NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 11, 2024 —The board of trustees for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission issued a statement after the Tuesday session of the trustee meeting affirming ERLC President Brent Leatherwood and ERLC staff and encouraging them to continue the good work of the organization.
The ERLC trustees created the statement “to acknowledge and address concerns and to create a greater sense of understanding, unity, and trust between the ERLC, the churches we serve within the SBC, and between the ERLC trustees, president, and staff.”
Additionally, the trustees reviewed and approved the ERLC’s Advocacy Assessment, created under the leadership of Leatherwood, which includes process questions that the ERLC staff considers before engaging on a policy issue.
“It was good to gather in person with our full trustee board,” said Tony Beam, interim trustee chairman. “These men and women have faithfully served Southern Baptists and are seeking to support the team at the ERLC, as well as listen to our churches, as together we navigate a turbulent political climate. We pray that the Advocacy Assessment and the Affirmation and Encouragement statements affirmed by the trustees, will assist and encourage the ERLC president and staff in speaking clearly and boldly to the issues of the day and inform the churches in a transparent way, how the ERLC makes decisions about how they address the issues.”
In response to the trustees’ statement, Leatherwood said, “I consider it such a privilege to serve as president of this organization. I know our team feels the same way about the service we render to our churches. We are grateful for the clear affirmation of our work by the trustees. Their encouragement renews our resolve to continue advocating for Southern Baptists in the public square.”
