A young evangelical’s plea to the NAE
To the National Assocation of Evangelicals:
RE: Finding a Replacement for Rich Cizik
In today’s news, I read that you are now openly seeking someone to replace Rich Cizik as your director of government affairs. Personally, I was disappointed to see Cizik go. To this 20-something evangelical, Rich remains an inspiration.
He represented the idea that evangelicals of a certain generation were getting it: we coiuld stay grounded in our theological convictions while broadening our minds and agendas, applying our faith to a variety of causes and concerns. Rich was a rare figure, able to encourage the activist spirit possessed by young evangelicals like me while tempering it with wisdom gained from years slogging through the culture wars.
As you seek to replace him, I ask just two things of you. First, find someone willing to advance the progress Rich has already made on issues like creation care. It is crucial that we don’t lose ground on this subject.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, take the pulse of an up-and-coming generation of evangelicals. Don’t rely solely on a body of candidates found pleasing by the same figureheads who have been in power for years. Young evangelicals are reshaping the social face of our movement; we are gaining positions of power and we are making progress. Hire someone who will listen to our cries for the future and our critiques of the past. Find someone who also represents our concerns and will work with us to find fresh means of faithful expression.
Blessings in the search,
a young evangelical