Steve Clifford to step down as general director

Steve has been at the helm of the Evangelical Alliance since April 2009 and over the past decade he has helped the church have confidence in the power of the gospel and develop a clear voice in public life. But, perhaps above all, the Bradford-born Christian leader has brought together the diverse evangelical communities in the UK, so that together, despite differences, we can all make Jesus known.

Commenting on his decision, Steve said: ​“For the past 10 years it has been an honour and privilege to work alongside an amazing team of people within the Evangelical Alliance’s staff, board and council, as well as so many leaders from across the wide traditions of the evangelical world. The great John chapter 17 prayer of Jesus has echoed in my ears as we have sought to express our ​‘oneness’ with the missional imperative ​‘that the world might believe’. For me, our strapline says it all: ​‘Together making Jesus known’. The years have not been without their times of challenge, but the Evangelical Alliance has come through stronger and with a deep commitment to serve God’s church right across the UK.

“As church leaders from one part of the evangelical community, my wife Ann and I have been both challenged and enriched to experience the incredible diversity of the evangelical church and to see first-hand the phenomenal contribution the church is making in its communities. There is a rumour that the church is finished; let me tell you from my experience: the church is wonderfully alive and passionately serving Jesus.”

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Steve’s involvement in the Evangelical Alliance stretches back many years, having previously served on the Evangelical Alliance’s board and council. Over the decade that he has been general director, the organisation has seen significant changes in its structure, moved its headquarters, and increased its impact and influence.

Dr Tani Omideyi, chair of the Evangelical Alliance board and senior pastor of Temple of Praise, Liverpool, commented: ​“A proof of the changes Steve has brought about over his 10 years as general director is seen in the fact that the Evangelical Alliance looks and sounds different today than when he took over its leadership role. His outstanding achievement in deepening unity across church traditions and racial backgrounds provides a sure foundation on which hopefully future evangelicals will build. It has been my joy and privilege to support him during some of this period.”

Steve has dedicated much of his work to building unity across different ethnic expressions of evangelical Christianity in the UK. In 2010 the South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance was launched to support engagement with South-Asian Christians in the UK and ministry to communities from that heritage. 

In 2010, at the Evangelical Alliance’s council, a significant challenge was brought to the leadership as to whether more could be done to promote greater ethnic unity. This prompted the formation of the One People Commission (OPC) with senior leaders of churches in ethnic minority communities around the UK. This brought together African and Caribbean leaders along with Hispanic and Chinese pastors. 

Since its inception in 2013, leaders from other communities, including Iranian, Korean and South-East Asian communities, have also joined. It has become increasingly clear from the relationships built through this work that unity is possible and ethnic diversity is good.

John Risbridger, chair of the Evangelical Alliance council, and minister and team leader of Above Bar Church, Southampton, said: ​“A bridge-builder, courageous leader and friend to so many, Steve has led the Evangelical Alliance through times both of opportunity and of testing with conviction, wisdom and grace. We thank God for him and are deeply grateful to him and Ann for all they have brought to the evangelical community over the past decade.”

The work of the Evangelical Alliance in encouraging mission across the UK has flourished under Steve’s leadership. This has included catalysing in-depth research about the state of evangelism in the UK and the launch in 2016 of the Great Commission hub to resource Christians for evangelism by connecting them to more than 200 resources and sharing testimonials, through high-quality videos, of how people came to faith.

Steve’s heart for unity among evangelicals in the UK has flowed into everything that the Evangelical Alliance does, as has his ongoing, long-term commitment to serving the UK church. In 2012 the Gather Network was established to identify and catalyse local unity movements in towns and cities across England. The initiative continues to help churches across the nation work together in mission and demonstrate what God can do through our prayers and relationships.

Through Steve’s leadership the Evangelical Alliance has continued to invest in the younger generations of the church. Over the last few years this has included initiatives such as the Public Leader courses in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, the OPC young leaders’ forum, and an increased focus on mission to young adults, with a new post of ​‘head of mission to young adults’ created in 2018.

The Evangelical Alliance will shortly begin the search for Steve’s successor.