ERLC announces new vice president

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has hired Zack Pruitt, senior counsel and director of U.S. government relations with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), to serve as vice president of public policy and general counsel for the entity.

Pruitt, who will begin his full-time work with the ERLC Sept. 14, previously worked to promote ADF’s policy and legislative work at the national level on behalf of the organization’s broader public policy team.

He also served as deputy executive director and national director of government relations of ADF’s sister organization, ADF Action, helping oversee the state government relations team and representing ADF Action to government officials and coalition leaders.

The ERLC and Alliance Defending Freedom have partnered in many ways over the years, including the ERLC’s joining amicus briefs for court cases where ADF represented clients.

ERLC President Evan Lenow said Pruitt’s appointment will assist the entity with engaging public policy issues of importance to Southern Baptists.

“From the beginning of my tenure at the ERLC, I have wanted to prioritize the connection between our work to resource Southern Baptist churches to address the ethical questions in their communities and our public policy advocacy regarding issues that Southern Baptists care deeply about,” Lenow said. “Finding the right person to lead our policy advocacy while still connecting it back to the work of our churches seemed like a tall task until I met Zack Pruitt.

“As a lifelong Southern Baptist, Zack understands the mission of our churches. With more than a decade in the policy world, he has relationships and a history of successful work with lawmakers and leaders in government. Now the ERLC gets to benefit from this unique combination of skills and relationships to advance the work of the Convention in public policy. I am excited that Zack is joining our team and cannot wait to see him work on behalf of Southern Baptists in the years ahead.”

Prior to joining ADF, Pruitt served as director of public policy for the Family Action Council of Tennessee. Before that, he was a Charles Koch Institute research fellow at the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich., and managed a state Senate campaign in Missouri.

Pruitt earned his Juris Doctor with a certificate in International and Comparative Law from St. Louis University School of Law. He is a member of the state bar in Tennessee and the District of Columbia and is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Originally from Chattanooga, Tenn., Pruitt grew up attending Woodland Park Baptist Church, pastored by Wayne Barber. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Pruitt currently serves in his Southern Baptist church in the greater D.C. area and said his new role with the ERLC will provide a unique opportunity to serve the SBC.

“I am excited to join the ERLC and look forward to contributing to its vision and tremendous potential,” said Pruitt. “The ERLC is uniquely positioned to address current ethical and cultural issues in order to serve the Church, stand for truth and shape the culture. It’s an honor to join them in those efforts.”