WASHINGTON, D.C, July 6, 2015Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, announced Monday the appointment of Steven Harris to the entity’s D.C. office as director of advocacy.
In this role, Harris will work with government leaders in the legislative and executive branches to advocate for the ERLCs position on important issues. He will also analyze legislation and produce content for ERLC outlets.
“Steven Harris is one of the most dynamic young leaders in Baptist life today,” Moore said. “As we searched for someone to fill this key position, we found ourselves running into Steven’s name at every turn. He is well respected across the evangelical world, and has deep experience building coalitions and getting things done.”
Harris is the second African American to join the ERLC staff under Moores leadership, and the third in the history of the ERLC. Prior to joining the ERLC, Harris served as a ministry fellow for the Christian Union at Yale University and as an assistant pastor at Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky. While in this role, Harris assisted in galvanizing the Christian community in Lexington to address important public policy issues, and also in representing the interests of congregations before city officials.
Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, commented on the hire of Harris.
“Steven Harris is a thoughtful Christian, husband, father and student of Scripture and our world, said Dever. He’s competent and careful. I am delighted to have him representing our churchand many othersin the public sphere, and representing us to public officials.”
Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of Anacostia River Church in Washington, D.C., commented on the ERLCs appointment of Harris.
“I’m thrilled about this appointment, Anyabwile said. Steven Harris combines a keen mind with a generous heart. A dedicated student of our changing cultural times, Steven is also an ardent defender of Christian truth. He’s the kind of guy you long for when you need a son of Issachar to help lead God’s people.”
Richard Gaines, pastor of Consolidated Baptist Church, said the following about the appointment of Harris.
“Steven Harris is one of the most gifted young minds of this generation,” Gaines said. “His greatest strength is his fidelity to the Word of God. His commitment to the cause of Christ is unquestionable as is his Kingdom mindset. He will be a valued asset to all that the ERLC is seeking to accomplish.”
Harris received a Bachelor of Science in Religion from Vanderbilt University, Master of Arts in Religion from Yale University and he also holds a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The Southern Baptist Convention is Americas largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.8 million members in over 46,000 churches nationwide. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is the SBCs ethics, religious liberty and public policy agency with offices in Nashville, Tenn., and Washington, D.C.
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