National Association of Evangelicals regroups in nation’s capital

Association headquarters to move in with government affairs unit. The board of the National Association of Evangelicals (nae) on May 1 voted to move its headquarters from southern California to Washington, d.c. The move marks the latest step back from the controversial tenure of Kevin Mannoia, who resigned in July 2001 amid financial woes, controversy over ecumenical relations, and a sharp rebuff from National Religious Broadcasters (ct, Aug. 6, 2001, p. 23). When Mannoia became president in 1999, he moved the association to Azusa, California, from Carol Stream, Illinois. The nae plans to consolidate all functions into its office in the nation’s capital by July 1, nae President Leith Anderson told Christianity Today. “The advantage is that this is a very strong office and a very strong presence,” Anderson, senior pastor at Wooddale Church in suburban Minneapolis, said while attending the Second Summit of Christian Leaders on Religious Persecution in Washington. “The two pillars of nae are the association of churches, denominations, and individuals, and … our relationship as the evangelical voice to government. This way we can do it [all] together instead of seeing each other a few times a year and doing it by electronic communication.” The nae has had a presence in Washington for more than 50 years, he added. “We are increasingly convinced that we can do a better job having everything here as it once was.” World Relief, a humanitarian organization and subsidiary of nae, moved to Baltimore last year. Being closer to World Relief will bring the nae “wonderful leveraging opportunities,” Anderson said. The board also elected William Hamel, president of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as chairman. In the past, the board has discussed changes in the leadership structure of the nae, but Anderson said it took no action on that matter. Donations to the nae dropped by 36 percent in Mannoia’s first year as president. John Mendez, nae vice president for ministry development, said Anderson has been fulfilling the president’s primary function of fundraising. He added that membership has stabilized.