Former SBC Presidents Clash Over ERLC’s Future Ahead of Annual Meeting
In the run-up to the upcoming Annual Meeting in Dallas, tensions have surfaced among former Southern Baptist Convention presidents regarding the direction of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), the denomination’s public policy arm. While a group of ten past SBC leaders has come together to advocate for continued support of the commission, former president Jack Graham has urged that it be defunded, arguing that it has become a source of division within the convention.
Graham, who has been at the helm of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas since 1989, expressed his disapproval of the ERLC on social media. He stated that he does not endorse the organization and described it as “the single most divisive entity of the SBC since the days of Russell Moore.” According to Graham, this is a key reason behind his decision not to sign a letter that supports the commission.
The letter, signed by past leaders including Bart Barber, Ed Litton, J.D. Greear, Steve Gaines, Fred Luter, Bryant Wright, James Merritt, Tom Elliff, Jim Henry, and Jimmy Draper, champions the ERLC for its commitment to upholding religious liberty. In it, the signatories highlighted the commission’s efforts in opposing issues such as the landmark abortion ruling, the proliferation of pornography, and the spread of transgender ideology, while also affirming its advocacy for life, marriage, and family values.
Although these former presidents hold differing views on the ERLC’s recent activities, they all agree on the need to avoid dismantling the commission entirely. The letter pointed out that while some have passionately supported the ERLC and others have voiced criticism, they remain unconvinced that the organization should be scrapped.
The current SBC President, Clint Pressley, was not a signatory. He acknowledged the contributions of past leaders, emphasizing his commitment to leading a fair and respectful Annual Meeting.
This debate over the future of the ERLC is nothing new. Similar motions to defund or eliminate the commission have surfaced during the last several Annual Meetings. Although these proposals have never advanced to an official vote, they have gained significant backing, with last year’s effort receiving support from more than 30% of the messengers. A comparable proposal is anticipated at this year’s meeting.
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a former SBC presidential candidate, recently expressed serious concerns about the current relevance of the ERLC during a podcast discussion. Despite his doubts about its utility, Mohler maintained that it would be inappropriate for him to lead any campaign to dissolve the commission.
Richard D. Land, who guided the ERLC from 1988 to 2013, defended its role as essential for helping Southern Baptists address moral and policy challenges from a biblical perspective. He argued that disagreements over the commission’s leadership should prompt more open dialogue rather than its complete removal. As he put it, “The answer to such disagreements related to one of our entities is greater discussion and dialogue, not eliminating the entity altogether.”
Graham’s outspoken criticism of the ERLC is not a new development. His objections date back to 2016, following public remarks by then-president Russell Moore that criticized President Donald Trump and some of his supporters. Later, in 2017, his church opted to suspend its Cooperative Program contributions while it reviewed the commission’s activities before eventually reinstating them in a different manner. More recently, Graham joined the advisory board for President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, further cementing his opposition to the ERLC.
The letter from the former presidents warned against extreme measures to defund the ERLC, explaining that Southern Baptists have never operated by issuing ultimatums. Instead of resorting to drastic cuts, the letter called for deliberate steps through trusted governance and internal reforms where necessary. The signatories stressed that there is a clear distinction between refining an organization and eliminating it altogether.
Scott Foshie, chairman of the ERLC trustees, responded positively to the letter, expressing gratitude for the support and reaffirming the trustees’ commitment to furthering the commission’s impactful work in public policy and religious liberty.
The letter concluded by urging voices within the denomination to remain thoughtful and open to discussion. It advised that should any proposal to disband the ERLC emerge, messengers ought to vote confidently, affirming that Southern Baptists continue to play an important role in the public square and that the ERLC remains instrumental in fulfilling that mission.
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