Southern Baptist Leader Faces Controversy Over Biden Remarks

In a surprising turn of events, Brent Leatherwood, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention's (SBC) Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, sparked controversy by praising President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. This statement, made within 48 hours, led to speculation about Leatherwood's job security, with initial reports suggesting he had been fired. However, by Tuesday morning, the SBC clarified that Leatherwood had not been dismissed and reaffirmed their support for his leadership. The confusion arose after the SBC's Executive Committee announced that no official meeting or vote had taken place regarding Leatherwood's position. Kevin Smith, the Chair of the Executive Committee, resigned amid the turmoil, further complicating the situation. Leatherwood, who has led the agency for three years, has faced criticism from within the denomination, particularly from those pushing for a more right-leaning stance. His comments on Biden were met with backlash on social media, highlighting the internal divisions among Southern Baptists. Despite his conservative credentials, Leatherwood has not aligned himself with the growing support for former President Donald Trump among Southern Baptists. His agency has maintained a strong opposition to abortion, consistent with the denomination's official views, but he has resisted calls to impose legal penalties on women seeking abortions. At the recent SBC annual meeting, while Trump was featured in an unofficial event, Leatherwood hosted a separate gathering with former Vice President Mike Pence, who has faced criticism from Trump supporters for his actions during the 2020 election.