Southern Baptist Convention group rescinds firing of executive

The Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm announced it was firing its president Monday night before abruptly reversing course hours later, saying he was still on the job.

State of play: Brent Leatherwood remains the president of the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the group's executive committee announced early Tuesday morning.

• "[We] formally retract the press release which was sent yesterday," their statement read . "There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or action taken by the Executive Committee."
• The chair of the executive committee resigned and apologized in a statement to the Baptist Press for moving to oust Leatherwood "without a formal vote."

The big picture: The confusing back-and-forth came shortly after Leatherwood praised President Biden for his decision not to seek a second term. (Leatherwood, the former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party, also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for supporting abortion access.)

Leatherwood has been a public voice for The Covenant School community following the mass shooting there in 2023.

• He supported work toward a red flag law and argued against releasing the shooter's journals.

What they're saying: The executive committee released an updated statement Tuesday.

• "[A]ny insinuations that the events of the previous days are the result of a moral failing on Brent's part are wholly false. We find Brent Leatherwood to be a man of utmost moral and ethical integrity."

Editor's note: This story was updated to add more details.