Members of the Evangelical Press Association have approved renaming the organization Christian Communicators Network, adopting a board proposal that drew objections by some over removing the word "evangelical" from the group's name.
The resolution passed 140 to 102, with two abstentions, according to results the association released on Thursday (Oct. 8). Of 664 eligible voters, 244 cast ballots, a participation rate of 37%. Online voting closed at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 7.
The decision changes every word in the name of an association of Christian publishers, editors, writers and journalists that has operated for more than 75 years. The shift from "Evangelical" to "Christian" generated the most debate among members before the vote, as Christian Daily International previously reported.
Board says convictions unchanged
In an announcement to members, Dwight Widaman, president of the EPA board of directors, said the board was "confident this is the right direction." He wrote that the group's evangelical convictions, Statement of Faith, membership standards, Code of Ethics and commitment to its journalistic legacy would stay the same.
Widaman also cautioned that a new name would not by itself secure the organization's future. Reaching new and younger professionals would depend on members extending personal invitations, taking part in conventions and mentoring others, he said.
Widaman also addressed members who opposed the proposal.
"To those who did not vote for the change, please know that your involvement remains essential," he wrote. He added that the decision "was never about abandoning our heritage."
The resolution amends the association's Articles of Incorporation to change both its legal and public name. Before the vote, the board said approval would authorize it to update governing documents, registrations, branding, websites and programs. No specific timeline for the transition was included in the announcement.
The case for a new name
Board members laid out their reasoning in a virtual meeting held on Sept. 15 before voting opened the following day. They said the recommendation followed a yearlong process that included prayer, a vision-casting retreat, research on changes in the field and member feedback.
According to the board, "evangelical" increasingly carries political and cultural meanings that can obscure its theological sense, while "Christian" is understood around the world. "Our theology remains evangelical," the board said at the time. "Our public identity becomes more clearly Christian."
The board also argued that "Press" suggests print and traditional news outlets, while "Communicators" also includes podcasters, digital editors and other professionals alongside journalists. "Network," it said, better describes the relationships and mentoring members value than "Association," a term for a legal structure.
Several members backed the change during the meeting. A participant representing a denominational online magazine said its contributors aged 18 to 25 rarely use the word "evangelical" and that the current name may discourage potential members who share evangelical beliefs.
Another supporter said some Christians, such as Anglicans, could affirm the association's statement of faith without identifying as evangelical. A third urged members to trust the board they had elected and pointed to limits on available names and website addresses.
Objections over identity and process
Opponents, however, raised concerns about both the name and the way the proposal was handled.
One participant argued that dropping "evangelical" could reinforce the perception that the word is a political label. The same member warned that organizations making such a shift often face pressure to accommodate groups that do not hold historic evangelical positions on biblical authority, marriage and sexuality.
Others questioned whether the organization faced an identity problem or a communication problem, and what would set a broader network apart from groups such as National Religious Broadcasters. One member noted that "Christian" carries political associations of its own, citing the phrase "Christian nationalism."
Some participants also objected that the meeting allowed questions but no formal debate on the motion. Others defended the format, saying open discussion among so many members could have run four hours or longer and that the board had followed the bylaws.
The board said it had hoped to present the proposal at the association's most recent convention but moved the vote online after its deliberations took longer than expected.
Voting was open to individual members and staff of member publications. Affiliates, honorary members, contributing members and student members were not eligible. In an announcement posted on Aug. 2, the board first outlined the rationale and highlighted that board members had unanimously recommended the new name.
Widaman concluded his announcement with a call to members: "Now the work truly begins."
Christian Daily International is a member of the Evangelical Press Association.
