In accepting the resignation on behalf of the WEA’s International Council (IC), the chairman, Ndaba Mazabane, Durban, said to the Christian news agency IDEA based in Germany, "Gary has been instrumental in helping WEA reflect and draw on its rich history in order to build a strong and viable global movement that is relevant to the 21st Century. We are all indebted to his tireless efforts of connecting and working closely with regional alliances and also for his contribution in giving financial stability to the WEA."
Durban continued that the IC is taking "the necessary steps to ensure the WEA continues to serve the global evangelical community".
Hartmut Steeb, General Secretary of the German Evangelical Alliance, regrets Rev Edmonds’ resignation, saying he had contributed much to the fostering of international cooperation among evangelicals.
No reason was given by Rev Edmonds for the decision of resignation. He is 55 years old, a theologian from Seattle, USA. Prior to his post as the General Secretary of WEA, Edmonds served as the senior associate pastor at Mariners Church in Irvine, California, European director of Christian Associates International, and as a leader in development and church planting in Eastern and Western Europe for 18 years. He serves on the board of directors for New Life Ukraine Partnership, and Breakthrough Partners. His resignation will take effect at the end of February.
The WEA is a global network of 7 regional and 124 national evangelical alliances, 104 organisational ministries and 6 specialised ministries serving the worldwide church. It represents approximately 400 million evangelicals across the world.