Research Team

The Research team is comprised of ERLC staff members and our senior fellows, and the Research Institute, whose fellows are subject-matter experts and advisors for the ERLC. 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.

Research Team

Miles Mullin

Vice President and Chief of Staff, Director of Research

Miles S. Mullin II, Ph.D., serves as vice president and chief of staff for the ERLC, having previously served at the Missouri Baptist Convention, Hannibal-LaGrange University,…

Alex Ward

Research Associate and Project Manager

Alex Ward serves as the research associate and project manager for the ERLC’s research initiatives. He manages long term research projects for the organization under the…

Senior fellows

Jason Thacker

Jason Thacker

Senior Fellow and Director of the Research Institute

Jason Thacker serves as senior fellow focused on pro-life and other bioethical issues including abortion, reproductive technologies, medical care, euthanasia, and end-of-life decision making. He also…

Nathan Finn

Nathan Finn

Senior Fellow

Nathan A. Finn serves as senior fellow focused on issues of religious liberty. He is an professor of faith and culture at North Greenville University, where…

Gregg Allison

Gregg Allison

Senior Fellow

Gregg R. Allison serves as senior fellow focused on issues of marriage and family. He received his Doctorate of Philosophy from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and…

RaShan Frost

RaShan Frost

Senior Fellow

RaShan Frost serves as senior fellow focused on issues of human dignity. He is the lead pastor of The Bridge Church in North Charleston, South Carolina,…

Fellows

Hunter Baker

Research Fellow

Hunter Baker, J.D., Ph.D., serves as provost and dean of the faculty of North Greenville University. He is the author of three books (The End of…

Bart Barber

Research Fellow

Bart Barber has served as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, since 1999. Bart has a B.A. from Baylor University in their University…

Rafael Bello

Research Fellow

Rafael Bello is an assistant professor of Religious Studies and the Ida Elizabeth and J.W. Hollums Chair of Bible at Oklahoma Baptist University. Bello earned his…

J. Alan Branch

Research Fellow

James Alan Branch is a professor of Christian Ethics at Midwestern Seminary where he has served since 2001. He earned his undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State…

Dustin Bruce

Dustin Bruce

Research Fellow

Dustin Bruce is the dean of Boyce College and assistant professor of Christian Theology and Church History. Formerly, Bruce was associate vice president for spiritual formation…

Don Buckley

Emeritus Fellow

Don Buckley is a Family Medicine Specialist and founding member of the ERLC’s Research Institute.

Denny Burk

Research Fellow

Denny Burk is professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, which is the undergraduate school of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He also…

Barry Creamer

Barry Creamer serves as president of Criswell College and professor of humanities. A trained philosopher and historian, Barry holds a B.A. in English from Baylor University,…

Daniel Darling

Daniel Darling

Dan Darling is the director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a columnist for World Magazine and a…

Jason Duesing

Research Fellow

Jason Duesing serves as the provost, senior vice president for Academic Administration, and professor of Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served for more…

Barrett Duke

Emeritus Fellow

Barrett Duke is an emeritus fellow at the ERLC. He is the executive director-treasurer for the Montana Southern Baptist Convention and the founding director of the…

Kristen Ferguson

Research Fellow

Kristen Ferguson is associate dean of Education Effectiveness, director of Online Education, and associate professor of Educational Leadership at Gateway Seminary. She received her Ed.D. and…

Adam Groza

Research Fellow

Adam Groza (Ph.D.) is the president of Gateway Seminary and associate professor of Philosophy of Religion. He is a contributing author, along with Ben Arbour, to…

Scott James

Scott James

Research Fellow

Scott James is an associate professor & program director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an author. He…

Thomas Kidd

Research Fellow

Thomas S. Kidd serves as research professor of Church History at Midwestern & the John and Sharon Yeats Endowed Chair of Baptist Studies. Kidd completed a…

Richard Land

Emeritus Fellow

Richard Land, D. Phil, is the executive editor of the Christian Post, having previously served as president of the ERLC (1988-2013) and president of Southern Evangelical…

Steve Lemke

Emeritus Fellow

Steve Lemke is professor of Philosophy and Ethics and provost emeritus at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a founding member of the ERLC’s Research…

Evan Lenow

Evan Lenow

Research Fellow

Evan Lenow serves as director of Church and Minister Relations and associate professor of Christian Studies at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. He is also the…

Mark Liederbach

Mark Liederbach

Research Fellow

Mark Liederbach is the senior professor of Ethics, Theology, and Culture, Dean of Students, & vice president for Student Services at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He…

Ken Magnuson

Research Fellow

Ken Magnuson serves as the executive director of the Evangelical Theological Society. He also serves as professor of Christian ethics at Southwestern Seminary. He previously taught…

Matthew Martens

Research Fellow

Matthew T. Martens (J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law; M.A.B.S., Dallas Theological Seminary) is an author, trial lawyer, a former federal prosecutor, and a…

Lauren McAfee

Research Fellow

Lauren McAfee serves as corporate ambassador for Hobby Lobby, the country’s largest arts and crafts retailer. She also works on special projects for Museum of the…

Katie McCoy

Research Fellow

Katie McCoy serves as the director of Women’s Ministry for Baptist General Convention of Texas. She holds a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she…

Brooke Medina

Research Fellow

Brooke Medina is an ERLC research fellow and serves as vice president of Communications for the John Locke Foundation where she manages a team of talented…

Paul D. Miller

Research Fellow

Paul D. Miller is a professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Georgetown University and a research fellow with the ERLC. He is also a…

Lilly Park

Research Fellow

Lilly Park serves as the associate professor of Biblical Counseling at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. She has contributed to Trained in the…

Stephen Presley

Research Fellow

Stephen O. Presley is the senior fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy. He is also an associate professor…

Benjamin Quinn

Benjamin Quinn

Research Fellow

Benjamin Quinn is assistant professor of Theology and History of Ideas and the director of L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist…

Jeffery B. Riley

Research Fellow

Jeffrey B. Riley is a professor of Ethics and associate dean of Graduate Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a research fellow…

Jacob Shatzer

Research Fellow

Jacob Shatzer is provost of Union University. He is also an associate professor of Theological Studies and dean of Instruction. He received his Ph.D. from Marquette…

Andrew Spencer

Andrew Spencer

Research Fellow

Andrew Spencer (Ph.D., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as associate editor for books at The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of Hope for God’s Creation:…

Luke Stamps

Research Fellow

Lucas Stamps serves as professor of Christian Theology at Anderson University and the Clamp Divinity School. Stamps is a graduate of Auburn University (B.S. in history)…

Ryan Tucker

Research Fellow

Ryan Tucker serves as senior counsel and director of the Center for Christian Ministries with Alliance Defending Freedom. He oversees all litigation efforts to maintain and…

Andrew Walker

Andrew Walker

Andrew Walker is associate dean of the School of Theology, associate professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology, and director of the Carl F. H. Henry…

John Wilsey

Research Fellow

John Wilsey is chair of the Church History Department at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and book review editor of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology,…

Malcolm Yarnell

Research Fellow

Malcolm B. Yarnell III is research professor of Systematic Theology in Fort Worth, Texas, where he enjoys exploring theology with his students. He is the author…