The Evangelical Alliance UK honours a ‘trailblazer’ as he moves on from his position as Executive Director for Public Policy to take a leap of faith and establish the Family Foundation.

16 April 2010

The Evangelical Alliance UK honours a 'trailblazer' as he moves on from his position as Executive Director for Public Policy to take a leap of faith and establish the Family Foundation.

Dr R David Muir has left the Alliance, after nearly five years in the role, in order to develop the brand new charity, which will support and strengthen families in Britain and promote active citizenship and participation in public life.

Among his many achievements, Dr Muir has been instrumental in setting up the Black Christian Leaders Forum and playing a key role in its aim to bring together Black Christian leaders who share a common vision for seeing communities changed for the better. The group met with the Prime Minister and influenced Government on key issues such as gun crime and community cohesion. As a result, Gordon Brown said that he and his Government would meet with Church leaders on a regular basis to continue to take their concerns seriously.

A colleague on the Black Christian Leaders Forum, Bishop Joe Aldred, Secretary for Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs of Churches Together in England said: "David is a trailblazer who has expended a significant amount of spiritual and intellectual energy in helping to shape the identity and mission of the Christian community in the UK. His networking ability and passion for social transformation is exemplary."

General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Steve Clifford said: "I am enormously grateful for the contribution that David has made both to me personally and to the Evangelical Alliance over the years. He leaves us with a real sense of anticipation that God is taking him on to make an even greater contribution strengthening families and encouraging active participation in public life."

In his role at the Alliance, Dr Muir has been overseeing the Public Theology team as they seek to engage with the social, political and spiritual issues of the day, bringing a coherent Christian perspective to bear upon policy and cultural discourse. He was part of the commission which produced Faith and Nation: Report of a Commission of Inquiry to the UK Evangelical Alliance in 2006. Prior to joining the Alliance team, David was a senior lecturer and Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor at the London Metropolitan University.  He was a member of the Government's Policy Action Team and advised the Home Secretary on Citizenship and Integration. Dr Muir also served as deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Dr Muir added: "I have had the privilege and the pleasure of working in an amazing organisation with highly motivated and professional colleagues. The experience and expertise gained at the Evangelical Alliance will, undoubtedly, serve me well in the future."

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