NEW YORK — The general secretary of the National Council of Churches (NCC) has hailed the decision b the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) to permit membership of denominations affiliated with other umbrella organizations of churches.
“The National Council of Churches welcomes this change in bylaws and rejoices in this new opportunity to draw closer to brothers and sisters in Christ,” said Bob Edgar in a statement. “This bold step by the NAE is evidence of God’s abiding Spirit working in and through us for the sake of the world.”
The board of directors of NAE decided March 6 to change the organization’s bylaws to permit denominations that are members ecclesiastical groups other than the NAE to hold dual membership with the evangelical organization if they are willing to commit to the group’s statement of faith and mission.
Edgar noted the organizations, which have had an antagonistic relationship for more than 50 years, have recently experienced “a softening of the sharp conflict’ between the more liberal NCC and more conservative NAE.
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