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Walsh, elected in 1993 as bishop of the 150 Free Methodist churches in Canada and also responsible for the 200 Free Methodist churches in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, succeeds Brian C. Stiller, who is leaving after 14 years at the helm of EFC.
"We believe Gary Walsh has the vision and strengths to lead EFC into the next chapter of its ministry and into the 21st century," said Ken Birch, chair of EFC's executive committee.
Walsh will replace Stiller at the end of Stiller's current term ending May 31, 1997. On Apr. 18, 1996, Stiller was elected president of the Ontario Bible College/Ontario Theological Seminary, a position he held on an interim basis since June 28, 1995.
"After much prayer and soul searching with my family, I came to the conclusion that this was where the Lord was leading me," said Walsh.
He has completed the course work for his Doctor of Ministries degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. He also holds two honourary degrees. Walsh is a 52-year-old native of Kingston, Ont. He and his wife Ellen have three children.
He has served as pastor at churches in Ontario, Kentucky and New York, as denominational superintendent for Free Methodist churches in western Ontario and as a missionary/teacher in Hong Kong.
He believes that EFC must continue to be a strong Christian voice in the amoral environment that is permeating Canadian society.
"I am very pleased that EFC's Ottawa office focusses our presence on Parliament Hill and before the courts," said Walsh. "EFC must guard against becoming identified as an organization that is angry on a handful of issues. Instead, we must be thoroughly Christian and present in Canadian life. Evangelicals cannot live on the sidelines."
Walsh believes that the evangelical movement is much larger than EFC and that concerned Christians from every tradition must work together to influence our increasingly secular society. In particular, he says he wants to promote an emphasis on valuing human dignity and the family as the building blocks of society.
Walsh said he sees EFC's key goals as encouraging and empowering local church communities, promoting leadership development (especially among newer Christians) and providing a "a big arch" under which evangelicals can share basic beliefs, cherish their diversity and work together to impact Canadian society.
EFC release
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