Members of the Evangelical Press Association began voting Tuesday 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, available to EPA members upon request, 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. 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.