Leatherman survives ouster attempt

July 24, 2024 - On Monday ERLC President Brent Leatherwood was removed from his position for social media and press statements praising President Joseph R. Biden (D). It appeared that Leatherman's tenure heading the Baptist's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. That widely reported story changed very rapidly and by Tuesday it was confirmed that Leatherman has survived the ouster attempt.

The Alabama Gazette spoke with Baptist pastor Rev. John Killian – a noted conservative – about the Leatherman situation. He confirmed media reports that Leatherman was retained as ERLC President.

"Frankly, I was happy to see him gone," Killian said of early reports that Leatherman had been fired.

Apparently the Chairman of the ERLC board had fired Leatherman without consulting the members of the board and Leatherman, not the chairman, has the full support of the board.

Conservative Baptists have been unhappy with Leatherman for a while, and he survived an effort by conservatives at the Baptists' annual convention to defund the ERLC.

"He has been pro path to citizenship for illegals," explained Killian. "We lost the Louisiana abortion law not because he is pro-choice but because he opposed having a tough law."

"He Is a never Trumper," Kilian added. "He has been a real disappointment."

The latest Leatherman crisis was triggered on Sunday after President Biden announced in a statement that he was ending his re-election campaign.

"We should all express our appreciation that President Biden has put the needs of the nation above his personal ambition," Leatherwood told the Baptist Press. "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."

Leatherman then posted the comments on his official ERLC social media account.

For Chairman of the Board of Directors ERLC Florida Pastor Rev. Kevin Smith this was grounds for Leatherman's removal.

"In accordance with our bylaws, the executive committee has removed Brent Leatherwood as president," the executive committee of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said in a statement Monday. "Further details, as well as plans for the transition, will be provided at our September board meeting."

Apparently, Rev. Smith had not cleared this move with his own board members.

The pro-Leatherman faction on the board was apparently stronger and more determined than Smith knew.

Late on Monday, the ERLC released a new statement.

https://erlc.com/press/erlc-executive-committee-of-the-board-of-trustees-provides-update-clarity-on-erlc-president-brent-leatherwood/

"In reference to the events of the last 24 hours, we want to give clarity to how the situation unfolded" the ERLC Board wrote. "Then-board chair Kevin Smith acted without the approval of the executive committee of the trustees. There was no vote taken. His decision to unilaterally act was outside of his authority as board chair. As such, the termination was illegitimate, and thus there was not, as has been reported, a 'reinstatement' of Brent Leatherwood as president. He was never terminated."

"While the executive committee recognizes a wide range of opinions on the work of the ERLC, most visible in a recent attempt to abolish the organization at the 2024 SBC annual meeting, the executive committee does not believe that this discontent rises to the level of a dismissable offense," the ERLC board continued. "Further, any insinuations that the events of the previous days are the result of a moral failing on Brent's part are wholly false. We find Brent Leatherwood to be a man of utmost moral and ethical integrity."

Smith has resigned as both chairman and serving on the board.

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