ERLC Removes Brent Leatherwood as President

On Monday (July 22), the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) removed Brent Leatherwood from the position of president.

In a statement published on its website, the ERLC said: “In accordance with our bylaws, the executive committee has removed Brent Leatherwood as president. More details, as well as plans for the transition, will be provided at our board meeting in September.”

“Until then, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors will assume the directional responsibility for fulfilling the tasks of the ministry for ERLC“, concluded the statement.

The ERLC Executive Committee of the Board of Directors said more information will be provided at the September 10-11 trustee meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.

Although unspecified, Leatherwood’s removal comes just hours after he provided comments on the Baptist Press Retirement of President Joe Biden from the 2024 presidential election.

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“Not only is it a historic decision, it’s the right decision for our nation,” Leatherwood told Baptist Press. “The role of president takes a heavy toll, and based on what has been evident for some time, it was unrealistic to ask President Biden to endure another four years of incredible burdens placed on the incumbent.”

“We should all express our appreciation that President Biden has put the needs of the nation above his personal ambition,” Leatherwood said. “Despite what some partisans will say, stepping down is an altruistic act — the kind that has become too rare in our culture.”

Leatherwood drew criticism from SBC President Clint Pressley, SBC members and SBC pastors for saying Biden’s withdrawal was “a selfless act.”

Pressley agreed with Andrew Walker, an associate professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), when he posted on social media that he disagreed with Leatherwood’s sentiment.

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“I agree with the idea that this was an act of bravery by President Biden,” Walker said. “Had he not acted defiantly after the debate, or had he not made it clear months ago that he would not run (aided by a compliant press that kept his decline from being more public), that would have been respectable.”

He continued, “But let’s call a spade a spade. Democrats want power, and democracy is an obstacle to that power if it means losing the ability to rule with an iron fist. So a handful of the ultra-powerful just took control of things.” Walker warned that “very current and future office bearers should fear the precedent set in today’s announcement”.

Pressley republished Walker’s dissent with commentary“Sounds right.”

Leatherwood became president of the ERLC in 2021 following the departure of Russell Moore. He was previously Chief of Staff of the ERLC.