After one call for abolition, four recorded conversations, eight articles specific to the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission (ERLC), and four articles addressing positive ways Baptists have and should address the public square, the eight questions I posed to Brent Leatherwood in a January email (and in my open letter to Southern Baptists) have gone unanswered. Even more, no one from the ERLC has had the courtesy to send a postcard.
Over the course of this month, it has become apparent that the ERLC is quite aware of the conundrum related to their representation of Southern Baptists. In addition to showing off their field trip to Washington DC, I have received many reports of renewed activity around the capital. I’ve also been reminded that many of my questions were addressed in the ERLC’s FAQ page that was launched on July 29, 2024, the day before Shepherds for Sale launched.[1]
1. To see the update from the sparse and idiosyncratic FAQ page to the current webpage that answers questions raised by Megan Basham’s Shepherds for Sale, compare these three dates: May 22, 2024; June 1, 2024; and July 29, 2024.
Despite this activity, however, neither Tom Ascol (who made the motion to abolish the ERLC), nor I (who wrote the open letter), nor any of the authors (who wrote articles this month), have (to this point) received a response from the leadership of the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission. Now, lest it sound like Christ Over All has some complex of self-importance or that I demand others to “respect my authoritah,” let me say that the ERLC has no obligation to seek my input or to answer my questions. However, as entity that represents Southern Baptists, they do have a responsibility to give an answer for the ongoing concerns. And, wisdom would suggest that they would take initiative to “come and reason” with those who have publicly questioned their work.
Yet, to my knowledge, nothing like that has happened.
Speaking Up is a Matter of Stewardship
The leaders of the ERLC have trustees to whom they report, and they have the freedom to treat those who raise concerns publicly as Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s who are simply interfering with the Lord’s work. In fact, Brent Leatherwood has said as much, labeling those who raise their voice in public as “outrage artists and the grievous grifters.” Still, for all the liberty that the ERLC takes to ignore the questions and concerns of Southern Baptist pastors and church members, one wonders: How does one get an audience with the ERLC?
In June, if nothing changes, I expect that I will make my way to the microphone to ask that question. Or, if the reports I am hearing are accurate, I expect there will be another motion to abolish the ERLC. As the authors of this last month (Megan Basham, David Mitzenmacher, Jon Whitehead, and John Michael LaRue) discussed on a recent podcast hosted by the Center for Baptist Leadership, it is not only the prerogative of Southern Baptist messengers to raise concerns at the annual convention—it is also our duty! Stewardship requires Southern Baptists to hold their entities accountable, especially since some recent SBC leaders believe the SBC will cease to exist within a decade.[2]
2. The actual words, that come from Mark Tooley, are these: “A former senior SBC official told me last year he does not expect the SBC to exist in ten years, as the older people with strong SBC attachments leave the scene.”
The entire reason Christ Over All took up the subject of Ethics and Religious Liberty Conundrum is not because we are rabble-rousers (at least, we don’t think so), but because the public witness of the ERLC, as reported all month long, is out of step with common Southern Baptists. This is not to say that there is no support for the ERLC in the convention, as a select group of pastors recently reported. It’s only that vocal support does not take into account a growing number of concerned pastors and parishioners.
As Jon Whitehead, an ERLC trustee, wrote this month, the rift between the conservatives of the convention and the heads of ERLC (Russell Moore first, and now Brent Leatherwood) is a combination of three things: (1) Moore’s unbiblical political theology, (2) an uncertainty about what defines ERLC success, and (3) Brent Leatherwood’s unauthorized statements. While more can be said, these three issues illustrate the great divide between how the ERLC congratulates itself on fulfilling its mission and the way pastors that don’t make trips to Washington, D.C. think about the ERLC.
One such pastor is John Michael LaRue, who expressed his loss of trust in the ERLC when it jumped on the Woke Wagon. According to LaRue, the MLK50 conference in 2018—which promoted multiple speakers who affirm Critical Race Theory along with the anti-biblical teachings of anti-racism—was the watershed moment, and one that served the interests of those outside the SBC more than Southern Baptists themselves.
