Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

History

Formerly known as the Christian Life Commission (1953–1997), the entity with organizational predecessors dating back to 1907 received its current name in the course of a broad reorganization of multiple Southern Baptist entities in 1997. The Southern Baptist Convention terminated its participation with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in 1992 due to conflicts over separation of church and state and whether Baptist organizations should play a role in partisan politics. It was led by Richard Land from 1988 to 2013. Land announced his intention to retire effective October 23, 2013, after the uproar that ensued from his controversial comments about the Trayvon Martin case that resulted in an official reprimand by the ERLC's executive committee. Russell D. Moore filled the post afterwards. Moore was an outspoken critic of then-Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump. His criticism of Trump was controversial with several Southern Baptist leaders.

The stated vision of the ERLC is an organization "dedicated to engaging the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ and speaking to issues in the public square for the protection of religious liberty and human flourishing. Our vision can be summed up in three words: kingdom, culture and mission. Since its inception, the ERLC has been defined around a holistic vision of the kingdom of God, leading the culture to change within the church itself and then as the church addresses the world."

At the convention's 2018 annual meeting, a motion to defund the ERLC was rejected. At the convention's 2022 annual meeting in Anaheim, a motion was made to abolish the ERLC, but it was rejected. Again at the convention's 2024 annual meeting in Indianapolis, another motion to abolish the ERLC was also rejected.

On July 22, 2024, the executive committee of the board of trustees of the ERLC issued a statement saying, in part, "In accordance with our bylaws, the executive committee has removed Brent Leatherwood as president." However, on July 23, 2024, the executive committee issued a retraction of that statement and announced that Brent Leatherwood would remain ERLC president. The ERLC later claimed that Kevin Smith, the chair of the executive committee, acted without a formal vote of the board and thus Leatherwood was never actually let go as president. Kevin Smith resigned from the board of trustees and released a statement saying that, after multiple conversations with members of the executive committee, he "was convinced in my mind that we had a consensus to remove Brent Leatherwood as the president of the ERLC." A little over a year later, on July 31, 2025, Leatherood resigned as president of the ERLC.

Activities

The agency has many ministries to carry out its stated missions, including voter registration, a think tank called the Research Institute, and the Psalm 139 Project, which donates sonogram machines to crisis pregnancy centers.

ERLC is involved in legislative advocacy. Its achievements include:

• The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)
• The Sudan Peace Act of 2002
• The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA)
• The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004

The ERLC campaigned unsuccessfully against the 2022 passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, arguing that its gender-neutral definition of marriage contradicted the Bible, and claiming that it is a threat to religious freedom.

Leadership history

References

References

1. Sutton, Jerry. (2008). "A matter of conviction: A history of Southern Baptist engagement with the culture". B&H Publishing Group.
2. Banks, Adelle M.. (August 1, 2012). "Southern Baptist leader Richard Land to retire after ethics probe". Religion News Service.
3. Toalston, Art. (June 1, 2012). "Trustees reprimand Land, halt radio program over comments". Baptist Press.
4. Allen, Bob. (April 11, 2014). "SBC leader says evangelicals paying price for 'narrow vision' of religious freedom". [[Associated Baptist Press]].
5. Allen, Bob. (November 23, 2016). "Former SBC leader says ERLC out of touch with mainstream". Baptist News Global.
6. "ERLC: About".
7. (June 16, 2018). "Southern Baptists call off the culture war".
8. Porter, Brandon. (June 15, 2022). "Messengers overwhelmingly affirm necessity of ERLC".
9. Barkley, Scott. (June 13, 2024). "Messenger motions deal with ERLC, censure, other issues".
10. Bristow, Elizabeth. (July 22, 2024). "ERLC Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees Issues Statement Regarding ERLC President Brent Leatherwood".
11. Bristow, Elizabeth. (July 23, 2024). "ERLC Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees Issues Retraction Regarding ERLC President Brent Leatherwood".
12. Bristow, Elizabeth. (July 23, 2024). "ERLC Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees Provides Update & Clarity on ERLC President Brent Leatherwood".
13. (July 23, 2024). "Smith resigns from ERLC board, issues apology for removal of Leatherwood 'without a formal vote'". Baptist Press.
14. (August 12, 2004). ["Focus on the Family signs on to ERLC's iVoteValues initiative"](https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/focus-on-the-family-signs-on-to-erlcs-ivotevalues-initiative/ ). [[Baptist Press]].
15. "ERLC Research Institute".
16. "The Psalm 139 Project: About".
17. (October 5, 2009). "Report: U.S. Officials Unaware of Child Sex-Trafficking Problem". Baptist Press.
18. (October 22, 2002). ["President signs Sudan Peace Act seeking end to regime's atrocities"](https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/president-signs-sudan-peace-act-seeking-end-to-regimes-atrocities/ ). [[Baptist Press]].
19. (July 27, 2003). "Government Aims to Halt Prison Rape: Disparate Groups Unite in Backing New Reforms". [[The Washington Post]].
20. Strode, Tom. (December 14, 2022). "Biden signs 'Respect for Marriage Act' amid religious liberty concerns". Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
21. Ward, Alex. (March 21, 2023). "Explainer: A history of the ERLC".
22. Waddle, Ray. (June 4, 1988). "Baptist ethics agency names interim director". The Tennessean.
23. Briggs, Ed. (June 12, 1988). "SBC Interim Head Named". The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
24. Pickering, Jeff. (May 19, 2021). "Russell Moore announces departure from Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission".
25. Bristow, Elizabeth. (July 31, 2025). "Brent Leatherwood Steps Down as ERLC President: Board Names Miles Mullin as Acting President".
26. (September 17, 2025). "Gary Hollingsworth named ERLC interim president".