The SBC Executive Committee has just announced on Twitter that they have moved to create a task force to review the activities of the controversial Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission headed by Russell Moore.
The motion adopted during the session on February 18 read:
That the task force review the past and present activities of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in the fulfillment of its Convention-approved ministry assignments and; That the task force assess whether the actions of the Commission and its leadership are affecting Cooperative Program giving or the further advancement of the Cooperative Program.
Russell Moore, a former Democrat staffer and a progressive has single-handedly led the Southern Baptist Convention to the far left. Many conservatives are highly concerned about the direction the denomination has taken since Moore has been in office. Southern Baptist churches have withheld funds and even left the denomination altogether.
For more information on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and its leftward drift, see here.
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This story is developing.
UPDATE 1: The purpose of the task force is to study the negative effects that the ERLC has had on Cooperative Program giving.
UPDATE 2: Full text of the motion.
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
FEBRUARY 17-18, 2020
RECOMMENDATION: That the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee during its February 17-18, 2020, meeting, adopt the following motion to create a study task force as follows:
MOTION TO CREATE A STUDY TASK FORCE
Whereas, the members of the Executive Committee are entrusted with the responsibility to recommend the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget to the Southern Baptist Convention on an annual basis, as required by SBC Bylaw 18.E(6); and
Whereas. the Executive Committee is directed by the Convention to study and make recommendations to entities, and the Convention when advisable, concerning adjustments required by ministry statements or by established Convention policies and practices, as described in SBC Bylaw 18E.(9); and
Whereas, the Executive Committee is directed by the Convention to present to the Convention recommendations required to clarify the responsibilities Of the entities for ministries and Other functions, as provided in SBC Bylaw 18.E(13)” and
Whereas ongoing concerns have been expressed both publicly and privately to various members of the Executive Committee and other Southern Baptists regarding how the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s actions in relation to its ministry statements are affecting the Convention and its relationships with local churches. local associations. and state conventions; we recommend
That a task force be created consisting of the now-serving Executive Committee chair (who will continue serving until the task force concludes its work) and six Executive Committee members appointed by the Executive Committee chair; and
That the task force review the past and present activities of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in the fulfillment of its Convention-approved ministry assignments and;
That the task force assess whether the actions of the Commission and its leadership are affecting Cooperative Program giving or the further advancement of the Cooperative Program; and
That the task force report back to the Executive Committee at or before its September 2020 meeting.
