Southern Baptist ERLC President Brent Leatherwood Resigns Amid Internal Controversy

Brent Leatherwood resigned as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) after nearly nine years of service, including a controversial tenure marked by cultural and political tensions within the denomination. His leadership saw the ERLC narrowly survive an attempt to abolish it during the SBC annual meeting, reflecting deep divisions within the Southern Baptist community, particularly between conservative factions aligned with MAGA and others. Leatherwood was credited with advocacy efforts such as defunding Planned Parenthood, placing ultrasound machines in states, and opposing abortion and transgender care, though critics accused him of expanding the ERLC's mission without broad support. His resignation was accepted by the ERLC board, which named Vice President Miles Mullin as acting president. Leatherwood expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and emphasized conservatism grounded in gratitude, while the ERLC board praised his leadership in strengthening ties with churches and advancing Baptist convictions in the public square. The resignation follows a pattern of leadership upheaval at the ERLC, highlighting ongoing internal denominational struggles.