By Bob Allen
The National Council of Churches, an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States, has announced two hirings for key leadership roles.
NCC officials announced Nov. 7 the hiring of Aundreia Alexander, head of the Office of Immigration and Refugee Services at American Baptist Home Mission Societies, as associate general secretary for Action and Advocacy for Justice and Peace beginning in early January.
Steven Martin, president of Vital Visions, a nonprofit organization that produces videos and conducts seminars promoting interfaith peacemaking and dialogue in Oak Ridge, Tenn., begins immediately as the NCC’s director of communications and development.
An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, in 2010 Martin joined with Richard Cizik, former vice president for the National Association of Evangelicals, and Baptist ethicist David Gushee to form The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good as an alternative to the partisan ideology of America’s culture wars.
“The addition of these two staff members brings the National Council of Churches to a place where we can now engage the important issues of our time with a full complement of skills and abilities,” said Roy Medley, NCC chair and general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. “I’m very optimistic about the church’s future and the part the NCC will play in that future.”
Jim Winkler, former general secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society hired as NCC general secretary and president in 2013, said Alexander and Martin “bring a lot of talent and energy” to the leadership team.
“Aundreia’s background as an attorney, combined with her years of experience in refugee resettlement, immigration policy and conflict transformation, makes her an ideal choice for the NCC,” Winkler said. “Steve’s experience as a pastor, media producer and entrepreneur, along with his knowledge of the Evangelical community, expands our capacity to engage all corners of our society. We are thrilled to have them as part of our leadership.”
Alexander, who has worked with American Baptist Home Mission Societies for 13 years, said he’s “excited beyond measure to join the NCC staff.”
“In my new position I will be able to merge my passions for social justice, ecumenism and peace-building all into one ministry portfolio, thereby living out my personal mission statement,” she said, “to combat systems and structures that debase others and to serve as a catalyst to help the marginalized reach their greatest God-given potential.”
Martin posted on Facebook that he is “really happy” to land the new post and “blown away” by all the congratulations for his new job. “It feels like even more confirmation that God is in this,” he said.