President James Earl Carter, Jr.’s one term in office has, until recently been seen as remarkably unsuccessful. President Carter’s post-presidency and revelations about President Reagan’s election tactics have softened that view. His peace process with the state of Israel and Egypt resulted with the Camp David Accords that ended the war between the warring factions. He is one of four presidents to have received the Nobel Peace Prize.

President Carter is considered to be one of the most religious (or publicly professing religious) President of the modern era—if not all time. He often taught Sunday School during his term as president, and spoke out against the Southern Baptist Convention’s posturing and theology surrounding women in ministry. In later life he attended a Baptist church in Plains, Georgia called Maranatha Baptist Church, Maranatha Church is associated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He attended that church until his admittance to Hospice care in early 2023.

Note: In August of 2018, I had the opportunity to preach at President Carter’s church with him teaching Sunday School prior to the worship service. After the service President Carter invited my wife to dine with him and former-First Lady Rosalynn Carter on the condition that my wife Stephanie cook the lasagna. The service and Sunday School class were recorded and you can view that here.

*Though President Carter was a practicing and active member of the Southern Baptist Convention during his term in office, that relationship deteriorated quickly as the Southern Baptists bent hard-right. He now participates in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and uses moderate Baptist curriculum to teach his Sunday School class from Smyth and Helwys Publishing.