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Executive committee member Stuart Epperson expressed a similar concern in a memo to the committee. "During our selection process he represented himself to us as having no agenda to significantly change NRB from its historic policies of  … proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and exerting a Biblical influence on our culture by direct involvement in public policy issues," Epperson wrote. "Our conclusions were largely based on his direct statements to us and his two year record as NRB Chairman. Some had reservations but we confirmed him."

In the memo, Epperson suggests that the executive committee fire Pederson "with no appearance before the board. Then we carefully and explicitly explain our action to the Board … if the board rehires him, that is their prerogative." At an executive committee meeting, Epperson, chairman of the board of Salem Communications, played a voice-mail message Pederson left him in which Pederson stood by his statements in the article.

Epperson said the message has been "widely circulated" among the membership. Epperson's memo also suggests that Pederson's "agenda to dramatically change NRB" may include some new engagement with the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). The NRB broke off from its parent organization last year, due in part to the NAE's openness to member organizations of the National Council of Churches (CT, April 2, 2001).

Additionally, some members of the NRB believe Pederson's decision to withdraw an invitation for House Majority Whip Tom Delay to give the keynote address at a public policy session at the convention was politically motivated. "I thought that action simply paralleled the statements he made as to the agenda for NRB," Bott said. "He went over the heads of the public policy committee and chose Bud Paxson [founder of Pax TV]." Pederson said the decision was motivated by a printing deadline for the convention program, and that Delay has been invited to speak at the convention next year.

LaTonya Taylor is editorial resident for Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

The NRB controversy began following Pederson's comments in a January 5 article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Christianity Today's Weblog covered the NRB dispute as it became public last month.

Other news coverage includes:

A healthy debate — World (Feb. 15, 2002)

NRB president submits resignation — WorldNetDaily (Feb. 14, 2002)

Wayne Pederson criticized for comments on NRB role — Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Feb. 3, 2002)

Row among nation's religious broadcasters — WorldNetDaily (Jan. 22, 2002)

Christian Broadcaster Critical of Comments by NRB Head — Agape Press (Jan. 21, 2002)

NRB's official Web site has more information on this weekend's convention in Nashville. The site also includes a press release on Pederson's selection as president and COO and an interview with him.

In April, Christianity Today covered NRB's breakaway from the NAE after 57 years of association.

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February (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46