Note from petitioner: this petition can be signed by anyone interested in pursuing justice for the unborn through a gospel lens. The goal is to remove the ERLC’s signature from a document that essentially commits the SBC to refrain from the pursuit of abortion abolition. All Christians are useful allies to call the ERLC to repent of this action.

In  2022, Nation Right to Life Coalition (NRLC) wrote an open letter that urges lawmakers to protect the abortion rights of women. ERLC acting president Brent Leatherwood signed on behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). This letter makes multiple tragic commitments that are contrary to biblical standards of justice.

TRAGIC VOWS OF COMPROMISE

“We state unequivocally that we do not support any measure seeking to criminalize or punish women and we stand firmly opposed to include such penalties in legislation.”

(The "such penalties" include criminalizing "women" for murdering their children in the womb, under any circumstance, unequivocally. )

“In fighting for our country’s future generations, we are called to act with love and compassion as we seek fairness, justice, and liberty for unborn children and their mothers. Criminalizing women is antithetical to this charge.”

("women facing prosecution for murdering their unborn child" is broadly condemned as "unfair, unjust, and lacking liberty")

“We will continue to oppose legislative and policy initiatives that criminalize women who seek abortions.”

(Who said anything about criminalizing women? Shouldn't we seek criminalization of murderers?  No mother can ever be the murder?)

“We call upon all pro-life legislators to stand with us. We ask you to continue to act with love and compassion toward abortion-vulnerable women. We urge you to reject any measure that seeks to criminalize women who have abortions.”

("Abortion-vulnerable" is another way of saying "those tempted to murder their unborn child due to their circumstances".)

“turning women who have abortions into criminals is not the way.”

(According to scripture, it is the unjust act that causes criminality, not the law establishing justice.)

_______________

 These are tragic vows reflective of Judges 11:30-31. Signers are making a rash promise to God that condemns our daughters to spiritual death, if only He gives to us the battle of a partial law that only penalizes providers of the abortion, and not the customers. 

The SBC is the largest Protestant denomination in America. Every leader in the SBC should be able to identify the serious moral compromise that is the ERLC’s signature (as a representative of the SBC) on this letter. At minimum, the “unequivocal” statements morally bar the SBC from supporting any measure of criminality for any woman who murders their child in the womb, as a foolish Jepthah prayer for meager pro-life gains. 

Pastors, please contact the new SBC president’s office, as well as the new ERLC president’s office. Evan Lenow, please contact the NRLC. Ask for our signature be removed. These secular agencies should not be able to wield the ERLC and the SBC’s signatures to prevent justice.

See the full letter here:

https://nrlc.org///uploads/communications/051222coalitionlettertostates-revised.pdf

SBC President William Rice

president@sbc.net

ERLC President Evan Lenow

info@erlc.com

Are you a church leader questioning abolition? Listen to the “No Silence in the Church” project here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/0rlEOX1mpj5qaCYtY5P6Lq?si=dJKHwu8-QGybBp4nax2f3Q