Galen Carey. Photo courtesy Trinity International University
The National Association of Evangelicals, an organization representing around 45,000 churches, recently selected longtime humanitarian worker Galen Carey to head its government affairs office, according to Christianity Today.
The slot, vacant for six months since the departure of Richard Cizik, is among the most important and — at least in Cizik’s tenure, most visible — positions. Cizik, a rather controversial figure in evangelical circles, brought a great deal of attention to the NAE through his zealous championing of environmental issues — a fervor that sparked several conservative evangelical leaders to call for his resignation in 2007. He resigned from the post shortly after admitting in a radio interview that his views on civil unions were shifting.
From what I gather from the CT article, Carey’s not expected to be quite the outspoken presence Cizik was. But he brings with him a varied resume that likely indicates where the NAE hopes to push, public-policy wise, in the future. A press release emphasized that Carey attends a multicultural church in Maryland and speaks Spanish fluently; that he’s worked for decades with the poor, both at home and abroad; that he has an unwavering commitment to the unborn child. He’s a guy who, it seems, will hold firm to traditional evangelical stances on hot-button issues (abortion and same-sex marriage), but will push the NAE’s ever-growing concerns over poverty, AIDS and the environment.
“I am excited to represent evangelical churches in Washington as we seek to protect children and families, promote religious freedom, peace and human rights, seek sustainable solutions to domestic and global poverty, promote a consistent ethic of life, and responsibly care for God’s creation,” Carey said in a press release. “These are goals shared by many people of good will. I look forward to collaborating with the NAE’s many partners to promote the health and well-being of our great nation and to bless our neighbors throughout the world.”
