ERLC’s Brent Leatherwood Criticized for Calling Biden’s Withdrawal From Election ‘A Selfless Act’

Brent Leatherwood Joe Biden
(L) Brent Leatherwood speaking at 2024 SBC Annual Meeting. Photo credit: ChurchLeaders (R) The White House, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons

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Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), drew criticism for praising President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election. Leatherwood called it “a selfless act.”

The ERLC is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). According to its website, the ERLC exists to help churches “understand the moral demands of the gospel, apply Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy, and to promote religious liberty in cooperation with churches and other Southern Baptist entities.”

RELATED: Brent Leatherwood To Remain ERLC President; Trustee Chairperson Resigns

“Together, we can bring hope to the public square—for the sake of the gospel,” the ERLC website says.

On Sunday (July 21), Biden announced via social media that he was withdrawing from the presidential election, saying, “My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

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Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” he said. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats—it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

After leading the ERLC as acting president following the departure of Russell Moore in 2021, Leatherwood was elected as the permanent leader of the entity in 2022. He formerly served as the ERLC’s chief of staff.

“Not only is this a historic decision, it is the right decision for our nation,” Leatherwood told Baptist Press. “The role of president takes a heavy toll and, based on what has been apparent for some time, it was unrealistic to ask President Biden to endure another four years of the incredible burdens placed on the one who occupies this office.”

Leatherwood was criticized by SBC pastors, influencers, and recently elected SBC President Clint Pressley for what he said next.

RELATED: Motions To Abolish the ERLC and To Censure Al Mohler, Ben Mandrell, and Bart Barber Fail at Annual Meeting

“We should all express our appreciation that President Biden has put the needs of the nation above his personal ambition,” said Leatherwood. “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.”

Andrew Walker, an associate professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), disagreed with Leatherwood’s sentiment.

“I dissent from the idea that this was an act of valor by President Biden,” Walker posted on social media. “Had he not acted defiantly after the debate or made it clear months ago that he would not run (aided by a compliant press that kept his decline from being more public), that would have been respectable.”

“But let’s call a spade a spade,” he added. “The Democrats want power, and democracy is an obstacle to that power if it means forfeiting the ability to rule with an iron woke fist. So, a handful of the ultra-powerful just took control of things.” Walker warned that “every current and future office-holder should fear the precedent set in today’s announcement.”

Pressley, who succeeded Bart Barber as president of the SBC this past June, reposted Walker’s dissent with the comment, “Sounds right.” A number of other Southern Baptists commented on the post, thanking Pressley and agreeing with Walker.

ChurchLeaders reached out to Pressley for comment, but he was traveling and unavailable for comment.

Megan Basham, a reporter for The Daily Wire and an SBC member, said of Leatherwood’s remarks, “This is one of the most dishonest and cynical political statements I have ever seen. No one believes that Joe Biden dropped out due to selflessness. It’s almost obscene to utter something so discrediting in a moment like this.”

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Jesse T. Jackson
Jesse is the Senior Content Editor for ChurchLeaders and Site Manager for ChristianNewsNow. An undeserving husband to a beautiful wife, and a father to 4 beautiful children. He serves as the chairman of the deacons, a growth group leader, and is a member of University Baptist Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. Follow him on twitter here (https://twitter.com/jessetjackson). Accredited member of the Evangelical Press Association.

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