Illinois Baptist
New causes are costly— but necessary
An Illinois story from Obbie Tyler Todd P. 13
Hello!
in focus
ILLINOIS VOICES
Showcase showoff Hits the jackpot! P. 14
NATE ADAMS
Church’s new posture Seeing the spiral P. 2
MEREDITH FLYNN
Daniel Kim’s field guide to Gen Alpha P. 7
Leadership lessons From a velvet brick P. 14
PLUS: TEENS REACH OUT IN CHICAGO P. 9
IllinoisBaptist.org
IB
Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
After Leatherwood
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
Who speaks for the SBC next?
SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
Vol. 119 No. 9
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 964
MISSION-READY GENERATION P. 11
More on p. 3 Pastor Brooks’ next move P. 6
Nashville, Tenn. | Brent Leatherwood’s resignation as President of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in July leaves the Trustees with the unenviable task of finding a replacement and the looming question: Can anyone speak for Southern Baptists without making them mad? Leatherwood resigned July 31, six weeks after 43% of messengers to the SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas voted to abolish the entity that represents the Convention among political leaders. This was the second consecutive vote to defund the public voice that failed to reach a required majority vote. Leatherwood was left in an untenable position—he needed to rebuild trust with almost half the churches and pastors in the convention, while he himself had become the most visible symbol of widespread dissatisfaction with the entity. So he resigned. Now the search begins for a new leader. “We’re not going to let grass grow under our feet,” ERLC Trustee Chair Scott Foshie said. “We need that leader soon.” The trustees elected a seven-member search team from among their number on August 14. The process of bringing a nominee to the full board for consideration P. 4