Nashville, Tenn., June 4, 2024 —The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, has hired Gregg R. Allison, Ph.D., to serve as a senior fellow with an emphasis on matters related to marriage and family.
Allison is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and Secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society. He has the Ph.D. in systematic theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
He is author of fifteen books, including “Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine”; “Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church”; (with Andreas Köstenberger) “The Holy Spirit; Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment”; and “Embodiment: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World.” He regularly teaches on these and other topics in churches, conferences and educational institutions.
Allison commented on his appointment as senior fellow.
“Could it be true that gender and sexuality have risen to the most controversial and thus important issues of our day? As my research and writing interests focus on the nature of women and men, the complementarity of the sexes, human embodiment, transgenderism, and the like, I am thrilled to join the ERLC as the Senior Fellow for these pressing matters. I look forward to working with a great team of colleagues to explore biblical, theological, philosophical, and historical foundations that will provide guidance for Christians and churches facing these issues today.”
Allison joins the following senior fellows hired part time by the ERLC: Nathan Finn, focusing on religious liberty; RaShan Frost, focusing on human dignity issues; and Jason Thacker, focusing on pro-life and other bioethical issues on the research team.
Allison’s appointment as senior fellow falls in conjunction with the ERLC’s announcement of its incoming cohort of scholars for its Research Institute. The Research Institute provides collaborative space for Southern Baptist researchers and academics, and its members serve as a resource on theological and policy matters in their areas of expertise.
The ERLC Research Institute is comprised of experts from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.
New Fellows include:
- Dan Darling- director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Kristen Ferguson- associate dean of educational effectiveness and director of online education for Gateway Seminary
- Matt Martens- partner and co-chair of the Securities Litigation and Enforcement Group at WilmerHale
- Lauren McAfee- founder of Stand for Life
- Brooke Medina-vice president of communications, John Locke Foundation
- Andrew Spencer- associate editor for books at The Gospel Coalition
- Ryan Tucker-senior counsel and director of the Center for Christian Ministries, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Benjamin Quinn- associate professor of theology and history of ideas and director of L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture
“We are thrilled to add a scholar of Dr. Allison’s caliber to our research team as a senior fellow focusing on marriage and family,” said Miles Mullin, ERLC director of research and vice president. “Gregg has a deep and abiding love for Jesus Christ and his church, an unwavering commitment to Baptist beliefs and a phenomenal intellect. Combined with his strong work ethic and sincere humility, these factors have made him one of the best theologians in our convention. Thankfully, he has applied his gifts to engaging questions of gender and sexuality in ways that are biblically faithful and relevant to our current cultural challenges in those arenas. His addition will be both helpful to our work here at the ERLC and to our SBC churches.”
A full list of fellows can be found online.
