WASHINGTON (BP)—Retired South Carolina Baptist state convention leader and longtime pastor Gary Hollingsworth has been selected as interim president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, effective Oct. 1.
Hollingsworth was named to the post by ERLC trustees at their meeting Sept. 16.
“I do believe (Southern Baptists) desperately need the voice and the work of the ERLC,” Hollingsworth told Baptist Press. “If I can be just a very small part of that and getting it ready for whoever God will bring next, I’m excited about that to see what he will do and how he’ll do it.”
Hollingsworth, 67, was elected unanimously in 2007 as executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He retired from the role in 2023.
‘A lot of challenges’
He comes to the role following the resignation of Brent Leatherwood in July after leading the commission for two years. In June, messengers to the SBC annual meeting voted by 56.89 percent to hold on to the ERLC.
It was the third time since 2018 that messengers have voted on whether to defund or eliminate the commission. A similar motion in 2023 was ruled out of order.
“I know there are a lot of challenges, certainly in the past, but we’re kind of just looking forward,” he said.
ERLC Trustee Chairman Scott Foshie believes Hollingsworth’s longtime pastoral ministry will help guide the commission.
“Gary brings a unique combination of executive leadership, relational depth, and pastoral heart that will serve Southern Baptists well as he leads the ERLC through this season of transition and opportunity,” Foshie said.
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Decades of ministry experience
Before coming to South Carolina, Hollingsworth served at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., almost 10 years.
“We’re thankful for his obedience and availability to be used by God and this way to serve and empower churches as we take the gospel to our culture and the public square,” Foshie said.
In his ministry career, the Alabama native has also served as senior director of cultural evangelism for the North American Mission Board. He pastored First Baptist Church of Trussville, Ala., for a decade and also was pastor of churches in Kentucky and Virginia.
He previously served as president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention.
Hollingsworth served as a trustee for the Alabama State Board of Missions from 1999-2005 and as board chairman from 2002-2004. He was president of the Alabama Pastors’ Conference in 2004.
He served as a NAMB trustee from 2002-2005 and on the SBC Committee on Committees in 2004 and 2014.
In Arkansas, he has served as a convention trustee and was board president from 2012 to 2014. He has also served as a trustee of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Pledges to follow God’s direction
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Hollingsworth told trustees that he doesn’t have all the answers but plans to lead them to seek God’s direction for the ERLC.
“We’re trusting him,” he said. “I promise I’ll give it my very best.”
Miles Mullin, who has served as acting president since Leatherwood’s resignation, will return to his previous role of ERLC chief of staff, Foshie said.
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