As the ERLC website itself reports, portions of this event were funded by The Democracy Fund, “an organization funded by a liberal billionaire who follows the teachings of the Dalai Lama” (David Mitzenmacher). As the ERLC acknowledges that such funds were received under Russell Moore, not the current president, the question of financial transparency remains. Rhett Burns, another Southern Baptist pastor, picks up this question in his article, even highlighting the “spin room” feel of the current ERLC report.
Further questions about the ERLC and funding can be found in Megan Basham’s book, Shepherds for Sale. Yet, this month, it was not finances that found her focus. Instead, she applied her investigative reporting to the question of the ERLC’s efficacy in representing Southern Baptists in our nation’s capitol. As her article (“Too Busy with Woke Stuff”) reveals, the ERLC’s reputation around Washington, D.C. is a mixture of inconsequence and actual counter-productive actions. While Russell Moore famously shared his picture sitting in the Oval Office with Barack Obama, one abiding reputation of the ERLC is that of being a group of Never Trumpers. The majority of Southern Baptists voted for Trump (with varying degrees of moral qualifications), and so the fact that the SBC’s public policy arm would be known for “woke stuff” and opposition to the current president illustrates a public relations problem that needs deliberate attention.
The Need for Change
Truly, the Southern Baptist Convention should never be (or be seen as) a pawn for the GOP or a chaplain for any political party or movement. Nevertheless, to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves will require work—and change. At present, the ERLC has assumed the unfortunate position of being ineffective in public and unsupported at home. And it’s likely that those two things are connected. It is difficult to lobby politicians for the interests of Southern Baptists when those politicians either don’t know who you are, or worse, they do know that the ERLC doesn’t have support from large numbers of its SBC pastors and churches.
To all of this, the question remains: Do the ERLC leaders, trustees, and supporters have what it takes to make the necessary changes?
Sadly, when the vote to abolish the ERLC came to the floor of the SBC in 2024, one would think that Brent Leatherwood would have swallowed his pride and set up a meeting with Tom Ascol, the one who made the original motion. Just the same, knowing that a month of articles was being planned to raise questions about the ERLC, it would seem wise, in the spirit of Isaiah 1:18 (“Come now, let us reason together . . .”), to at least take a phone call with the organization that planned the month and invited participation.
Unfortunately, the ERLC took no interest in fielding such an open and honest conversation. And this, combined with all the concerns raised this month, is final evidence: instead of being able to course-correct by itself, the ERLC leadership needs a systemic change. As David Mitzenmacher notes in his call for reformation, organizations rise and fall with their leaders. And as the history of the ERLC proves, the president of the ERLC (and its various precursors) have had an outsized role in determining their direction and their effectiveness. And this is why, as Mitzenmacher suggests with no sense of gloating, there is a sober need for a change in presidential leadership.
Yet, as this month concludes, I might go further, suggesting that the problem does not originate in one person—unless that person is Russell Moore. It is with great sorrow that I bring up the name of my former theology professor, seminary dean, and Sunday School teacher, yet the marks of Moore’s errant political theology touch every aspect of the current ERLC. And as long as his acolytes, agenda items, and progressive associations define the ERLC, it is going to be an entity that fails to represent the conservative churches of the SBC. Indeed, without a disavowal of the last ten years, the ghost of Russell Moore will continue to haunt the ERLC and spook genuine conservatives—in the Southern Baptist Convention and on Capitol Hill.
For this reason, if a vote calling for the abolition of the ERLC comes to the floor of the annual convention in 2025, I would stand before Brent Leatherwood again and raise my ballot. I won’t do that vindictively or maliciously, but I will do so willingly, because a systemic change is needed. And if that is not clear to anyone reading this, please take the time to revisit the articles and podcasts of this month. From the professorial Tom Nettles to the turn-around expert David Mitzenmacher, and from the investigative reporting of Megan Basham to the pastoral perspective of John Michael LaRue, it is undeniable that that conundrum of the ERLC is of such a magnitude, that shuttering the ERLC (and rebooting something else in the future?) seems like the best option. And if the majority vote is to abolish the ERLC in 2025, then perhaps the year in between the second required vote in 2026 (according to Article 25 of the SBC bylaws) would bring about the needed leadership change. Or perhaps the problems are so deep that a second year majority vote to close the ERLC’s doors would be necessary.
