WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 16, 2026—Dr. Gary Hollingsworth, interim president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, sent a letter to President Donald Trump today urging his administration to prioritize the sanctity of life.
The letter articulates beliefs that Southern Baptists have long held about the dignity and value of all human life and asks the current administration to take actionable steps toward creating a culture of life.
“The pro-life movement, a movement you have championed in the past, stands at a crossroads,” Hollingsworth wrote. “Before us lies the opportunity to declare–by word and deed, by executive efforts and legislative action—that this administration, this Congress, and this country values life in the womb…Contrary to what some have said, the issue of life is not a matter best left to the states, but instead is a matter where the federal government must take action, leading with moral clarity. Now is not the time for flexibility when it comes to life, but for the sort of bold leadership that we have seen you exercise over and over again.”
The letter was sent one week in advance of the annual March for Life, the nation’s largest annual pro-life rally, where thousands will join on the National Mall to stand for the cause of life.
In the letter, Hollingsworth specifically calls on the president and his administration to include Hyde Amendment protections in any renewal of Affordable Care Act subsidies, to remove harmful chemical abortion drugs from the market, and to ensure Title X funding does not go to large abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood.
Hollingsworth also reminds President Trump that “Southern Baptists were greatly troubled by the FDA’s approval of a generic mifepristone in October 2025.” The ERLC has called for the removal of the abortion pill from the market and, at a bare minimum, seeks the reinstatement of in-person dispensing requirements and common-sense safety restrictions that prioritize not just the life of the child, but also the life of the mother.
“Mr. President, you have vitally important work ahead of you these next three years,” wrote Hollingsworth. “In doing this work, we urge you not to compromise. In a moment when freedom can be expanded and the equal protection of our laws can be extended to vulnerable preborn lives, we urge you to not step back from the cause of life.”
The full letter can be read online.
