Members of the Evangelical Press Association began voting Sept. 15 on a board proposal to rename the organization Christian Communicators Network, after a virtual meeting in which board members explained their reasoning and fielded questions ranging from the loss of the word "evangelical" to the process itself.
Voting on a secure online platform will remain open for three weeks, through Oct. 7, according to information EPA sent to members. The ballot is an up-or-down vote on a single proposed name, and members may either approve or reject it.
While the proposal would change every word of the name of the association of Christian publishers, editors, writers and journalists, which has operated for more than 75 years, the shift from "Evangelical" to "Christian" has drawn the most debate. A written record of the meeting's chat, released by EPA, shows members raising both support for a change and objections to the board's choice.
Members are voting on a single board resolution: "RESOLVED, that the membership of the Evangelical Press Association approves amending the Articles of Incorporation to change the legal and public name of the organization to Christian Communicators Network."
Approval would authorize the board to update governing documents, registrations, branding, websites and programs, the board said.
Eligible voters include anyone on staff of a member publication and all individual members, EPA said. Affiliates, honorary members, contributing members and student members may not vote.
‘Our theology remains evangelical’
Board members said the recommendation followed a yearlong process that included prayer, a Vision Casting Retreat, comparative research on how the field has changed, and feedback from members. They described the proposal as rooted in mission rather than marketing.
The board said the organization's Statement of Faith, Code of Ethics, awards programs and commitment to ethical journalism would remain unchanged. "Our theology remains evangelical," the board said. "Our public identity becomes more clearly Christian."
Board members said "evangelical" increasingly carries political and cultural meanings that can obscure its theological sense, while "Christian" is understood worldwide. They argued that "Press" suggests print and traditional news media, while "Communicators" includes journalists alongside podcasters, digital editors and other professionals. "Network," the board said, better reflects the relationships and mentoring members value than "Association," which describes a legal structure.
Questions and comments, but no debate
Several participants raised concerns that the meeting allowed questions but not open debate on the motion.
One participant noted that under Robert's Rules of Order, a motion before members would normally be followed by debate for and against. "Just having questions is not discussion," the participant wrote.
Another participant objecting to the process suggested finding a time for all views to be heard before voting, even if that took hours. A third asked why members were not permitted to speak and why the wider membership had not been involved from the start.
Others defended the format. One participant wrote that open discussion with such a large group could stretch the meeting to four hours or more and suggested an online survey for comments. Another affirmed the board highlighting that they followed the bylaws.
The board also explained that it had originally hoped to present the proposal at EPA's most recent convention, but the deliberation process took longer than expected. That is why the vote is being held online.
'Evangelical' versus 'Christian'
The most sustained objections concerned the first word of the proposed name.
In a series of comments, one participant argued that dropping the term could reinforce the perception that "evangelical" is a political label. The participant wrote that organizations making such a shift often face pressure to accommodate groups that do not share historic evangelical convictions on biblical authority, marriage and sexuality, and announced plans to vote against the resolution in hope of sending the board "back to the drawing board."
Another participant asked whether the organization faced an identity problem or a communication problem. The participant questioned whether a broader name would move EPA closer to ground already covered by groups such as National Religious Broadcasters, and what would distinguish the new network from them.
Other participants asked why a term the board considers accurate for its theology should not remain in its name. One argued that "Christian" carries its own political baggage, pointing to the phrase "Christian nationalism." Another asked how the organization would respond if a member group later changed its views on sexuality and gender, noting that the matter is not addressed in the doctrinal statement.
Voices for change
Some participants spoke in favor of the proposal.
One wrote that the change would move the organization forward. Responding to a question about attracting non-evangelicals, the same participant said some Christians, such as Anglicans, could affirm the statement of faith without using the word "evangelical."
A participant representing a denominational online magazine wrote that its young adult contributors, aged 18 to 25, rarely use the term. The participant said the current name may deter potential members who hold evangelical beliefs.
Another wrote that evangelical values shape how they live out their faith but that the word itself is not necessary. A fourth urged members to trust the board they elected and cited limits on available names and website addresses as a factor.
Members have final say
Comments were not limited to the word "evangelical." Participants also offered views on the other words in the proposed name and on the name as a whole. Board members responded to questions one by one during the meeting, which lasted nearly an hour and a half.
The board thanked participants for their frank comments and questions, saying the response showed strong interest in the organization's future, and noted that the decision ultimately belongs to the membership.
EPA has posted the board's written rationale, the meeting presentation and the chat history on its website. A full recording of the meeting is available to members through a password-protected link.
Christian Daily International reported in August that the board had unanimously recommended the new name in an announcement posted Aug. 2. CDI is a member of the Evangelical Press Association.
