NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ERLC) — The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s presidential search committee has announced Dr. Evan Lenow as their candidate to serve as the entity’s next president. The full board of trustees will vote on this recommendation from the search committee at a special called meeting in April.
Lenow’s candidacy follows a seven-month search led by the committee, composed of seven trustees approved by the full board. Lenow currently serves as the director of the Institute for Christian Leadership, director of Church and Minister Relations, and chair of the Christian Studies Department for Mississippi College in Clinton.
Mitch Kimbrell, chair of the search committee, commented on Lenow’s presidential candidacy.
“Evan is exceptionally qualified and has time-tested experience, but what I’m most encouraged by is how much he loves Southern Baptists and how eager he is to serve by helping us apply the Scriptures and the Baptist Faith and Message to the most important ethical questions of our day. I know that when he represents Southern Baptists in the public square, he’ll do so as one of us.”
If elected by the ERLC trustee board, Lenow will assume the role of ERLC president, succeeding Dr. Gary Hollingsworth, who has served as interim president since Oct. 2025.
“We are excited to hear of the unanimous affirmation of the ERLC presidential search committee for Dr. Evan Lenow’s candidacy to become the next ERLC president,” said Hollingsworth. “He brings a wealth of experience and passion to this important role. He will represent Southern Baptists well in both the pulpit and the public square.”
Lenow’s Early Life and Family
Lenow was born and raised in Memphis, Tenn., where his family has deep roots dating back to the early 1800s. He grew up in a multigenerational Southern Baptist family, with both his parents and grandparents actively involved at Bellevue Baptist Church.
Dr. Lenow came to faith in Christ as a child while attending a Christian school in Memphis. As a teenager, he had an early interest in theology and sensed a calling toward ministry. After high school graduation, he enrolled at Mississippi College, where he majored in communication, minored in business, and supplemented his education with extensive coursework in Christian studies, including preaching, Greek, and pastoral ministry.
While studying at Mississippi College, he met his wife, Melanie, and they have four children.
Education and Professional Experience
Before joining Mississippi College, Lenow served at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was associate professor of ethics, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement, director of the Center for Biblical Stewardship, and held the Bobby L. and Janis Eklund Chair of Stewardship.
Since 2012, he has served as a research fellow in Christian Ethics for the ERLC. Dr. Lenow is the author of “Ethics as Worship: The Pursuit of Moral Discipleship” (co-authored with Mark D. Liederbach, 2021), “Biblically Sound: Embracing Doctrine for Life” (2014), and “Biblically Correct: Engaging Culture with Truth” (2013).
Dr. Lenow holds a Ph.D. in Theological Studies with a concentration in Christian Ethics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), an M.Div. in Advanced Biblical Studies from SEBTS, and a bachelor’s in communication from Mississippi College.
In commenting on the search committee’s decision, Lenow said:
“I am honored that the ERLC presidential search committee has nominated me to fill this role. In these challenging cultural times, the world is indeed watching to see how we live out the Good News. I am convinced that the entity’s ministry assignment to assist churches in understanding and addressing the moral problems of our day is as vital as it’s ever been. If the board so chooses, I will look forward to leading the ERLC in its important work.”
Additional statements of support from SBC leaders are below.
“Dr. Evan Lenow has been an outstanding leader for Mississippi College over the last years. He’s a true scholar and genuine friend to the local church. He understands grassroots Southern Baptists and has the ability to clearly communicate biblical convictions on cultural issues that concern us. I’m thankful for the search committee’s recognition of his leadership potential, and I’m confident he will serve Southern Baptists with excellence. ” — Dr. Shawn Parker, executive director-treasurer, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
“I could not be more pleased with the nomination of Dr. Evan Lenow as the next president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. I cannot think of anyone more qualified and prepared by background, training, experience, and conviction to lead the ERLC in assisting Southern Baptists and other faithful Christians in being the Gospel ‘salt and light’ in America that our Heavenly Father has called us all to be.” — Dr. Richard Land, president emeritus, ERLC
“Having known Evan Lenow since he was a seminary student, I have rejoiced to watch him serve the Lord faithfully across the years. Dr. Lenow is convictionally conservative and engaged with the challenges facing our culture. I believe he will lead the ERLC to serve our Southern Baptist pastors and churches with grace and clarity.” — Dr. Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer, Florida Baptist State Convention
More supportive statements and information about Lenow can be found here.
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