As the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting approaches in June, numerous Baptist leaders are once again drawing attention due to the controversies surrounding the conference’s policies and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). Recently, former SBC president Jack Graham made headlines by endorsing a refund for the ERLC in reaction to letters from ten fellow former presidents who defend the committee’s importance.
“I don’t support the ERLC, as I believe it is SBC’s most divisive presence,” wrote Graham, referring to former ERLC President Russell Moore.
Earlier this month, Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, expressed “serious doubts about the usefulness of the ERLC.”
For the past three annual meetings, the ERLC has faced calls for disbandment or refunds. Although no resolution passed last year, the proposal to abolish the committee gained substantial support—approximately 40%, according to journalist Megan Basham. A task force formed by the SBC Executive Committee concluded that the ERLC was “a source of significant distractions from the work of the larger Southern Baptist Convention.”
Critics of the ERLC mainly focus on two points: that the committee serves no real purpose regarding vital political issues and that it misallocates resources towards the wrong topics.
“Worse Than Useless”
The ERLC’s 2025 policy platform prioritizes the protection of the unborn, religious freedom, and family institutions, along with safeguarding human dignity. While these goals—and their corresponding policies—are commendable, as evidenced by measures like opposing planned parent-child relationships and banning harmful transgender surgeries for minors, critics argue that the ERLC has not effectively moved the needle on these crucial culture war issues. They claim the committee merely adds its name to letters but lacks substantial action in Washington.
“They are completely missing the mark when it comes to significant battles,” remarked Senator Mike Lee. According to Basham, Lee has been actively involved in various legislative conflicts that the ERLC aims to address.
Rachel Bobbard, a Federalist contributor and Capitol Hill veteran, echoed this sentiment, stating, “I can’t recall the last contact I had from the ERLC in over a decade.”
“They are not seen as effectively advancing conservative politics on the Hill,” added former ERLC advisor Mike Whitehead.
Eric Teasel, CEO of the Center for Renewing America, bluntly labeled the ERLC “useless” and “actively counterproductive” in his conversations with Basham.
In response to these critiques, ERLC President Brent Leatherwood assured Federalist readers that the committee is “taking these concerns seriously,” and emphasized the need to align closely with the church’s mission.The specific directive encompasses “all issues we address” according to the Southern Baptist Congress.
“Working in a way that honors the church allows us to forge connections with national leaders while sharing the gospel’s good news and helping lawmakers understand biblical perspectives on their work,” he stated.
Controversial Advocacy on Gun Control and Immigration
In addition to its perceived ineffectiveness on key issues, the ERLC has faced backlash for engaging in political debates that some Southern Baptists view as contrary to its mission.
In 2023, following a tragedy in which a shooter identifying as transgender fatally injured six individuals at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee leveraged the incident to advocate for gun control legislation that would enable authorities to confiscate firearms from individuals without criminal convictions. David Halsany previously explained that this bill would obligate individuals to submit to evaluations from state-assigned psychiatrists and lawyers to prove their innocence before the government could intervene in gun ownership.
Instead of concentrating on the mental health facets related to transgender identities or the shooters’ motives, the ERLC chose to endorse Lee’s gun control bill, utilizing a one-minute video and producing written commentary in support. Leatherwood even sent a three-page letter on ERLC letterhead urging lawmakers to vote favorably on the bill.
How did the ERLC’s mission to champion religious freedom and Christian ethics come to support gun control policies that bypassed due process? Many Southern Baptists feel undermined by such advocacy against constitutionally questionable laws.
Simultaneously, while Leatherwood advocated for children attending private schools, he was also involved in protecting the shooter’s manifesto, which highlighted anti-Christian and anti-white sentiments.
The ERLC has also drawn fire for collaborating with left-leaning groups in its immigration reform advocacy. The ERLC helped launch the Evangelical Immigration Table (EIT) in 2012, which describes its efforts as a “Christian national movement committed to understanding Biblical principles regarding ‘welcoming strangers’ and the implications of those tenets.” Their aim has been questioned by critics, who argue they prioritize lobbying for specific laws rather than encouraging local Christians to address immigrants’ material and spiritual needs.
Reportedly, EIT championed the immigration reform bill known as the ‘Gang of Eight’ in 2013, a sweeping proposal that would provide amnesty to around 11 million undocumented immigrants.This bill was criticized by conservative outlets and think tanks.
Today, the EIT condemns the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, advocating instead for “a path to legal permanent residency” for eligible undocumented individuals, allowing them to pay fines and regularize their status. Supporters facilitate this process.
[READ NEXT: Astroturfing On Immigration: How Evangelical Leaders Betrayed The Believers They Claim To Represent]
However, the EIT’s advocacy raises further doubt, as Basham has reported that it operates through the National Immigration Forum, a left-wing 501(c)(3) sponsored by George Soros’s Open Society Foundation. In a 2015 board document, the Soros-funded group declared they worked to cultivate conservative voices, including evangelicals and Southern Baptists, through the National Immigration Forum. Basham argues that the EIT serves as a “front group” funded by Soros, yet the ERLC remains a founding member, currently listed within its leadership.
When asked whether the ERLC stands by its support for the Red Flag Act and if it plans to disassociate from the EIT, Leatherwood told the Federalist: The ERLC’s actions “are rooted in biblical principles, reflecting Baptist faith and responding to the mandates of our messengers,” emphasizing that their efforts serve both churches and their communities.
The Southern Baptist Convention has previously passed resolutions condemning gun violence, urging officials to “implement measures to curb gun violence,” while simultaneously advocating that these actions be in accordance with the Second Amendment. In 2011, resolutions called for border security and “a fair and compassionate path to legal status for undocumented immigrants already residing in the country,” alongside appropriate measures for accountability. Revival resolutions from 2018 similarly failed to mention EIT or any definitions of “appropriate measures.”
Damage Control
Amidst the controversies over gun control and immigration, the ERLC faced more scrutiny after a controversial 2016 decision to support a lawsuit to construct a mosque in New Jersey and later urged Congress to continue funding the war in Ukraine in 2024.Their objective sparked alarms among some conservatives. Additionally, Rev. John Michael Larlew criticized the ERLC for failing to vehemently oppose critical race theory’s Marxist underpinnings. While the committee has published articles addressing racial issues, including calls for prayer against racism, the criticisms persist.
Complicating matters further is Russell Moore’s legacy, who chaired the ERLC from 2013 to 2021, and who has since been vocal in criticizing conservative politics. He was notably silent following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade—a significant win for the pro-life movement—leading many to speculate that his avoidance of celebration stemmed from his complex views on President Trump. Following the Dobbs case, Moore’s criticisms of Trump and his supporters did little to quell skepticism regarding his position.
The trustworthiness of the committee has been put under the microscope, especially following last year’s failed attempt to dissolve the ERLC, which revealed widespread discontent among Southern Baptists as evidenced by their willingness to showcase their work with Congress members. Senator Katie Britt shared a photo of her meeting with ERLC leadership recently, which was flooded with comments questioning the credibility of an organization many perceive as having lost its way.
The widespread backlash surrounding Senator Britt’s meeting underscores the considerable damage to the ERLC’s reputation, and the committee’s increase in visibility suggests that its leaders are acutely aware of the challenge at hand.
Elle Purnell is the Federalist Agenda Editor. She has appeared on Fox Business and Newsmax, and her work has been featured by RealClearPolitics, Tampa Bay Times, and The Independent Women’s Forum. She received her bachelor’s degree in government with minors in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @_ellepulnell.
Source: thefederalist.com