After backlash, Southern Baptist Convention condemns alt-right

The Southern Baptist Convention, which is meeting in Phoenix, voted on Wednesday to denounce the alt-right -- but only after pastors pushed back against leaders who initially declined to show opposition to the fringe group.

The committee charged with determining which matters will be presented to and decided upon by church members rejected a resolution entirely on Tuesday because of its wording.

Written by well-known black pastor Dwight McKissic, the proposal reportedly notes, "there has arisen in the United States a growing menace to political order and justice that seeks to reignite social animosities, reverse improvements in race relations, divide our people, and foment hatred, classism, and ethnic cleansing."

RELATED: White supremacy in America

It goes on to describe white supremacy and the alt-right as "toxic" and calls for action against, "totalitarian impulses, xenophobic biases, and bigoted ideologies that infect the minds and actions of its violent disciples."

As news of the committee's reluctance to present the matter to the followers of the faith, backlash ensued, notes the Associated Press.

The decision was reversed on Tuesday night.

The committee decided to draft and present its own version on Wednesday, reports The Atlantic.

According to the Arizona Republic, Chairman Barrett Duke said that McKissic's original proposal is, "too open-ended," and contains, "some significantly inflammatory language that we felt was over the bar."