Who would you like to nominate for the ERLC 2021 Leadership Council?
By / Sep 29

Do you know someone who could be a good fit for the 2021 ERLC Leadership Council? Complete the recommendation form by Oct. 20 to recommend them for consideration.

What is the ERLC Leadership Council?

The ERLC Leadership Council is a collection of SBC pastors and leaders who receive intentional investment from the ERLC team. During their annual term, these council members enjoy equipping through conference calls and events, while providing occasional content for ERLC.com. From coast to coast, from megachurch to country church, and from a variety of backgrounds, these pastors and leaders represent a cross section of evangelicalism in general and the SBC in particular.

What are the qualifications?

  • Each nominee must be affiliated with a Southern Baptist church.
  • Ministry experience is encouraged, but not required.
  • Each nominee should be someone of mature Christian character.
  • Nominations are open to both men and women.
  • Candidates should resonate with the mission and vision of the ERLC.

What’s the process?

  • You can submit your nominations here by Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 12 p.m. CDT.
  • The ERLC will review the recommendations and extend invitations in the weeks following the deadline.

Who has been involved?

Current and past ERLC Leadership Council Members include:

  • Jon Akin, Fairview Church, Lebanon, Tennessee
  • Marshal Ausberry, Antioch Baptist Church, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
  • Bart Box, Christ Fellowship Church, Birmingham, Alabama
  • H.B. Charles Jr., Shiloh Church, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Aaron Colyer, First Baptist Church, Roswell, New Mexico
  • Jed Coppenger, Redemption City Church, Franklin, Tennessee
  • Daryl Crouch, Green Hills Church, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
  • Charles Fowler, First Baptist Church, Germantown, Tennessee
  • Donna Gaines, Bellevue Baptist Church,  Cordova, Tennessee
  • Robby Gallaty, Long Hollow, Hendersonville, Tennessee
  • Dean Inserra, City Church, Tallahassee, Florida
  • Dhati Lewis, Blueprint Church, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Fred Luter, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Lauren McAfee, Council Road Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Rich Perez, Christ Crucified Fellowship, New York, New York
  • David Prince, Ashland Avenue Baptist Church
  • Vance Pitman, Hope Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Courtney Reissig, Midtown Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Raleigh Sadler, Let My People Go, New York, New York
  • Juan Sanchez, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas
  • Afshin Ziafat, Providence Church, Frisco, Texas

Who would you like to nominate for the ERLC 2020 Leadership Council?
By / Sep 4

Do you know someone who could be a good fit for the 2020 ERLC Leadership Council? Complete the recommendation form by October 1 to nominate them for consideration.

What is the ERLC Leadership Council?

The ERLC Leadership Council is a collection of SBC pastors and leaders who receive intentional investment from the ERLC team. During their annual term, these council members enjoy equipping through conference calls and events, while providing occasional content for ERLC.com. From coast to coast, from megachurch to country church, and from a variety of backgrounds, these pastors and leaders represent a cross section of evangelicalism in general and the SBC in particular.

What are the qualifications?

  • Each nominee must be affiliated with a Southern Baptist church.
  • Ministry experience is encouraged, but not required.
  • Each nominee should be someone of mature Christian character.
  • Nominations are open to both men and women.
  • Candidates should resonate with the mission and vision of the ERLC.

What’s the process?

  • You can submit your nominations here by Tuesday, October 1 at 12 p.m. CT.
  • The ERLC will review the recommendations and extend invitations in the weeks following the deadline.

Who has been involved?

Current and past ERLC Leadership Council Members include:

  • Jon Akin, Fairview Church, Lebanon, Tennessee
  • Lauren Ashford, The Summit Church, Durham, North Carolina
  • Marshal Ausberry, Antioch Baptist Church, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
  • Bart Box, Christ Fellowship Church, Birmingham, Alabama
  • H.B. Charles, Jr., Shiloh Church, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Aaron Colyer, First Baptist Church, Roswell, New Mexico
  • Jed Coppenger, Redemption City Church, Franklin, Tennessee
  • Charles Fowler, First Baptist Church, Germantown, Tennessee
  • Robby Gallaty, Long Hollow, Hendersonville, Tennessee
  • Dean Inserra, City Church, Tallahassee, Florida
  • Dhati Lewis, Blueprint Church, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Fred Luter, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Carolyn McCullough, Redeemer Church, Arlington, Virginia
  • Rich Perez, Christ Crucified Fellowship, New York, New York
  • David Prince, Ashland Avenue Baptist Church
  • Vance Pitman, Hope Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Courtney Reissig, Midtown Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Raleigh Sadler, Let My People Go, New York, New York
  • Juan Sanchez, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas
  • Rachel White, Faithbridge Church, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Bryant Wright, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia
  • Afshin Ziafat, Providence Church, Frisco, Texas

You can nominate someone for the 2019 ERLC Leadership Council
By / Oct 2

Do you know someone who could be a good fit for the 2019 ERLC Leadership Council? Complete the recommendation form by October 12 to recommend them for consideration.

