In a move that shocked and amazed absolutely no one, Dr. Russell Moore was elected today as the eighth president of the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. You can read the details in Baptist Press. From the time that Dr. Richard Land announced his retirement, Vegas odds-makers had Dr. Moore as the prohibitive favorite to be elected to this position. (No, Vegas does not make book about Baptist politics – relax!)
The Baptist Press article has a series of quotes by a wide range of SBC leaders, all praising the selection.
From Dr. Land:
“I am delighted that the Holy Spirit has led the ERLC’s trustees to Dr. Russell Moore as the commission’s next president. Dr. Moore is a godly Christian minister, a devoted husband and father, and a convictional, committed Baptist. His excellent academic preparation, combined with his keen mind and his tender heart for God and His people, make him a person uniquely suited to serve our Savior and Southern Baptists in this crucial role at such a critical moment in our nation’s history. I join the trustees and ERLC staff in committing to pray for Russell and his dear family as he prepares to assume the tremendous responsibilities of the ERLC presidency.”
From Barry Creamer of Criswell College (chair of Search Committee):
“After praying, planning, meeting and working for months to find the man we believe God would have lead the ERLC, we are blessed by the board’s election of Russell Moore today and confident that God will use his message to impact churches and the public marketplace of ideas for what is right, true and desperately needed today.”
From Dr. Frank Page:
“Welcome, Dr. Moore to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. As an ethicist myself, I am always concerned about this particular area of our ministry. I am delighted that someone with Dr. Moore’s cultural awareness and concern for God’s people has been appointed to such a post for such a time as this. I encourage all Southern Baptists to pray for him during this time of transition, for the need has never been greater.”
From Dr. Paige Patterson:
“(Moore) has uniquely prepared himself spiritually, theologically, academically, and politically for just such a moment as this. Placing a leader with the right convictions, a razor-sharp mind, and a moral compass that will not fail paints a bright picture for Southern Baptists’ future.”
From Johnny Hunt:
I have one choice only for the ERLC, and that’s Dr. Russell Moore. He has the Christ-honoring qualities to lead us into our best years.
There is a press kit available that has 17 pages of endorsements from every corner of the Southern Baptist world, from family-issue parachurch organizations and from a wide range of politicians, all expressing support and enthusiasm for Dr. Moore’s election. There seems to be a general agreement among Baptist leaders that Dr. Moore was the right choice for this job.
He is a man of both high intellect and gracious spirit. He has strong convictions, but I believe he will demonstrate tact in expressing them. Southern Baptists are, in this Iowa pastor’s opinion, well served by this election.
