Southern Baptists' public policy arm (ERLC) fires its president for praising Biden's 'selfless act'. Then unfires him, and chairman quits

[essentialsaltes]

Agency retracts announced firing of key Baptist leader who had praised Biden’s withdrawal as a ‘selfless act’​

In under 48 hours, the head of the staunchly conservative public-policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention rankled fellow Baptists by applauding President Joe Biden’s “selfless act” of withdrawing his candidacy for re-election. Then, his agency reported he was fired — and now they have reaffirmed his leadership.

The head-spinning series of events started Sunday, but by Tuesday morning, the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission announced that no, leader Brent Leatherwood wasn’t fired. Rather, he has the full support of his top board members — though its chairman resigned amid the agency’s retraction.

“There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or action taken by the Executive Committee. Kevin Smith has resigned as Chair of the Executive Committee.”

Leatherwood had led the embattled agency through three years as the policy spokesman for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, but he had not joined in the increasingly public support among many Southern Baptists for former President Donald Trump.

[Note that 3 years ago is when Russell Moore stepped down from the same position -- again probably because he was insufficiently Trumpy for an organization that is “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,”]

Leatherwood came to his job three years ago with conservative credentials. He was a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party. He was also a director of communications and policy strategy in the Tennessee General Assembly and worked for several years on Capitol Hill in Washington.

[But say a kind word about Biden announcing his departure from politics, and some apparently feel that contradicts the gospel.]

 

[Hammster]

He’s needed to go for some time now.

 

[essentialsaltes]

He’s needed to go for some time now.

How do you think he doesn't fit the mission of the organization?

 

[Hazelelponi]

It's not a "selfless act" when your party forces you out because they can't hide your cognitive decline from the public anymore and polling shows you are going to lose if you stay in the race so after infighting with your party you finally agreed to leave once bribed sufficiently... Not my idea of selfless.

Also, what is SBC's policy for making political statements?

Did they release a statement after they tried to assassinate Trump? I don't see one on their official Twitter.

Once an organization starts making political statements on political persons they have to do it for everyone or they are just a partisan entity.

It seems from official Twitter that the SBC tries to avoid partisanship, and if someone broke the rules and abused their position to make political statements they should be fired.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Agency retracts announced firing of key Baptist leader who had praised Biden’s withdrawal as a ‘selfless act’​

In under 48 hours, the head of the staunchly conservative public-policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention rankled fellow Baptists by applauding President Joe Biden’s “selfless act” of withdrawing his candidacy for re-election. Then, his agency reported he was fired — and now they have reaffirmed his leadership.

The head-spinning series of events started Sunday, but by Tuesday morning, the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission announced that no, leader Brent Leatherwood wasn’t fired. Rather, he has the full support of his top board members — though its chairman resigned amid the agency’s retraction.

“There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or action taken by the Executive Committee. Kevin Smith has resigned as Chair of the Executive Committee.”

Leatherwood had led the embattled agency through three years as the policy spokesman for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, but he had not joined in the increasingly public support among many Southern Baptists for former President Donald Trump.

[Note that 3 years ago is when Russell Moore stepped down from the same position -- again probably because he was insufficiently Trumpy for an organization that is “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,”]

Leatherwood came to his job three years ago with conservative credentials. He was a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party. He was also a director of communications and policy strategy in the Tennessee General Assembly and worked for several years on Capitol Hill in Washington.

[But say a kind word about Biden announcing his departure from politics, and some apparently feel that contradicts the gospel.]

lol, glad to see the SBC is staying on top of the important issues.

 

[Hazelelponi]

How do you think he doesn't fit the mission of the organization?

He's Catholic. Completely different faith than Baptists.

 

[durangodawood]

[But say a kind word about Biden announcing his departure from politics, and some apparently feel that contradicts the gospel.]

Right here at CF Ive had Christians tell me:

a. Biden is "actually evil".
b. Trump is a "messiah, anointed By God".

