Big news last night for the SBC and larger evangelical world: Russell Moore is leaving our ERLC to take on a new role with Christianity Today. Moore’s resignation is effective June 1, with VP Daniel Patterson serving as acting president at that time.
In an article at his own website, Moore says, “I am excited today to accept the invitation from Christianity Today to join their team as public theologian and as director of a new venture, the Christianity Today Public Theology Project, which is devoted to cultivating a forward-looking, joyful, consistent gospel witness.”
CT News Release: Russell Moore to Join Christianity Today to Lead New Public Theology Project
Baptist Press: Russell Moore announces departure from ERLC helm
Social media & SBC Twitter has been full of reactions, mostly words of congratulation mixed with sorrow for Moore’s departure. Russell has attracted deep appreciation from many circles in SBC life through his time at the ERLC, as well as earlier service at SBTS. Of course there’s been a fair amount of criticism as well, much of which swirled around Moore’s response to Donald Trump. I, for one, will always appreciate the fact that we had someone leading our ERLC through the Trump years who refused to compromise what we, only years ago, had been willing to say so clearly: that the character of public officials matters.
Even more, Russell deserves our thanks for his (and the entire ERLC team’s) leadership on racial reconciliation, Caring Well, religious liberty, immigration, and a host of other ways the ERLC has served the convention over the past 8 years – which contrary to what you may have heard, on these issues was virtually in full agreement with the previous ERLC work under Richard Land.
Times in the past, I probably would have despaired pretty deeply about our convention losing Moore’s leadership at ERLC. Don’t get me wrong, this is a huge loss for Southern Baptists. But for some reason more than anything else I felt a sense of relief for Dr. Moore. Along with hope that God will continue to use him powerfully for a Kingdom that’s greater than the SBC.
