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These are very important and strategic days in the life of the church. It truly is the day of evangelicals. Evangelical churches represent the fastest-growing segment of the church worldwide and hold in trust a significant measure of influence for shaping our society. Now is not the time to fight secondary battles with a diminishing adversary. Now is the time when God is calling us to stand on our own, preaching and living the whole gospel for the whole world. Let us not be frightened that someone will "contaminate" or impinge upon our ministry. Let us boldly articulate what we are for and move forward undaunted in our mission.

The faithful persons on whose shoulders we stand have brought us naturally to this point and, in God's power, our culture requires this kind of leadership for a new day. Never have we been so needed. By his power and grace we can navigate the transition, keeping our unity in Jesus Christ and our eyes on the goal of making him known.

Kevin W. Mannoia is also a bishop of the Free Methodist Church.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Breaking Up Isn't Hard to Do | Religious broadcasters quietly cut historic link to National Association of Evangelicals. (Mar. 21, 2001)

DiIulio Pitches Charitable Choice to Cautious NAE Delegates | Meanwhile, group suggests religious broadcasters reconsider severing ties. (Mar. 21, 2001)

Weblog: Why Did the National Religious Broadcasters Split from the National Association of Evangelicals? (Feb. 15, 2001)

More Talk, Less Static | Broadcasters resist low-power FM licenses due to listening-quality concerns. (Aug. 30, 2000)

Time to Kiss and Make Up? | The financially strapped NCC reaches out to evangelicals and Roman Catholics. (July 18, 2000)

Untying the Knot | NCC withdraws endorsement of 'one-man, one-woman' marriage statement. (Jan. 23, 2001)

Power in Unity | President of NAE embraces new strategy. (Mar. 28, 2000)

Breakthrough Talks | Top evangelical addresses NCC (Jan. 6, 1997)

The NRB's brief statement about its disaffiliation is available on its Web site.

The NAE's Web site is not updated very often, but has information about the organization.

A recent issue of Modern Reformation magazine looked at the battles over defining evangelicalism. Editor Michael Horton has also written on the topic for Christianity Today sister publication Books & Culture, which regularly examines the term.

Other publications' articles on the NAE's relationships between the NCC, and NRB include:

A no-fault divorce? | Misunderstandings led an important affiliate to break with the National Association of Evangelicals — World (Mar 10, 2001)

Evangelical group to reconsider inclusive stance | Conservative Presbyterian church behind review of NAE's opening to NCC membership cites concerns over "doctrinal integrity." — Religion News Service (Mar. 6, 2001)

Religious broadcasters group cuts ties with evangelicals — Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Feb. 13, 2001)

Religious broadcaster cut ties with NAE, but still seek cooperative ventures — Evangelical Press

Reformed Church to seek dual membership in NAE, NCC | The move is a sign of increased ecumenical relations between evangelical and mainline churches — Religion News Service (June 15, 2000)

As ecumenical relations mature, so may the NCC | Will the 50-year-old ecumenical body shut down—only to reappear in an expanded form including Catholics, evangelicals and more? — Religion News Service (May 29, 2000)

NCC attempts outreach to other Christian groups | The goal is to include all major branches of U.S. Christianity in one group. But major theological problems stand in the way — Associated Press (May 23, 2000)

Relations warm between National Association of Evangelicals and National Council of Churches — Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance (Mar. 20, 2000, Feb. 17, 2001)

Uncommon cause | Why did the NAE rescue the NCC from irrelevance? — R. Albert Mohler, World (Mar. 25, 2000)

Transforming itself to transform the culture | The National Association of Evangelicals has a new California home, a more inclusive and multicultural focus—-and the same goal. — Religion News Service (Mar. 9, 2000)

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May 21 2001, Vol. 45, No. 7