Brent Leatherwood has resigned as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission following nearly nine years of service. The move also comes after ERLC narrowly escaped an effort by critics to abolish the group in June during the SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas.
The ERLC board accepted Leatherwood’s resignation Thursday (July 31). Leatherwood has served in various ERLC roles since 2017 and became president in 2022 following a search to replace Russell Moore, who resigned a year earlier amid growing pressure. Vice President Miles Mullin will serve as acting president.
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Navigating criticism, culture tension
Leatherwood departs after seeking to guide ERLC through a season of denominational scrutiny and growing cultural tension. During the SBC Annual Meeting, messengers voted 3,744 (56.89%) to 2,819 (42.84%) on June 11 to reject a motion introduced by Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida, to abolish ERLC. Rice called his motion a “wake-up call” to the agency.
“Why bring a motion to abolish the ERLC? Because this is how we save it,” Rice told messengers during the meeting. SBC Bylaw 25 requires a majority vote at two consecutive annual meetings to abolish any convention entity.
“It gives that entity time to hear the concerns of our churches, pursue meaningful reform and return with a renewed mission,” Rice continued. Without citing specifics, he raised concern about “outside progressive advocacy groups” providing financial support to ERLC.
“Facts are stubborn things, and the evidence is clear. And the trust is broken,” Rice noted.
Meanwhile, supporters say highlights of Leatherwood’s tenure include advocacy for life, religious liberty and biblical ethics, placement of 40 ultrasound machines through the Psalm 139 Project, and efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Trustees also credited him with strengthening ties to churches and amplifying Baptist convictions in Washington.
Expressing gratitude
Leatherwood expressed gratitude to trustees for his time at ERLC. He did not announce his next steps.
“It has been an honor to guide this Baptist organization in a way that has honored the Lord, served the churches of our Convention, and made this fallen world a little better,” Leatherwood noted in a July 31 press release. “I believe gratitude is at the heart of conservatism.
“That means I will always be thankful for the opportunity provided to me by our churches — for the support they have offered and the resources they have sacrificially given to this entity.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was is a summary of a report written by Diana Chandler and originally published by Baptist Press. The Baptist Paper contributed to this article.