What is the ERLC Leadership Council?

The ERLC Leadership Council is a collection of SBC pastors and leaders who receive intentional investment from the ERLC team. During their annual term, these council members enjoy equipping through conference calls and events, while providing occasional content for ERLC.com. From coast to coast, from megachurch to country church, and from a variety of backgrounds, these pastors and leaders represent a cross section of evangelicalism in general and the SBC in particular.

What are the qualifications?

  • Each nominee must be affiliated with a Southern Baptist church.
  • Ministry experience is encouraged, but not required.
  • Each nominee should be someone of mature Christian character.
  • Nominations are open to both men and women.
  • Candidates should resonate with the mission and vision of the ERLC.

What’s the process?

  • You can submit your nominations here by Friday, October 12 at 12 p.m. CDT.
  • The ERLC will review the recommendations and extend invitations in the weeks following the deadline.

Who has been involved?

Current and past ERLC Leadership Council Members include:

  • Jon Akin, Fairview Church, Lebanon, Tennessee
  • Bart Box, Christ Fellowship Church, Birmingham, Alabama
  • H.B. Charles, Jr., Shiloh Church, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Matt Chandler, The Village Church, Dallas, Texas
  • Aaron Colyer, First Baptist Church, Roswell, New Mexico
  • Charles Fowler, First Baptist Church, Germantown, Tennessee
  • Robby Gallaty, Long Hollow, Hendersonville, Tennessee
  • Beau Hughes, The Village Church, Denton, Texas
  • Dean Inserra, City Church, Tallahassee, Florida
  • Dhati Lewis, Blueprint Church, Atlanta, Ga.
  • Fred Luter, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Rich Perez, Christ Crucified Fellowship, New York, New York
  • Vance Pitman, Hope Church, Las Vegas, N.V.
  • Courtney Reissig, Midtown Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Juan Sanchez, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas
  • Rachel White, Faithbridge Church, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Jen Wilkin, The Village church, Dallas, Texas
  • Bryant Wright, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia
  • Afshin Ziafat, Providence Church, Frisco, Texas

You can nominate someone for the 2018 ERLC Leadership Council
By / Sep 27

Do you know someone who could be a good fit for the 2018 ERLC Leadership Council? Complete the nomination form by October 6 to recommend them for consideration.

What is the ERLC Leadership Council?

The ERLC Leadership Council is a collection of SBC pastors and leaders who receive intentional investment from the ERLC team. During their annual term, these council members enjoy equipping through conference calls and events, while providing occasional content for ERLC.com. From coast to coast, from megachurch to country church, and from a variety of backgrounds, these pastors and leaders represent a cross section of evangelicalism in general and the SBC in particular.

What are the qualifications?

  • Each nominee must be affiliated with a Southern Baptist church.
  • Ministry experience is encouraged, but not required.
  • Each nominee should be someone of mature Christian character.
  • Nominations are open to both men and women
  • Candidates should resonate with the mission and vision of the ERLC

What’s the process?

  • You can submit your nominations here by Friday, October 6 at 12 p.m. CDT.
  • The ERLC will review nominations and extend invitations in the weeks following the deadline.

Who has been involved?

Current and past ERLC Leadership Council Members include:

  • Jon Akin, Fairview Church, Lebanon, Tenn.
  • Bart Box, Christ Fellowship Church, Birmingham, Ala.
  • Matt Chandler, The Village Church, Dallas, Texas
  • H.B. Charles, Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
  • Jeff Dodge, Cornerstone Church, Ames, IA
  • Charles Fowler, First Baptist Church, Germantown, Tenn.
  • Robby Gallaty, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tenn.
  • Beau Hughes, The Village Church, Denton, Texas
  • Jamie Ivey, Host of the Happy Hour Podcast
  • Dhati Lewis, Blueprint Church, Atlanta, Ga.
  • Fred Luter, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, La.
  • Rich Perez, Christ Crucified Fellowship, New York, N.Y.
  • Vance Pitman, Hope Church, Las Vegas, N.V.
  • Juan Sanchez, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas
  • Kevin Smith, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware
  • Jen Wilkin, The Village Church, Dallas, Texas
  • Bryant Wright, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga.
  • Afshin Ziafat, Providence Church, Frisco, Texas

ERLC Announces Members of the 2017 Leadership Council
By / Jan 19

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 19, 2017—The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention announced members of its 2017 Leadership Council today.

