RALEIGH, N.C. — The Christian Action League of North Carolina, a multidenominational organization that has advocated for conservative Christian values in statewide public policy initiatives for more than 80 years, has voted to dissolve as an organization, according to an official statement provided to the Biblical Recorder.
An announcement dated Sept. 6, 2024, signed by the Christian Action League’s board of directors and addressed to “friends and donors” of the organization, opened by saying: “With great sadness this notice comes to inform you that the Board of Directors have recently made the difficult decision to end the work of this ministry.”
The board voted unanimously to dissolve during a virtual meeting held Aug. 20, board President Victor Blackwell told the Recorder in a subsequent interview. Blackwell serves as pastor of Sharon Baptist Church in Oxford, N.C.
Citing ongoing financial challenges, Blackwell said the organization’s future had been a topic of discussion by the board for a number of years before the vote to dissolve. The board’s statement also referenced those challenges.
“Throughout the years of this ministry the Lord has graciously provided,” the statement said. “Most years have been a complete walk of faith and the League has often seen deficits. With the consideration of all matters at hand in the present, the Board of Directors has come to the most difficult determination that it is time to defer this work to other organizations that have a similar cause and solvent finances rather than continue to work in arrears.”
According to publicly available data from tax filings, the Christian Action League’s revenues and expenses have been nearly identical in each of the last 10 years. Since 2014, revenues have outpaced expenses five times, and the organization has operated in a revenue deficit on four occasions. Revenues and expenses were reported as even in 2019.
On the most recent tax form available, the Christian Action League reported $154,768 in revenue and $159,458 in expenses in 2023, a deficit of $4,690.
The Christian Action League is designated as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that must operate exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, according to federal tax law. The organization depends on contributions and donations from individuals, churches and faith-based organizations for its funding. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina has allocated $10,000 from its annual budget to the Christian Action League in recent years.
The vote by the Christian Action League’s board to dissolve came just prior to the scheduled return of the organization’s Executive Director Mark Creech from a monthlong sabbatical. The league announced July 26 that Creech would take the entire month of August off “to focus on health and recovery.” In the announcement, Creech acknowledged “significant health challenges” that he has faced in recent years, which have included a severe bout with COVID-19 and two ministrokes.
“These health issues, combined with the ongoing demands of my role, have taken their toll,” Creech wrote.
Creech is the Christian Action League’s only full-time employee, and he has served as the organization’s executive director for more than 25 years. When contacted by the Recorder, Creech declined further comment about the board’s decision.
In comments to the Recorder, Blackwell praised Creech and the job he has done in advocating for biblical values in statewide public policy initiatives through his work with the Christian Action League.
“I’d imagine every time some of those state legislators turned around, he was standing in their door,” Blackwell said of Creech. “Mark has had a good influence on this state, for families and for values. He’s done a great job for the Christian Action League and still has some good days of ministry ahead of him.”
Blackwell said the Christian Action League will cease operations at the end of September, and the organization is working to close out existing contracts and settle other financial commitments.
The board’s announcement said the league would accept donations and contributions through Sept. 30, which would be “deposited and used to satisfy any outstanding obligations.”
Any contributions dated or postmarked after Sept. 30 would be returned to the sender, the announcement said.
The organization has also set up a special portal on its website to receive donations.
“We’re just trying to do the honorable thing as far as paying our debtors,” Blackwell said.
The Christian Action League was founded in 1943 and has roots in the temperance movement. Alcohol policy has been a signature issue for the Christian Action League since its founding, but the organization has also championed other causes through the years on topics pertaining to religious liberty, biblical marriage, protections for the unborn, gender identity, pornography, gambling and more.
In more recent years, other statewide organizations have been established that focus on education and advocacy for Christian values in the public square. Among them are the N.C. Family Policy Council and the N.C. Values Coalition.
Moreover, the Christian Life and Public Affairs Special Committee of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s board of directors works to inform and educate N.C. Baptists about the ethical implications of the gospel related to daily living, moral issues and public affairs. The committee works with state convention ministries, related entities, Southern Baptist entities and other faith-based organizations to promote Christian social ethics among N.C. Baptists.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Following is the full-text of the statement issued by the Christian Action League’s board of directors about the decision to dissolve the organization.)
September 6, 2024
Christian Action League Notification
Christian Action League Friends and Donors,
With great sadness this notice comes to inform you that the Board of Directors have recently made the difficult decision to end the work of this ministry. For many years the Christian Action League has been a bulwark against the evil that has threatened the cause of Christ, families, and the citizens of the great state of North Carolina. Often the League has stood alone against the onslaught of wickedness that dare rear its ugly head through public policy matters in the N.C. Legislature. The league, represented by its Executive Directors, has fought valiantly for the cause of Christ. Many times the league has stood against the tsunami that dare crash against the shores of this beloved state and many successes have been rendered for the glory of God, such as abortion limitations, alcohol policy education, and medical marijuana refuted. However, not all battles waged have been won. Abortion is still legal, alcohol policies continually challenge us, medical marijuana is still in hot pursuit, and many other ills threaten to undo our beloved home.
Throughout the years of this ministry the Lord has graciously provided. Most years have been a complete walk of faith and the League has often seen deficits. With the consideration of all matters at hand in the present, the Board of Directors has come to the most difficult determination that it is time to defer this work to other organizations that have a similar cause and solvent finances rather than continue to work in financial arrears.
Would you consider sending us a onetime donation to help us pay all our responsibilities and close out this work in the most honorable manner for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord! We are called in scripture to maintain a good name (Proverbs 22:1). We will receive contributions through September 30th. Any donations received that are postdated by that date will be deposited and used to satisfy any outstanding obligations. All other funds received will be returned to the sender.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being a co-laborer in this ministry. Only Heaven will bear the fruit of the immense labor that has been rendered for the cause of our Lord Jesus.
In Christ Service,
Christian Action League
Board of Directors
