This was a defeat for conservatives within the denomination on female pastors, the elimination of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and financial transparency. While the votes were fairly close, conservatives did not prevail on the three main issues they were advancing.
Unfortunately, those who opposed the conservatives’ efforts often engaged in deceptive rhetoric in order to prevail. I watched some of these debates on livestream; and it was disappointing to see the methods used to defeat conservatives’ well-intentioned proposals.
This means more conservative churches and congregants will leave the denomination; or will cut their support of the Cooperative Program used to fund denominational activities and missions.
As conservatives drop out, it will make it more challenging to achieve positive change at future meetings. But conservatives are gaining support year by year overall as more churches and messengers become aware of what has been occurring.
On a more positive note, the denomination passed resolutions against gay marriage, pornography and the abortion pill.
This is a difficult loss, but it is far from a victory for the ERLC. It demonstrates how little faith ordinary Southern Baptists have in the entity. That the vote is this close when the conditions are MOST favorable and the deck was stacked in allowing Leatherwood extensive stage… pic.twitter.com/aSfxa5639M
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) June 11, 2025
Who are these people who claim to bee Baptists. It is hard to believe the conservatives lost on important issues. Well I guess , it is what it is.
The insiders, Fred, have exploited the process and engaged in deception to assure that they prevail. The messengers don’t get the whole picture– or the true picture.
Who are these people? The leaders are folks with liberal/ progressive leanings. The messengers are varied, but some of them are employees of the various Southern Baptist entities and seminaries that have a vested interest in the outcome and who tend to lean further left than the average church or congregant.