Nashville, Tenn. | Brent Leatherwood appeared unemployed briefly on Monday, July 22. Then, in just few hours, the announcement of his firing was rescinded, and he was back in place as President and CEO of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission “with our support moving forward,” an ERLC Executive Committee statement said early Tuesday. And the man who tried to engineer the coup, Kevin Smith, was out as ERLC Trustee chair.
The drama that stretched across three days started when Leatherwood posted a column praising the decision announced on Sunday by President Biden to withdraw as Democratic nominee for the post. He called the decision “correct” and “selfless.” That ignited a firestorm among Southern Baptists on social media.
Leatherwood was sharply criticized for making favorable comments about Biden that were posted on the ERLC website and on Baptist Press. “We should all express our appreciation that President Biden has put the needs of the nation above his personal ambition,” Leatherwood wrote in a lengthy essay. “Despite what some partisans will say, to walk away from power is a selfless act—the kind that has become all too rare in our culture.”
Among the leading critics of Leatherwood was Florida pastor Tom Ascol, who spearheaded a campaign to shut down the ERLC with motions at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis a month ago. That effort failed by about three-fourths of a raised ballot vote by messengers.
Smith picked up the drumbeat and led the move to fire Leatherwood on Monday. Although the Biden column was not cited in public reports, the effort at ouster came less than a day after the controversial essay was posted.
Ascol commented when it appeared Leatherwood was out, and an announcement of his firing was posted. “Despite what some will say, for the trustees to remove Brent from this position of power is a righteous act—the kind that has become all too rare among trustees in our SBC culture,” Ascol said.
As the Tennessean newspaper in Nashville pointed out, Leatherwood “was also critical of Vice President Kamala Harris’ record and potential presidential run, writing she would be ‘cause for considerable concern among pro-life advocates and those who hold to a biblical definition of marriage.’”
Until now, Leatherwood has proven to be a slightly less controversial figure than his predecessor, Russell Moore. As Moore’s second in command at the time, Leatherwood replaced him in September 2022.
Smith, who was elected to chair the trustees in September 2023, has proven to be no less a controversial figure. He was quoted in secular reports at the time of his election as making incendiary remarks about SBC supporters of former President Trump and criticizing opponents of writer Beth Moore at the time she left the convention.
Smith was previous a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and executive director of the Maryland/Delaware Baptist Convention. He served as an ERLC trustee since 2018. Smith presently pastors in Florida.
The head of the SBC entity can only be dismissed by the officers for gross misconduct, according to its rules. And the original statement about the firing promised more information at the ERLC’s September board meeting, seven weeks away. In its subsequent statement, the ERLC Executive Committee said no “authorized meeting, vote, or action” had been taken to fire Leatherwood.
Smith posted an apology on Tuesday after the firing was rescinded, but later removed the post. Smith said he made a “consequential procedural error” based on his understanding from phone conversations with trustees that he had support to remove Leatherwood. But “It is a delicate matter and, in an effort to deal with it expeditiously, I acted in good faith but without a formal vote of the Executive Committee,” Smith posted. “This was an error on my part, and I accept full responsibility.”
ERLC trustees commented online, including Tulsa pastor Eric Costanzo. “Brent deserves countless apologies for this error and all the assumptions that came with it. He has proven to be a faithful leader and man of integrity time and again,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
So Leatherwood continues to lead the ERLC, although the social media universe is rife with speculation about his leadership clout going forward. He posted after his un-firing was announced, “I deeply appreciate everyone who has reached out, especially our trustees who were absolutely bewildered at what took place yesterday and jumped in to set the record straight.”
In the meantime, the nine days preceding Leatherwood’s one-day ouster leave the rest of the nation to wonder about more pollical tumult and possible fallout. Calls to prayer by Baptist leaders after the July 13 assassination attempt on President Trump, were followed by the Republican National Convention in Chicago, then a week of debate over President Biden’s ability to serve.
Chicago pastor Corey Brooks, known for his rooftop residency to raise funds for a Southside community center, brought the benediction at the first night of the RNC. “Many believe America is in trying divisive times and has not been her best,” Brooks prayed. “We know this to be true. We have not been steady, firm, resolute. Too many of us have forgotten how to be Americans…. Lord, we ask for your divine presence to bless every heart and mind. Grant us wisdom and courage and discernment as we chart the path of our beloved country…Let us be reminded that we are one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
–Eric Reed, with additional reporting by Lisa Misner