26th April, 2013
Jim Wallace, managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, is stepping down after 13 years in the position in early May.
Mr Wallace will take up a new role as deputy chairman of the organisation while current chief-of-staff Lyle Shelton will become managing director and Nick Shelton, formerly the ACL’s Tasmanian director, will move into the role of chief-of-staff.
In an email sent to supporters this week, Mr Wallace said the moves had been in the making for two years.
“In the role of deputy chairman I will head the ACL”s efforts to establish strong relationships with a number of like-minded international organisations," he said. "We believe that by collaborating more closely through shared research and experiences, and co-ordination of our campaigns, we will be able to greatly increase our effectiveness in this globalised world."
Mr Wallace said recent events "had clearly shown that even issues clearly won at home, can quickly be put at risk by ground shifting overseas. "(T)he lobby needs to be better networked internationally to respond to this on a range of issues. "
“Notwithstanding the international networking requirements, after 13 years leading ACL I believe it is time to hand over the day to day operations, and I am confident in Lyle and Nick”s ability to take these on and move them forward.”
Mr Shelton has been the organisation’s chief-of-staff for the past six years. He was formerly a rural journalist, youth pastor and councillor at Toowoomba City Council. Mr Overton returned to the ACL in October last year after completing a master’s degree in theology in Canada.
– DAVID ADAMS
