NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2019—The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention announced members of its 2019 Leadership Council today.
This year’s Leadership Council is the largest to date comprised of 113 Southern Baptist pastors, ministry leaders and church members across the U.S. Each year, the ERLC Leadership Council receives targeted investment from the ERLC to equip them to help their churches and ministries apply the gospel to everyday life.
The ERLC Leadership Council launched in 2014 and has included a wide-ranging group of leaders from diverse backgrounds and ministry settings.
ERLC President Russell Moore, commented on the announcement of the 2019 Leadership Council.
“One of my greatest joys at the ERLC is gathering with this group of leaders throughout the year. Time that I spend with these men and women consistently makes me optimistic about our churches and shared mission. The group that have joined the council this year are among the most gifted and godly I know. It’s a privilege to serve alongside them for the sake of equipping churches to address cultural concerns with a gospel focus.”
Some of the new members of the 2019 Leadership Council include:
- Marshal Ausberry, Senior Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Fairfax Station, Va.
- Matt Boswell, Pastor of Worship & Ministry, Providence Church, Frisco, Texas
- Curtis Cook, Senior Pastor, Hope Fellowship Church, Cambridge, Mass.
- Erik Cummings, Pastor, New Life Baptist Church of Carol City, Miami Gardens, Fla.
- Grant Ethridge, Senior Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Hampton Roads, Va.
- Donna Gaines, Author, Bible Teacher, Memphis, Tenn.
- Noe Garcia, Pastor, North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Mike Glenn, Senior Pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tenn
- Christine Hoover, Author, Speaker, Founder of Grace Covers Me Blog, Charlottesville, Va.
- Elicia Horton, Author, Reach Fellowship, North Long Beach, Calif.
- Dean Inserra, Lead Pastor, City Church, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Jennifer Lyell, Trade Book Publisher, B&H Publishing Group, Nashville, Tenn.
- Lauren McAfee, Speaker, Writer, Corporate Ambassador for Hobby Lobby, Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Dave Miller, Editor, SBCvoices.com
- Vance Pitman, Senior Pastor, Hope Church, Las Vegas, Nev.
- Kevin Smith, Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware
- Dante Wright, Pastor, Sweet Home-The Pinnacle of Praise, Round Rock, Texas
- Afshin Ziafat, Lead Pastor, Providence Church, Frisco, Texas
In response to being selected for the 2019 ERLC Leadership Council, Lauren McAfee said, "The ERLC Leadership Council provides a diverse group of leaders the opportunity to process critical issues facing the church today. I am eager to be trained to have convictional kindness in the face of cultural opposition by Dr. Moore, the ERLC staff and this remarkable cohort of influencers.”
Members of the Council will serve an annual term and will be equipped by the ERLC throughout the year through conference calls and events, while providing input to the ERLC and occasional content for erlc.com.
To learn more about the ERLC Leadership Council visit erlc.com/about/leadership-council.
