New Head of Christian Coalition Resigns

Citing a conflict over the future direction of the organization, the Christian Coalition’s president-elect has resigned from his position, reports National Public Radio.

The Rev. Joel Hunter, senior pastor of a large church in Orlando, Fla., said he had wanted to focus on issues like poverty and the environment as a way to expand the organization’s agenda beyond opposition to abortion and gay marriage. But he said he now believes the group is unwilling to move in that direction.

“At first it seemed like they were open to that,” Mr. Hunter told NPR’s All Things Considered. “But when it came down to it, they just couldn’t quite go there. The phrase that was used was, ‘Those are fine issues, but it’s just not us, that’s not our base.’”

Neither Christian Coalition board members nor other officials commented in the story.