DALLAS (BP) – A group of 10 former Southern Baptist Convention presidents has released a letter expressing support for the continuation of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
The letter, released Thursday (May 22), says the ERLC “for decades” has “steadfastly defended our Southern Baptist commitment to religious liberty.” It also highlights the ERLC’s work in areas of importance to Southern Baptists, such as promoting life, marriage and family and opposing Roe v. Wade, pornography and transgender ideology.
“All Southern Baptists owe a debt of gratitude to the historical work of the ERLC,” it says.
The letter, signed by Bart Barber, Ed Litton, J.D. Greear, Steve Gaines, Fred Luter, Bryant Wright, James Merritt, Tom Elliff, Jim Henry and Jimmy Draper, is a response to recent calls from some corners to shutter the entity.
“The case for keeping the ERLC … deserves to be articulated in its clearest and most convincing form,” the letter states, “so that these two ideas may meet one another on the floor of the annual meeting and so that God may give us clarity.”
Motions to defund or abolish the ERLC have appeared before messengers at the last three SBC annual meetings. Last year’s motion failed to gain the first of two required consecutive majority votes. There was no ballot, but some estimates put support for the motion north of 30 percent. It appears likely a similar motion will be brought at this year’s meeting next month in Dallas.
Earlier this month, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler expressed “grave doubts” about the entity’s usefulness in today’s SBC.
The letter writers admittedly disagree on certain aspect of the ERLC’s work but believe the entity is a crucial part of Southern Baptist ministry.
“Those of us who would have some measure of critique for the priorities or tactics of the ERLC still believe in the importance of its existence and in its mission,” the letter says. “If this were not the case, we would not have such strong feelings about wanting it to get its mission right. Those of us who are more supportive of the ERLC as it currently stands also believe in the importance and mission of the ERLC. …”
Scott Foshie, chairman of the ERLC trustees, told Baptist Press today he was grateful the former SBC presidents spoke out about “the need for a trusted, effective ERLC to serve Southern Baptists and take the Gospel to the public square.”
“They are exactly right,” he said. “The path forward is together–in missions, in church planting, and in the public square.
“The trustees are committed to continue building on the good work already happening through the ERLC to impact our culture for Christ in the years to come,” Foshie continued. “We are listening to our fellow Southern Baptists, and we are thankful for their feedback and good ideas.”
Current SBC President Clint Pressley’s signature was not on the letter. He told Baptist Press in a statement today: “I love and respect each of our past SBC presidents. My goal is to lead us through a meeting that is fair to all and honoring to God.”
Southern Baptists do not govern “by ultimatum,” the letter says, adding that the SBC already has mechanisms in place to allow messengers to hold sway over entities. Eliminating the ERLC is taking a “sledgehammer” to the problem rather than using existing means to solve it.
“Instead of dismantling the ERLC, let us commit to stewarding it wisely,” it says. “Let us engage as trustees, as messengers, and as cooperative partners – always for the sake of the gospel and never for the sake of division.
“We ask you to pray. To listen. And if a motion arises to disband the ERLC, we ask you to vote with confidence that Southern Baptists still have a role to play in the public square, and that the ERLC can help us do it faithfully.”
The full text of the letter is posted below.
Dear Southern Baptist Family,
Southern Baptists are a deliberative people. The Southern Baptist Convention is a deliberative body. When we do our best to explain ourselves completely, to listen to one another prayerfully, and to raise our ballots conscientiously, we believe that the Holy Spirit works through the hearts and voices of his people to lead us into God’s will. It worked throughout the Conservative Resurgence. It still works today.
We have read and listened as fellow Southern Baptists have advocated for abolishing the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). We have prayerfully considered their case. We have tried to consider the case in its clearest and most convincing forms as articulated by what we believe to be the most sincere and godly voices among its proponents. The case for keeping the ERLC, it seems to us, also deserves to be articulated in its clearest and most convincing form, so that these two ideas may meet one another on the floor of the annual meeting and so that God may give us clarity.
Our opinions about the past decade of work at the ERLC are as diverse as those of the broader body of Southern Baptists. Some of us have been enthusiastic supporters of the ERLC. Some of us have been vocal critics. However, we remain unconvinced by the case for discontinuing the ERLC. And just as our diverse coalition can find unity in opposing the abolishment of the ERLC, we hope that the messenger body can unify to oppose any such motion, too.
For decades, the ERLC has steadfastly defended our Southern Baptist commitment to religious liberty. They forged a path forward fighting abortion, helping pave the way to see Roe v. Wade overturned and now Planned Parenthood defunded. They are continuing to battle transgender ideology and pornography and to promote biblical values regarding marriage, family, and sexuality. All Southern Baptists owe a debt of gratitude to the historical work of the ERLC.
Those of us who would have some measure of critique for the priorities or tactics of the ERLC still believe in the importance of its existence and in its mission. If this were not the case, we would not have such strong feelings about wanting it to get its mission right. Those of us who are more supportive of the ERLC as it currently stands also believe in the importance and mission of the ERLC. From these two different perspectives, we agree that the ERLC has an important mission and should be kept in place to pursue that mission.
We believe that our system of convention governance and trustee governance is sufficient to lead the ERLC forward. Time after time, we have seen Southern Baptists manage successfully the controversial matters that come before us. We who have signed this letter may find ourselves canceling out one another’s votes on other ERLC-related questions that we face in the future, but we are willing to cooperate with one another to keep it in place and so we can fight for that future.
Southern Baptists have never been a people who govern by ultimatum. The Conservative Resurgence did not happen through threats of dissolution but through patient, prayerful trustee reform over time. Motions to abolish entire entities are not symbolic gestures. They are governing actions, and we should treat them with the sobriety they deserve. If the goal is reform, then we urge Southern Baptists to use the means already available—electing presidents, speaking with trustees, and working through the process in good faith.
We do not write to defend the status quo. Every entity—including the ERLC—should be open to critique and committed to improvement. But there is a difference between refinement and eradication. A sledgehammer is not the tool for adjusting a mirror.
Instead of dismantling the ERLC, let us commit to stewarding it wisely. Let us engage as trustees, as messengers, and as cooperative partners—always for the sake of the gospel and never for the sake of division.
We ask you to pray. To listen. And if a motion arises to disband the ERLC, we ask you to vote with confidence that Southern Baptists still have a role to play in the public square, and that the ERLC can help us do it faithfully.
Sincerely,
Bart Barber
SBC President, 2022-2024
Ed Litton
SBC President, 2021-2022
JD Greear
SBC President, 2018-2021
Steve Gaines
SBC President, 2016-2018
Fred Luter
SBC President, 2012-2014
Bryant Wright
SBC President, 2010-2012
James Merritt
SBC President, 2000-2002
Tom Elliff
SBC President, 1996-1998
Jim Henry
SBC President, 1994-1996
Jimmy Draper
SBC President, 1982-1984
Related posts:
Abortion, sex abuse, racism, Christian unity addressed in diverse resolutions 
9Marks at 9 panelists discuss the office of the pastor during after-hours gatherings 
National African American Fellowship continues five-year Vision 2030 
Pressley addresses Law Amendment, praises ARITF 
Twitter hashtag focuses on the good work of Southern Baptists 
Hispanic pastors discuss leading a church out of COVID 
SBC 2018: Executive Committee Report Part 1 
‘Post-Gospel’ Indy friendly, slow to embrace Church, association rep says