Is it the only option? Maybe not. But without the ERLC’s unwillingness to address the concerns outlined this month, it is the leading option for Southern Baptists heading to the SBC annual meeting Dallas. If you are in the SBC, put the June 10th-11th convention on your calendar,and come ready to do business. As the Lord allows, I hope to see you there. And Lord willing, we will be able to bring some positive changes to the SBC and the ERLC.
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Conundrum
Thanks to all the men and women who wrote for Christ Over All this month. This ministry is nothing without the Lord and without his gifted writers, so thank you for writing. And dear reader, thank you for taking time to entrust to us your eyes and ears. May these resources serve the church—both now and for generations to come. The longform essays from this past month are in bold below, along with all of the other articles and podcasts we produced.
- What Do We Do with the ERLC? An Open Letter to Southern Baptists by David Schrock • Longform Essay • The Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the SBC needs to provide clear answers to the pressing questions their convention is asking.
- 4.10 “What Do We Do with the ERLC? An Open Letter to Southern Baptists” by David Schrock • Longform Reading • The Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the SBC needs to provide clear answers to the pressing questions their convention is asking.
- Whither the ERLC (or ePP*C*)? by Mark Coppenger • Concise Article • They are called the Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission. But is that what they do?
- A Century-long Look at the Southern Baptist Commissions on Ethics (Part 1) by Tom J. Nettles • Longform Essay • Before the ERLC was named the ERLC, what were the major cultural issues that it addressed from the early 1900s to the 1960s?
- 4.11 “A Century-long Look at the Southern Baptist Commissions on Ethics” by Tom J. Nettles, David Schrock, Stephen Wellum • Interview • Listen in as David Shrock and Stephen Wellum interview Tom J. Nettles on his Christ Over All essay: “A Century-long Look at the Southern Baptist Commissions on Ethics”
- The Gospel’s Irreducibly Political Message by Levi Secord • Concise Article • Christians must reject the so-called “secular/sacred” divide, embracing Christ’s—the King of kings—authority over all of life.
- A Century-long Look at the Southern Baptist Commissions on Ethics (Part 2) by Tom J. Nettles • Longform Essay • This essay chronicles the last fifty plus years of the ERLC from the 1970s onward, with a particular focus on the leadership of Richard Land, Russell Moore, and Brent Leatherwood.
- 4.12 “A Century-long Look at the Southern Baptist Commissions on Ethics” by Tom J. Nettles • Longform Reading • Listen to a combined reading of parts 1 and 2 of Tom J. Nettles’ longform essay on the antecedents and history of the ERLC.
- Transparency, Trust, and the Great Commission: It’s Time to Open the Books of the ERLC (and SBC) by Rhett Burns • Concise Article • If the ERLC and other executives and entities report to SBC churches and not vise-versa, why can’t the convention fully access the financials?
- Will the ERLC Divide Southern Baptists for Evermore? by Jon Whitehead • Concise Article • It is clear that the rift between the ERLC and its convention continues to grow as messengers lose confidence—where does all the frustration come from?
- Specialized Politics: What Should a Christian Advocacy Organization Do? by Jared Bridges • Concise Article • Public policy can be a messy, delicate world, but it is one that Christians must engage. How can they do it well?
- Evangelism, Islam, Border Security, and National Identity: Moving Past the ERLC’s Mosque-Building Mood by Alex Kocman • Concise Article • With ditches to avoid on the left and the right, Christians need to exercise a faithful missiology and wise political theology with regard to migration.
- A Roadmap for Reforming the ERLC by David Mitzenmacher • Longform Essay • “I take no pleasure in proposing this last reform. . . . I love Brent Leatherwood as a brother in Christ. And with love, if the ERLC is to be saved, it will take a different leader to save it.”