So I can see why some consider this mans comments to be literally anti-Christian.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Also, what is SBC's policy for making political statements?

Did they release a statement after they tried to assassinate Trump? I don't see one on their official Twitter.

This was the ERLC, the public policy arm of the SBC. So yes it comments on matters of public interest.

ERLC President Brent Leatherwood condemns political violence​

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 13, 2024 —ERLC President Brent Leatherwood released the following statement condemning political violence after reports of a shooting during a political rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

 

[essentialsaltes]

He's Catholic. Completely different faith than Baptists.

Doesn't look like it.

Leatherwood is a deacon [at] The Church at Avenue South in Nashville, a church plant of Brentwood Baptist Church.

 

[Hazelelponi]

This was the ERLC, the public policy arm of the SBC. So yes it comments on matters of public interest.

ERLC President Brent Leatherwood condemns political violence​

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 13, 2024 —ERLC President Brent Leatherwood released the following statement condemning political violence after reports of a shooting during a political rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

I don't know the difference between the SBC and the ERLC

I looked up the SBC. They don't make political statements.

So you're saying they commented on Trump?

Why don't they use the SBC name? It might be a different entity than the SBC...

 

[Hazelelponi]

Doesn't look like it.

Leatherwood is a deacon [at] The Church at Avenue South in Nashville, a church plant of Brentwood Baptist Church.

Sorry, I thought you were talking about Biden.

 

[iluvatar5150]

It's not a "selfless act" when your party forces you out because they can't hide your cognitive decline from the public anymore and polling shows you are going to lose if you stay in the race so after infighting with your party you finally agreed to leave once bribed sufficiently... Not my idea of selfless.

Also, what is SBC's policy for making political statements?

Did they release a statement after they tried to assassinate Trump? I don't see one on their official Twitter.

Once an organization starts making political statements on political persons they have to do it for everyone or they are just a partisan entity.

It seems from official Twitter that the SBC tries to avoid partisanship, and if someone broke the rules and abused their position to make political statements they should be fired.

I don't know their official position, but Leatherwood personally has at least four tweets about the assassination attempt and a whole bunch more about political stuff:

x.com

x.com

If the SBC was concerned about not getting political, that ship sailed decades ago.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I don't know the difference between the SBC and the ERLC

I looked up the SBC. They don't make political statements.

So you're saying they commented on Trump?

Yes, I'm saying that.

 

[iluvatar5150]

I don't know the difference between the SBC and the ERLC

I looked up the SBC. They don't make political statements.

So you're saying they commented on Trump?

The ERLC is the public policy arm of the SBC.

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's the part of the SBC that Russel Moore used to run.

 

[Hazelelponi]

The ERLC is the public policy arm of the SBC.

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's the part of the SBC that Russel Moore used to run.

Huh... Interesting.

I always went to the SBC to see what they said about things. I didn't know they used a different name sometimes.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I don't know their official position, but Leatherwood personally has at least four tweets about the assassination attempt and a whole bunch more about political stuff:

x.com

x.com

If the SBC was concerned about not getting political, that ship sailed decades ago.

Well then making a statement on Biden isn't untoward if that's what they do...

I wouldn't have copied what the media is saying I would make it heartfelt but yea, if this is what they do then you're right.

 

[Pommer]

He’s needed to go for some time now.

He’s dead back, Jim.

 

[Pommer]

The down side to mixing religion with politics is that it tends to be ruinous for both.

 

[Hammster]

He’s dead back, Jim.

He still needs to go.

 

[9Rock9]

Huh... Interesting.

I always went to the SBC to see what they said about things. I didn't know they used a different name sometimes.

Well, the ERLC and the SBC are technically separate institutions, all of its staff are required to be a part of the SBC, so in practice, it goes along with the denomination, though sometimes, like in this case, they go against them.

The ERLC is really just a think tank for the SBC.