EVANGELICAL DIVERSITY:AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD
EVANGELICAL DIVERSITY:AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD
Wow! It is overdue, but still wonderful that the National Association of Evangelicals (the largest evangelical organization in the US) has just named an Asian-American, an African-American, and a woman to its top three posts.
That is so good that I had to do another blog even though I just did one yesterday.
The media often give the impression that 81% of evangelicals voted for Donald Trump. But that is not true. 81% of WHITE evangelicals voted for Trump. But almost all African-Americans (who are theologically evangelicals) did NOT vote for him. The same is true for a majority of Asian-American and Hispanic evangelicals.
It is great to have the largest evangelical organization in the country vividly recognizing the diversity of the evangelical world.
Here (if the technology works) is the NAE release with pictures.
Ron
Walter Kim currently serves as pastor for leadership at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, and will continue in this role as he leads the NAE. He ministered for 15 years at Boston’s historic Park Street Church, a congregation that played a key role in the NAE’s founding.
Walter, who will assume the NAE position in January 2020, said, “I am humbled to serve the National Association of Evangelicals, which is a vital influence for good. We have before us the compelling call of gospel witness and work, and it will be an honor to lead this organization."
Walter has been a member of the NAE board since 2013 and has presented at NAE events, contributed to NAE publications and served on working groups on a variety of issues, including ethics and church life, racial reconciliation and the politics of sexuality.
He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, his M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver, and his B.A. from Northwestern University in philosophy and history. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and a licensed minister in the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.
In addition to the pulpit ministry, he has spoken at college campuses, churches, retreats and symposia, particularly in the areas of biblical theology and cultural issues. He also serves on the board of Christianity Today. Walter is married to Toni Kim, and they have two teenagers.
In addition to electing Walter Kim as president at its semi-annual meeting last week, the NAE Board of Directors also elected John Jenkins (left), senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, to the office of chair of the NAE board; and Jo Anne Lyon (right), general superintendent emerita and ambassador of The Wesleyan Church, to the office of vice chair. Jenkins and Lyon currently serve on the NAE Executive Committee, with Jenkins as vice chair. Their new elections will go into effect at the next NAE board meeting in March 2020. (Photo credit: JeffreyGrounds Photography)
In the News ...
NAE Press Release: NAE Appoints Walter Kim as President
Religion News Service: National Association of Evangelicals names new president, diverse leadership