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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board’s letter to Russell Moore, ERLC Trustees

May 4, 2017 Dr. Russell Moore & ERLC Board of Trustees 901 Commerce Street, Suite 550 Nashville, TN 37203 Dear Dr. Moore and Trustees: A motion was made at the 2016 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting to ask the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board to "study the recent actions of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission with regard to issues of concern to Louisiana Baptists." The Convention referred the matter to the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board. As the leaders of the Executive Board prepared to address this matter, Dr. Moore was kind enough to arrange a meeting with Executive Director, Dr. David Hankins, Executive Board President, Dr. Eddie Wren and Louisiana Baptist Convention President, Dr. Gevan Spinney. This meeting was very helpful, though not conclusive, in our process. As the leaders continued to study the matter, Dr. Moore and the ERLC leadership released the statement entitled “Seeking Unity in the Southern Baptist Convention” on March 20, 2017. This statement was key in helping the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board arrive at a proper response to the referred motion referenced above. We want to commend Dr. Moore for plainly confessing his failings … [Read more...]

Seeking unity in the Southern Baptist Convention

From the ERLC Executive Committee Our country has come through one of the more challenging political cycles in recent history. Evangelical Christians, and Southern Baptists in particular, faced difficult issues and decisions, which, at times, frayed and threatened even to tear the fabric of our civic and denominational unity. It is in this difficult context that Dr. Russell Moore has exercised leadership with integrity and with boldness. We affirm Dr. Moore in his leadership of the ERLC. He has spoken with clarity and conviction on ethical matters that have been identified in our Baptist Faith and Message and various Convention resolutions. These included issues related to religious liberty, racial reconciliation, character in public office, and a Christian understanding of sexuality. Most importantly, he has endeavored clearly and graciously to articulate the Christian gospel and its implications. For us not to stand in affirmation of the principles that Dr. Moore has espoused would be unfaithful to the mission entrusted to us by the Convention. Speaking to these issues is rarely convenient and often unpopular. While the manner, tone, and extent to which we speak to these issues is a matter of wisdom and timeliness, the … [Read more...]