The man nominated to lead the embattled Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission believes “a married couple’s efforts to prevent pregnancy might be morally problematic.” Evan Lenow, an administrator at Mississippi College, is the nominee to lead the…
With two leadership roles open, will SBC embrace a younger generation?
Wanted: Creative leaders who have a spine but are flexible enough to accommodate diverse opinions and changing political tides. Must be Southern Baptist. Only males need apply. With not-unexpected news of the resignation of Brent Leatherwood as president of the…
Leatherwood quits ERLC
The embattled president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee resigned July 31. Brent Leatherwood tendered his resignation with no apparent future employment lined up. He has been the lightning rod for criticism from the far right…
ERLC under attack again, but with a twist: It has no Trump influence
An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Scott Colter as leader of the Center for Baptist Leadership. In fact, Colter retweeted the statement from the Center for Baptist Leadership, which is headed by William Wolfe. The far-right in…
Southern Baptist ethnic leaders call for compassion toward immigrants
More than a dozen Southern Baptist ethnic ministries have joined the chorus of other evangelical voices calling for immigration policies that protect religious freedom and show compassion toward migrants. A statement signed by the leaders of 13 ethnic groups aligned…
SBC pastor opposes ICE raids in churches and gets labeled ‘woke’ by far right
A Southern Baptist pastor in Tennessee who told his congregation of his concerns about President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging immigration crackdown has been labeled a woke Leftist by a far-right advocacy group. Matt Crawford serves as senior pastor at Trinity Baptist…
Amid jubilation over Trump victory, a call to rewrite history at the Smithsonian
Southern Baptist leaders and many other evangelical leaders expressed jubilation at Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race, while one podcaster said it’s time to revise the exhibits at the Smithsonian to reflect a different worldview. Josh Daws, a Southern…
ERLC trustees affirm Leatherwood’s ‘good work’ and parameters for agency’s work
Just weeks after his former board chairman tried to fire him, Brent Leatherwood kept his job as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission yesterday. ERLC trustees, who are elected by messengers to SBC annual meetings,…
SBC leader joins other evangelicals in private meeting with Netanyahu
One day after being not fired by his board of trustees, Brent Leatherwood joined a select group of evangelical leaders for a private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C. Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention…
Breaking news: Leatherwood reinstated at ERLC, board chairman acted alone
Note: This article was updated Tuesday afternoon, July 23, to include new information about Kevin Smith. The chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission acted alone in firing President Brent Leatherwood yesterday, and Leatherwood remains…
ERLC removes president one day after kind word about Biden
Editor’s note: This article replaces and updates a previous article posted just two hours earlier. One day after Brent Leatherwood offered a gracious comment about President Joe Biden bowing out of the presidential race, he was fired as head…
U.S. evangelicals continue to unite behind Israel but are less likely to mention Palestinian victims
American evangelicals were quick to stand united in support of Israel after Hamas militants savagely attacked the country Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. But evangelicals differ over whether to show concern for…