Southern Baptists Decry ERLC for Calling Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Appointment A ‘History-Making Moment’

Some Southern Baptist leaders have denounced the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) for calling the appointment of new Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson a “history-making moment.”

Jackson, a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, was confirmed by the Senate to the nation’s highest court last week by a 53-47 vote. She is the first Black woman and third Black justice to serve on the Supreme Court.

Following Jackson’s appointment, the ERLC quote-tweeted a statement by acting president Brent Leatherwood calling the confirmation a “history-making moment.”

“Despite the philosophical and legal differences individuals like me will have with her, Judge Jackson’s confirmation is a history-making moment. We should appreciate it as such,” Leatherwood said in remarks initially reported in a Baptist Press article. “If we lose the ability to do that, we lose something that makes America an exceptional nation,” he added.

“I pray that as she joins the nation’s highest court, she will decide cases about human dignity, religious liberty, and protection of the family based on the fundamental principles of our country,” he concluded.

According to ChurchLeaders.com, some SBC pastors have called for the ERLC to be defunded or dissolved over its celebration of Jackson’s confirmation.

“If your church hasn’t defunded the @ERLC by now, what are you waiting for?” Texas SBC pastor Tom Buck Tweeted on Thursday.

If your church hasn’t defunded the @ERLC by now, what are you waiting for?#DefundtheERLC https://t.co/jONWHm2iqF

— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) April 8, 2022

“This!?! From @ERLC funded by SBC churches! This judge can’t define a ‘woman,’ gave slaps on the wrist to child sex abusers, advocates for the murder of babies, & is celebrated by NARAL. And we should ‘appreciate’ her appointment? We should weep! #changethedirection,” Florida pastor and SBC presidential candidate Tom Ascol captioned a screenshot of the ERLC’s tweet.

This!?! From @ERLC funded by SBC churches! This judge can’t define a “woman,” gave slaps on the wrist to child sex abusers, advocates for the murder of babies, & is celebrated by NARAL. And we should “appreciate” her appointment? We should weep!#changethedirection pic.twitter.com/HHPeXjg1Lx

— Tom @tomascol (@tomascol) April 8, 2022

SBC presidential candidate Bart Barber was also asked to chime in on this issue, causing him to address the denominations’ involvement in political matters.

“I’ve spent weeks now saying that the intrusion of secular politics into our work as a family of churches is doing great harm to our fellowship,” Barber contended.

“Although I have actually commented somewhat indirectly on this platform before about one of her answers to a question during her confirmation, which would probably give you your answer, here’s my official answer.”

Although I have actually commented somewhat indirectly on this platform before about one of her answers to a question during her confirmation, which would probably give you your answer, here’s my official answer.

— Bart Barber (@bartbarber) April 8, 2022

“1. Offering a take on everything happening in Washington isn’t even remotely part of the constitutional duties of the SBC President. 2. I intend to focus upon those duties. 3. I love and am shaped by the strong pro-life stand that Southern Baptists have taken for decades. 4. The fact that this is the sort of ‘question for the candidates’ that surfaces, and not anything to do with the core mission of the SBC or the president’s role in that mission, confirms for me the urgency of remaining firm about my not contributing to this sort of distraction,” Barber asserted.

4. The fact that this is the sort of “question for the candidates” that surfaces, and not anything to do with the core mission of the SBC or the president’s role in that mission, confirms for me the urgency of remaining firm about my not contributing to this sort of distraction.

— Bart Barber (@bartbarber) April 8, 2022

Jackson is scheduled to assume her role as a Supreme Court Justice this summer.

Related:

Senate Confirms Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court: A ‘Historic Moment,’ Biden Says

Biden Nominee Jackson Declines to Define ‘Woman’ during Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker/Staff

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.

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