing its president, Brent Leatherwood, without giving a reason. The announcement sparked a heated debate on social media, with critics and supporters alike voicing their opinions. Some said the controversy surrounding his job is not over yet.
Then, about 12 hours later on Tuesday morning, the ERLC reversed course and released a new statement saying Leatherwood would remain in his position.
ERLC Board Executive Committee Announces Retraction Regarding ERLC President Brent Leatherwood https://t.co/PK7bjM6i6i
— ERLC (@ERLC) July 23, 2024
The ERLC is the public policy arm of the SBC and works on issues of life, religious freedom, marriage, and human dignity in Washington, DC.
“As members of the ERLC Executive Committee, we formally retract the press release we sent out yesterday,” Tuesday’s statement said. “No formal meeting, vote, or action was taken by the Executive Committee. Kevin Smith has resigned as Chair of the Executive Committee.”
Baptist Press News Service SBC’s CEO said that firing Smith was “the sole action of board chairman Kevin Smith.”
Shortly after the ERLC announced Leatherwood’s retention, Smith, who is pastor at Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida, announced his resignation from the board.
“After multiple conversations with members of the ERLC executive committee, I believe there is consensus to remove Brent Leatherwood from his position as president of the ERLC,” Smith said. Baptist Press“This is a sensitive issue and I acted in good faith to address it swiftly, but without a formal vote of the Executive Committee. This was my mistake and I take full responsibility.”
Leatherwood addressed the incident on social media.
“I’m extremely grateful to everyone who reached out, especially the board members who were utterly perplexed by what happened yesterday and jumped in to set the record straight,” Leatherwood said on X (formerly Twitter).
I am extremely grateful to everyone who contacted me, especially the board members who were utterly embarrassed by what happened yesterday and stepped up to set the record straight.
There’s more to come. https://t.co/QfJpbFAtkM
— Brent Leatherwood (@LeatherwoodERLC) July 23, 2024
The upheaval came just one month after the Leatherwood incident, when the ERLC survived a vote to cut funding at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. According to the vote, the proposal to cut funding to the ERLC was rejected by a margin of 3 to 1 to 4 to 1. The proposal had to be approved at two consecutive meetings.
The motion was supported by messengers who claimed the ERLC was leaning left, an accusation Leatherwood denied, telling the messengers that the organization “strives to be faithful to the Bible, faithful to what the Lord has called us to do, and faithful to serving our church.”
Leatherwood’s initial firing came hours after he released a statement praising President Biden for stepping down, saying the president had “put the needs of the nation above personal ambition.” “Stepping back from power is a selfless act, the kind of behavior that has become all too rare in our culture,” Leatherwood said.
Leatherwood’s statement also warned of the dangers posed by Vice President Kamala Harris, who is considered a leading Democratic presidential candidate.
“Her endorsement by delegates to the Democratic National Convention will be a major cause for concern among pro-lifers and those who adhere to the biblical definition of marriage,” Leatherwood said. “For example, she promoted the Reproductive FACT Act, which requires pregnancy centers to provide expectant mothers with information about where to get an abortion (thankfully ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in the NIFLA case), and refused to defend the California voter-passed amendment to the state constitution that only marriages between a man and a woman are valid. This record does not demonstrate a willingness to engage with mainstream conservative Americans.”
Needless to say, this track record is worrying. translator here.https://t.co/97yMyk7DbR
— Brent Leatherwood (@LeatherwoodERLC) July 22, 2024
a document A post on the ERLC’s website echoed Leatherwood’s statements, saying Harris has “advocated abortion access and the destruction of unborn life, undermined biblical principles of marriage and sexuality, and weakened religious freedom protections.”
The initial statement from the ERLC was: “In accordance with our Articles of Incorporation, the Executive Committee [of the ERLC] “We have relieved Brent Leatherwood of his position as President. Details and plans regarding the Presidential transition will be announced at the September Board meeting. Until then, the Board’s Executive Committee will assume leadership responsibility for carrying out the ERLC’s service mission.”
Photo credit: ©ERLC
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