This year’s Leadership Council, comprised of 73 Southern Baptist pastors, ministry leaders and church members across the U.S. This annual group of leaders receives targeted investment from the ERLC to equip them to help their churches apply the gospel to everyday life.  

The ERLC Leadership Council launched in 2014 and has included a wide-ranging group of SBC leaders from diverse backgrounds and ministry settings.

ERLC President Russell Moore, commented on the announcement of the 2017 Leadership Council.

“Churches around the country are on the front lines of engaging some of the most difficult cultural and societal questions imaginable, ones that our parents and grandparents often never had to consider,” Moore said. “With our Leadership Council, I'm thrilled to be able to partner with a new group of leaders from around the country who are eager to address these issues with a gospel focus both in the life of their churches and in the public square.”

Members of the 2017 Leadership Council include: Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas; Matt Chandler, lead pastor of The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas; H.B. Charles, pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville and Orange Park, Fla.; Byron Day, senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Laurel, Md.; James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Ga.; Clint Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C..; Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla.; Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla.; Kevin Smith, executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware; and Jen Wilkin, author and Bible teacher from Dallas, Texas.

Merritt said he is a part of the ERLC Leadership Council because he’s "deeply interested in the political and social issues which have spiritual ramifications for the church and culture today.”

Wilkin, one of the first female Council members said, “I'm looking forward to learning from the other members and gaining exposure to new ideas.”

"There is not another organization, like the ERLC, that helps evangelical Christians think through the pressing issues with a genuinely Christian framework,” said Pressley. “To be a small part of such a great organization is a rare privilege."

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.

The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.2 million members in over 46,000 churches nationwide. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is the SBC’s ethics, religious liberty and public policy agency with offices in Nashville, Tenn., and Washington, D.C.

To request an interview with Russell Moore
contact Elizabeth Bristow at 202-547-0209
or by email at [email protected]
Visit our website at www.erlc.com
Follow us on Twitter at @ERLC

ERLC Announces Members of the 2016 Leadership Council
By / Jan 14

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 14, 2016The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention announced members of its 2016 “Leadership Council”:https://erlc.com/network/council today.

This years Leadership Council is comprised of 43 Southern Baptist pastors and leaders across the U.S. This annual group of leaders receives targeted investment from the ERLC to equip them to help their churches apply the gospel to everyday life.

The ERLC Leadership Council launched in 2014 and has included a wide-ranging group of SBC leaders from diverse backgrounds and ministry settings.

ERLC President Russell Moore, commented on the announcement of the 2016 Leadership Council.

I am thrilled to welcome this group of gospel-focused, innovative band of pastors and leaders to this years ERLC Leadership Council, Moore said. As we come alongside one another, well talk about crucial ethical issues confronting churches and how we can engage with a gospel-focus in the culture and in the public square. Well think through issues that arent yet confronting churches, but will, and how we can best go through the difficulties of life and local church ministry with a joyful warrior kingdom expectancymarching toward Zion on the triumphant side of history.

Members of the 2016 Leadership Council include: Matt Chandler, lead pastor of teaching at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas; Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas; Bryant Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia; Robert J. Anderson, Jr., pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Maryland; David Fleming, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas; Darrin Patrick, pastor of The Journey Church in St. Louis, Missouri; Gregg Matte, pastor of Houstons First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas; Bruce Frank, lead pastor of Biltmore Baptist Church in Arden, North Carolina; and Afshin Ziafat, lead pastor of Providence Church in Frisco, Texas.

I love what the ERLC is doing to defend and promote Christian values in the public sphere, Ziafat said. I love how the council keeps me informed on the shifting culture that we are ministering in.

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. All Council members either currently are serving or have previously served in pastoral ministry.

To learn more about the ERLC Leadership Council visit erlc.com/network/council.

The Southern Baptist Convention is Americas largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.8 million members in over 46,000 churches nationwide. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is the SBCs ethics, religious liberty and public policy agency with offices in Nashville, Tenn. and Washington, D.C.

To request an interview with Russell Moore

contact Elizabeth Bristow at (615) 782-8409

or by e-mail at [email protected]

Visit our Web site at www.erlc.com

Follow us on Twitter at @ERLC