In a move that has sparked concern among conservative Christian voices, Christianity Today has announced the appointment of Nicole Massie Martin as their new President and CEO.
This decision marks a continuation of the publication's perceived shift towards liberal ideologies.
According to the Western Journal, Martin, who is referred to as "Reverend Doctor" on her personal website, brings with her over 25 years of experience in nonprofit, academic, and ministry leadership. She has previously served as the Chief Impact Officer and chief operating officer at Christianity Today. The board unanimously affirmed her appointment, following the search committee's recommendation, and she is set to replace Timothy Dalrymple.
Martin's academic credentials include a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She has also served as an adjunct professor of Ministry and Leadership Development at Gordon-Conwell. Her professional journey includes a stint as the Executive Director of Trauma Healing at the American Bible Society, where she also held the positions of chief ministry impact officer and senior vice president.
However, her appointment has not been without controversy. Critics, such as Colin Redemer, the director of education at American Reformer, have expressed concerns about the direction Christianity Today might take under Martin's leadership. Redemer pointed out that during her tenure at the American Bible Society, Martin's focus on the Trauma Healing Institute represented a deviation from the organization's traditional emphasis on biblical literacy. He expressed apprehension about this trend continuing at Christianity Today, stating, "If this is a sign of the kind of leadership we can now expect at the highest office of one of the most important publications in American Evangelicalism we should be rightly concerned."
Martin's past writings have also raised eyebrows. In a 2023 article for Christianity Today, she recounted her fear when pulled over by a white police officer for a minor traffic violation. She wrote, "Images of Black men and women shot for minor offenses raced through my mind. Would I be lumped into the countless names of Black people who have died for misdemeanors, or would I be among the privileged few who escaped alive?"
Despite leaving the scene with only a citation, she admitted to crying for the Black men and women who had lost their lives in similar situations.
Martin's appointment comes after a five-month selection process involving 130 candidates from around the world. In a statement, she expressed her intention to "elevate the wide-ranging, far-reaching stories and ideas of the kingdom of God in a way that unifies the church beyond ideological and political boundaries."
However, with the concerns raised by conservative voices, it remains to be seen how this vision will be received and implemented.
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