NCC's Edgar Years Coming to an End
The Rev. Bob Edgar ends his term this month as general secretary of one of the nation's largest ecumenical movements and will depart for a national advocacy group.
As a search committee continues its efforts to pick out a successor to Edgar, Clare J. Chapman, deputy general secretary for finance and administration for the National Council of Churches (NCC), has been tapped to serve as the group's interim head.
"We are blessed to have the administrative gifts and talents in Clare Chapman to manage the day-to-day leadership of the NCC," said the Rev. Michael Livingston, president of the NCC, according to the NCC News Service.
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Livingston expects the next general secretary to be named by the end of the year.
"The NCC and its member communions continue to be in ministry together, striving for the unity to which Christ calls us," said Chapman. "The Council has strong leadership in its Governing Board and Executive Committee and I look forward to working with them in a new way in this leadership transition."
"While we all acknowledge the improvement in financial stability that has occurred in Bob's tenure, his strong leadership in advocating for peace, working for environmental justice and helping those living with poverty is his real legacy," she added.
When Edgar began his first four-year tenure in 2000 at NCC, the network of interfaith churches was in a financial crisis with some pundits predicting that the ecumenical body was on the verge of collapse. While some of the financial exigency is still in place, Edgar has helped bring NCC to a sound financial footing.
As Chapman acknowledged, however, Edgar is more widely recognized for his efforts in rallying churches to eradicate poverty, protest the Iraq war and push for peace, and fight against global warming. Some have called him a fearless speaker on these issues.
As Edgar noted, "My wife says I've always preached one sermon, and I always will: peace, poverty and planet earth."
During "the Edgar years" at NCC, Edgar faced a score of historic events and tragedies, including the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and tsunamis and earthquakes. NCC staff have called Edgar an optimist, despite challenges and criticism from dissenters, who led NCC into some "interesting times."
"It will be years before church historians will be able to offer a proper assessment of the Edgar years at the National Council of Churches. Some will argue that his actions were prophetic, some will characterize them as impulsive. Some will praise his innovative techniques for translating good intentions into practical application, like The Benefit Bank, Faithful America, Let Justice Roll. Others will say he gave a courageous national voice to the churches in a time of war and division, though he sometimes spoke before a consensus had formed," stated a brief retrospective of Edgar's tenure at NCC.
Edgar, also a former Democratic congressman, announced last October that he would not seek a third term as general secretary. He was chosen to lead the Washington-based advocacy group Common Cause of which he has served on the governing board since 2005.