- 4.13 “A Roadmap for Reforming the ERLC” by David Mitzenmacher • Longform Reading • “I take no pleasure in proposing this last reform. . . . I love Brent Leatherwood as a brother in Christ. And with love, if the ERLC is to be saved, it will take a different leader to save it.”
- Missing the Mark: A Pastor’s Loss of Trust in the ERLC by John Michael LaRue • Concise Article • Why is there such disconnect between the work of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and the average Southern Baptist church?
- “Too Busy with Woke Stuff”: The All Too (In)Visible and Inconsequential ERLC by Megan Basham • Longform Essay • Photo ops and PR campaigns do not effect policy change; meaningful interaction and work with policy makers does. The word on Capitol Hill is that the ERLC is doing the one and not the other, to the detriment of Southern Baptists nationwide.
- Back to Backus: Baptists and the Pursuit of a Sweet Harmony Between the Church and State by Michael Carlino • Concise Article • Many know Baptists by the phrase “free church in a free state.” But sound Baptist theology—and history—bear out better conceptions of that relationship that we ought to heed.
The Cross in the Old Testament
Speaking of changes, I am more than ready for a change of subject. While various concerns make it necessary to address certain problems that arise in the church, it is always most enjoyable to meditate on our common salvation. And in April, that is exactly what we will do!
For the month that contains Good Friday (April 18) and Resurrection Sunday (April 20), we are going to turn our attention to the cross of Christ. Following Paul’s lead, when he says “I have resolved to know nothing but Christ and him crucified,” we too will focus on the cross this month. This does not deny the resurrection, but it depends upon it. The cross of Christ is only good news if Christ rose from the dead. So, make no mistake, this month on the cross assumes a deeply rooted conviction in Christ’s resurrection.
That being said, we will take this month to think about Christ’s death, and especially all the ways that the Old Testament anticipates Jesus’s cross. Truly, in previous themes we have focused on the man Jesus Christ and the passion of the cross in the Gospels. This time we will focus on the types and shadows found in the Old Testament. And from Genesis 3:15 to Isaiah 53 and beyond, we will glory in the cross of Christ.
This will be a good palette cleanse from the polemical arguments of March, and it will be a good reflection on how the Old Testament leads us to hope of our salvation. Indeed, for at least two of our essays, we will see how the New Testament reads the Old and from that biblical-theological perspective we will then consider the cross in the Old Testament. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, we pray this month will encourage you and build up your faith.
Christ Over All News and Notes
As we close, let me highlight three things to keep in mind.
First, we are taking submissions for future months.
While the next three months have authors lined up, the rest of the year is open. If you or someone you know has an article idea, email us. We’d love to talk to you.
- May 2025: Speech: Sacred, Serrated, Simple, and Sanctified
- June 2025: The Paterfamilias: Making Fatherhood Great Again
- July 2025: The Nicene Creed: 1700 Years in the Making
- August 2025: The Gospels
- September 2025: The Doctrine of Vocation
- October 2025: Biblical Theology in the Balance
- November 2025: Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology
- December 2025: Christmas Medley, Part 2
Second, we hope to see many of you.
While we love providing resources online, it is a joy to meet readers and listeners face to face. To that end, we will be visiting the King’s Domain conference in Cincinnati, Ohio (May 8–10), as well as G3’s National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (September 11–13). Please sign up for those conferences, and let us know if you do. We’d love to see you.
We will also be at the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, Texas (June 9–10) and at the Evangelical Theological Society in Boston (November 18–20). So, if you are there, please reach out to us.
Third, we continue to look for individuals and churches who will support Christ Over All.
The simplest way to support us is by sharing the content that you find at Christ Over All. And this month, that means sharing it with others in the SBC. But in all months, we’d encourage you to forward this email to a friend who may benefit, or tell other pastors about the resources here. You can also follow us on X or Instagram, or give us a five-star review on your podcast player. All of these ‘shares’ help us put this content in front of others.
At the same time, if you or your church benefits from this ministry, would you consider becoming a monthly supporter or giving a one-time gift? You can do that here. Your gifts help us continue to produce podcasts and publish articles for the church for free.
That’s it for this month. Until next time, let us all remember that Christ is Lord over all things, so in all things let us exalt Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
