ERLC Controversy Over Brent Leatherwood’s Leadership
In under 48 hours, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), Brent Leatherwood, experienced a rollercoaster of events. It began with his praise for President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election, which drew significant backlash. This was followed by an announcement that Leatherwood was fired, only for it to be retracted shortly after, stating he had full support from the executive committee.
On Monday, a statement from the ERLC claimed that Leatherwood had been removed from his position by the executive committee. However, by Tuesday, it was clarified that no official meeting or vote had taken place. The committee’s chairman, Kevin Smith, resigned and apologized for the erroneous announcement.
Internal Turmoil and Apologies
Smith, a Florida pastor, admitted he acted unilaterally, believing there was a consensus to remove Leatherwood. His actions led to confusion and destabilization within the ERLC. The executive committee reaffirmed Leatherwood’s position, stating he had their support moving forward.
Leatherwood, who has led the ERLC through challenging times, including navigating the agency’s stance on various political issues, expressed gratitude to those who supported him. Despite criticism from some Southern Baptists, he continues to uphold the agency’s conservative values without aligning with Trump-centric politics.
The incident highlighted ongoing tensions within the Southern Baptist Convention, particularly regarding political alignments and leadership decisions. The ERLC remains a controversial body, balancing deeply conservative policies with internal divisions over its direction.
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Oops. Southern Baptist agency announces firing of its leader, then retracts that announcement
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