The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) did not speak at a Tennessee legislative national study of a proposed Pro-Life Bill, according to local pro-life advocates. The absence of the ERLC angered many conservative evangelicals attending the high-profile event—an event that attracted national Pro-Life and pro-abortion groups.
The failure to testify on behalf of the bill came despite many requests from grassroots evangelical organizations like Conservative Christians of Tennessee. The proposed bill is based on a Heartbeat abortion bill that was controversial in the last legislative session. Local leaders wanted as much help as possible to improve chances in the 2020 legislative session.