On Tuesday (June 10) during the opening session of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) annual meeting, Pastor Willy Rice wasted no time making a motion to abolish the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).
Nearly 10,000 church delegates, called messengers, representing thousands of churches across the nation descended upon Dallas to worship, highlight what God is doing among churches in the SBC, and discuss the denomination’s business.
As soon as messengers were granted time to conduct some of that business, Rice, who is the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida, stepped up to a microphone.
RELATED: Willy Rice Calls the ERLC a ‘Mess’ While Past SBC Presidents Rally Behind It
“I move that pursuant to Bylaw 25, which to abolish an entity requires a majority vote at two successive conventions, that the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Dallas, Texas, June 10-11, vote to abolish the ERLC,” Rice said.
Rice’s motion was met with loud applause and was quickly seconded.
Rice’s motion will be discussed further later Tuesday afternoon and is anticipated to be heavily debated. In order to abolish the ERLC, messengers must vote in favor of doing so at two consecutive annual meetings.
While speaking with Center for Baptist Leadership‘s (CBL) William Wolfe last month, Rice described the ERLC as “a mess” and said that the organization has “lost the confidence of Southern Baptists” and “alienated lots of people.”
“The fact that Willy Rice, a humble pastor known for his longtime support of the ERLC in the past, made this motion should be a wake-up call,” Wolfe told ChurchLeaders following Rice’s motion on Tuesday morning.
, Pastor Willy Rice wasted no time making a motion to abolish the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) during the opening session of the Southern Baptist Convention's (SBC) annual meeting.){kind=link}