In a time of unprecedented change and growth within the global Christian community, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez and Rev. Johnnie Moore announce today the formation of a new, representative body for evangelicals and other Christian leaders within the United States and abroad, anchored on an unwavering commitment to righteousness and justice.
The Congress of Christian Leaders (CCL) will unveil its founding board of trustees over the next several months and will announce its inaugural membership during its first formal meeting in the fall. These decisions will be the result of a “listening tour” Rodriguez and Moore will conduct over the next several months throughout the United States and around the world.
Rev. Rodriguez will serve as the chairman of the organization, and Rev. Moore will serve as the organization’s founding president. Both Moore and Rodriguez will continue their respective roles leading several other organizations, including the Rev. Rodriguez’s National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
“In times of rapid change and upheaval as we’re experiencing today, it is imperative for the church to respond with bold, fresh thinking that is capable of bridging the establishment and the emerging,” Rodriguez says. “Our aim at the CCL is to say yes to all willing partners, private, denominational and governmental, and then apply uncompromising Christ-centered advocacy in support of uniting, growing, strengthening and empowering the entire church.”
“This organization, by virtue of its leadership, will be uniquely positioned to help bring unity to the evangelical and Christian movements that have too often been disparate, uncoordinated and unnecessarily contentious at times,” Rodriguez continued. “The CCL is the embodiment of our conviction that we are more powerful when we stand together for righteousness and justice. It is through our common bonds of faith that we will magnify our collective reach and impact for the cause of Christ on this earth.”
The Congress of Christian Leaders will provide a representative voice for its members and members’ organizations with a “reasoned” approach that is “unifying, missional, objective, non-partisan, global and biblical.”
“We want to serve the hundreds of thousands of Christian organizations making a consequential impact around the world,” Moore says. “Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a deep and abiding passion for Christian unity and for Christian orthodoxy. I believe we ought to be in meaningful fellowship with believers across the denominational spectrum, and we ought to embrace friendship whenever possible with those outside of our community.”
Membership will include notable individuals, business leaders and congregations as well as heads of denominations and Christian organizations.
“In a hyperbolic time, when divisions of all kinds are on grand display, it is more important than ever to create space for people to connect and to facilitate a reasoned unity over issues of mutual concern,” Moore says. “Meanwhile, the church is experiencing incredible growth and opportunity worldwide. Communities of faith are also facing unbelievable persecution. Our goal is to convene likeminded, high-impact leaders to strengthen the church, providing advocacy and assistance of all kinds to Christians in this country and worldwide.”
“We also have a vision to constructively engage culture, emphasizing who Christians really are and what we really believe,” Moore added. “We believe that this new organization can serve as a vehicle to network, strategize and leverage our collective strengths to accelerate the difference we are already making and to ensure that challenges we face are faced sensibly and together.” {eoa}
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