BGC's Leith Anderson Appointed NAE Interim

The Rev. Leith Anderson of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie is the new interim president of the embattled National Association of Evangelicals.

That move came over the weekend in the wake of a sex and drugs scandal that forced the resignation of the Rev. Ted Haggard as the NAE's leader.

Anderson, 62, is a well-known pastor, author, seminary lecturer, and missions leader.

Anderson headed the national Evangelical group from 2001 to 2003, when Haggard took over.

A 15-member Executive Committee of the NAE made the selection during a conference call Friday night. After consultation with his church elders and his wife, Charleen, Anderson agreed to serve for an indefinite period in order to give the NAE time find a new president. The committee also accepted the resignation of Haggard, who served from 2003 to 2006.