WASHINGTON, D.C (BP) — Michael Brooks had been to the nation’s capital “about six or eight” times, all pre-COVID, before joining a group last month hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). On May 14-15, the pastors and ERLC President Brent Leatherwood visited congressional leaders during the throes of debate over the passage of a national budget, primarily urging them to endorse passage of the bill that would effectively defund Planned Parenthood.

The bill passed in the House and has moved on to the Senate. Brooks, pastor of Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster, Ala., was so encouraged by the event and the ERLC’s work that day that he reached out to Jennifer Rash, editor of The Alabama Baptist, and asked to write about his experience.

“I was amazed at the access the ERLC team had to the halls of power,” wrote Brooks, who met with his state’s delegation — representatives Robert Aderholt, Barry Moore and Dale Strong as well as Sen. Katie Britt — alongside other leaders.

Brooks had worked as a professor of journalism and communications at Judson College as well as an assistant to the president for public relations, so he was familiar with the media. He admits he was somewhat unprepared, though, for the vitriol he received online, primarily through X.

Previous work with the Alabama Christian Life Commission and the Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) may have led to his invitation for the ERLC trip, he said. Some online comments, Brooks added, took the form of oppositional research and attempted to connect his previous work with those groups in a negative way.

“I was bowled over by someone finding a list of the board for ALCAP with my name on it,” said Brooks. “They wanted it to be an ‘aha’ moment, but that’s an anti-gambling, pro-life group. They seemed to think I was sent there with the intent of bringing back a glowing report.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been shot at, verbally, like that, but I’m a big boy. I had no problem signing my name to the column.”

Brooks had never met Leatherwood, though he heard him speak at a pastors’ conference in Gadsden, Ala., weeks before the D.C. trip.

“He was very approachable and we got to talk during meals and break times. What impressed me was the access that we had and welcome we experienced. Everywhere we went, people listened to us.”

Josh Bonner, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Rapid City, S.D., also took part and met his state’s lone representative, Dusty Johnson.

“He seemed to be very supportive of our positions,” said Bonner. “It was an interesting trip just from the standpoint of hearing different members of Congress as to if the [budget] bill was going to be passed. Rep. Johnson was cautiously optimistic.”

When Bonner offered his son, Caleb, a trip of his choosing last summer, the then-11-year-old chose Washington. They began with a visit to Arlington Cemetery before moving on to the museums for Natural History and American History as well as the International Spy Museum.

“We had a good time together, but it was also a chance to talk about the freedoms we enjoy,” Bonner said.

Those freedoms need Southern Baptist input, he added.

“I was very impressed with the dedication of the ERLC folks and the clarity Brent was able to bring to the table. He was really forthright and didn’t beat around the bush when it came to talking to representatives and senators we met,” Bonner said.

Both pastors noted a spiritual openness among leaders.

“[Rep.] Dale Strong grabbed hands of the people next to him and invited us all to pray as a group, so we joined hands and prayed for God’s guidance,” Brooks said.

The experience, said Bonner, “gave me an opportunity to see the advocacy behind the scenes of what’s going on in D.C. on behalf of Southern Baptists. Most of the pastors I talk to find it positive to have a Southern Baptist voice in the halls of Congress. The work the ERLC is doing is very important for our churches here in South Dakota.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press.)