The Rev. Dr. Leith Anderson

Leith Anderson is President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) headquartered in Washington, DC, holding this office from 2001 to 2002 and again from 2006 to the present.  The NAE is a multi-faceted association of 40 denominations, many other evangelical organizations and a constituency in the tens of millions.  He is also Pastor Emeritus of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota where he was Senior Pastor for 35 years from 1977 through 2011.  

Leith Anderson speaks frequently at conferences around the world and has often been interviewed by publications and broadcasts including The New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, TIME, Christianity Today, PBS, the BBC, NBC Nightly News, National Public Radio, CNN and others.  He served for two years under President Barack Obama on the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  He is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois (BA in Sociology); Denver Seminary (Master of Divinity); Fuller Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry); and holds honorary doctorates from Cornerstone University, Eastern University and the Moody Bible Institute. He has authored or co-authored over twenty books including Dying For Change, A Church For The Twenty-First Century, Winning The Values War, Praying To The God You Can Trust, Leadership That Works and Faith In The Voting Booth. Leith and Charleen have known each other all of their lives and have been married to each other most of their lives.  They have four children and make their home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.