The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has announced the hiring of two new staff members.

The Rev. Aundreia Alexander comes to the NCC from the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Baptist Churches, USA, and will begin her new position as an Associate General Secretary for Action and Advocacy for Justice and Peace in early January.

The Rev. Steven D. Martin, the NCC’s Director of Communications and Development, begins immediately.

Alexander brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the NCC. She comes to the NCC from the American Baptist Churches, USA’s Office of Immigration and Refugee Services. She leads the denominational efforts to advocate for a comprehensive humane immigration law in the United States.

For the past several years she has also advocated for human rights and religious liberty issues related to the diaspora of the ethnic peoples of Burma. She has recently worked closely with the World Council of Churches and the United Nations on addressing the plight of stateless persons. She also brings her background in law and conflict resolution to the NCC as an advocate for peace and justice.

“I am excited beyond measure to join the NCC staff,” Alexander stated. “In my new position I will be able to merge my passions for social justice, ecumenism and peace building all into one ministry portfolio.

Martin is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. For the past eight years he has led Vital Visions, a non-profit focused on creating media for the purpose of peacemaking and understanding, and has produced films shown on PBS stations nationwide. He, along with Richard Cizik and David Gushee, is also a co-founder of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good.

He is best known for his three films that detail the role of Christian leaders during the early years of the Nazi regime, all in the permanent collections at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Yad Vashem.

Martin’s experience leading both local communities and national initiatives, his capacity as a leader and fundraiser for non-profits, plus his knowledge of the mainline Protestant denominations along with Evangelical leaders and institutions, adds significant strength to the NCC’s ability to communicate its message of ecumenism, justice, and peace.

Martin and his wife, Jana, are the proud parents of four children.

NCC Chair Roy Medley stated, “The addition of these two staff members brings the National Council of Churches to a place where we can now engage the important issues of our time with a full complement of skills and abilities. I’m very optimistic about the church’s future and the part the NCC will play in that future.”

“Aundreia and Steve bring a lot of talent and energy to the National Council of Churches,” adds Jim Winkler, NCC president and general secretary. “Aundreia’s background as an attorney combined with her years of experience in refugee resettlement, immigration policy, and conflict transformation, makes her an ideal choice for the NCC. Steve’s experience as a pastor, media producer, and entrepreneur, along with his knowledge of the Evangelical community, expands our capacity to engage all corners of our society. We are thrilled to have them as part of our leadership.”