In a statement given to Baptist Press, Kevin Smith, former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) board chair, said that he was “convinced…that we had a consensus to remove Brent Leatherwood as the president of the ERLC.”
Earlier this week, Smith released a statement on behalf of the ERLC announcing that ERLC President Brent Leatherwood had been removed.
“In accordance with our bylaws, the executive committee has removed Brent Leatherwood as president. Further details, as well as plans for the transition, will be provided at our September board meeting,” the Monday evening statement read.
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But the following morning, the ERLC retracted the statement and instead announced that Smith had resigned, saying, “As members of the ERLC’s Executive Committee, we formally retract the press release which was sent yesterday. There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or action taken by the Executive Committee. Kevin Smith has resigned as Chair of the Executive Committee.”
Smith told Baptist Press that it has “been my honor to serve as a trustee at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Speaking to the circumstances of his resignation, Smith said, “After multiple conversations with Executive Committee members of the ERLC, I was convinced in my mind that we had a consensus to remove Brent Leatherwood as the president of the ERLC.”
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“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 added. “This was an error on my part, and I accept full responsibility.”
Smith said that “at this time, the Executive Committee does not wish to move forward with my course of action” of Leatherwood’s removal.
“Therefore, I am resigning as the Chairman of the ERLC Board of Trustees and as a Trustee,” he said.
After sharing his love for the SBC and ERLC, Smith concluded by saying he trusts the “Executive Committee to take the best course of action moving forward” and looks “forward to focusing on ministry in [his] neighborhood church.”
 Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) board chair, said that he was "convinced...that we had a consensus to remove Brent Leatherwood as the president of the ERLC."){kind=link}