The investigation into Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leader Richard Land's racially charged radio commentary and plagiarism concluded today with two official reprimands and the cancellation of his weekly radio program.

Land, the longtime president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) who has been a key proponent of racial reconciliation in the SBC, has already apologized twice for his commentary on the controversial shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida. His comments provoked demands by some black Southern Baptist leaders for censure of Land by the SBC; today many, including Fred Luter who is expected to become the denomination's first African American president this month, have accepted the apologies.

The ERLC trustee committee, whose chairman resigned during the investigation, said today that "damage was done to the state of race relations in the Southern Baptist Convention" by Land's comments. The scandal broke as the SBC prepares to install its first black ...

You have reached the end of this Article Preview

To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access.

Log InSubscribe

Already a CT subscriber? Log in for full digital access.