A teacher at a Christian school in Rockwall, Texas, Joe Sneed, attended the annual Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis and made a motion for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) to apologize to the Executive Committee of the denomination. Sneed believed that allegations made by the former head of the ERLC against the Executive Committee were baseless and politically motivated, leading to costly investigations amounting to $14 million.
The Executive Committee had previously issued a public apology and monetary settlement to sexual abuse survivor Jennifer Lyell, who was mischaracterized by the denomination’s news service when she came forward with her story in 2019. Sneed criticized proposals for a national database of pastors accused of sexual misconduct and moved to disband the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force.
The ERLC board, meeting in Nashville, declined to act on Sneed’s motion but promised to remain vigilant against sexual abuse within the church. Former ERLC head Russell Moore, who had accused the Executive Committee of mishandling sexual abuse allegations and later clashed with Southern Baptist leaders over his criticism of Donald Trump, resigned in 2021.
Amid tensions within the denomination, the ERLC faced an attempted shutdown at the convention but remains operational. Trustees have approved a statement supporting ERLC President Brent Leatherwood but have urged caution in addressing controversial political issues. Sneed, while disappointed with the lack of an apology, expressed satisfaction with being heard by the ERLC board.
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