Why Did the National Religious Broadcasters Split from the National Association of Evangelicals?

National Religious Broadcasters board votes unanimously to sever ties with National Association of Evangelicals. But why? On Saturday, during its annual convention in Dallas, the board of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) voted 81-0 to sever all its ties to the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)—an organization it has been affiliated with since its founding in 1944. NRB communications director Karl Stoll said it was because “the broadcasters were concerned about the National Association of Evangelicals’ interest in becoming involved with the National Council of Churches,” according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Are they kidding? As NAE president Kevin Mannoia tells the paper, “We are unequivocally committed to the evangelical message. We have no intention of merging with the National Council of Churches or altering our statement of faith or identity as evangelicals.” In fact, there’s been tension between the NCC and NAE leadership lately, since NCC general secretary Bob Edgar removed his name from a ‘one-man, one-woman’ marriage statement spearheaded by Mannoia and signed by leaders of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Southern Baptist Convention. The NCC has reached out to evangelicals and Roman Catholics lately, but the only action the NAE has taken is to allow NCC members also to have a membership with the NAE if they commit to NAE’s statement of faith and mission. Is that what the NRB is upset about? That it’s a member of an organization that allows its members to have membership in another organization too? Sounds fishy to Weblog …

More stories of interest:

Court rejects policy on harassment | Federal appeals court panel rules school district’s anti-harassment policy violates the free-speech right of Christian students to speak out against homosexuality (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Holy Land | The growth of Korean churches in Flushing, New York, sparks community tensions (The Village Voice)
Multifaith leader to replace Anglican chaplain in prisons | Prison chiefs have ordered the biggest shake-up of religion in jails after learning that Anglican inmates are now in a minority among the 64,000 prisoners in England and Wales (The Independent, London)
New head sought for religious care in British jails | A new head of religion for the prison service is to be appointed to ensure better spiritual care for Muslim and other non-Christian prisoners. (The Times, London)

Sorry it’s so slim today. Lots more links tomorrow, including Kansas’s evolution decision, a huge corporal punishment decision in Australia, and Michael Kinsley on the Holy Land Experience.

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