Leith Anderson is an American evangelical Christian leader, author, and retired pastor. Anderson served as senior pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota from 1977 to 2011. He is pastor emeritus of Wooddale Church and president emeritus of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Early life and education

Leith Anderson is the son of Charles William Anderson and Margery Freeman Anderson. Anderson graduated from West Essex High School, North Caldwell, New Jersey; Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois (diploma); Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois (B.A. in Sociology); Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado (Master of Divinity); and Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California (Doctor of Ministry).

Ministry

Anderson served as a pastor a Calvary Church in Longmont, Colorado and was an adjunct professor of pastoral theology and homiletics at Denver Seminary. In 1977, Anderson began his 35 years as senior pastor of Wooddale Church in suburban Minneapolis. The church was located in Richfield, Minnesota, until 1984 when it moved to a new building on a 33-acre campus in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Wooddale Church grew to become a congregation of thousands, one of the larger churches in the state and region. While pastoring, Anderson taught in seminaries and released daily radio and television programs. Anderson retired from Wooddale Church in 2011 and was named pastor emeritus. Anderson served as interim president of the National Association of Evangelicals from 2001 to 2003, and again from 2006 to 2007. He was then named president of the NAE in 2007 and served in that capacity until 2019. As NAE president, Anderson frequently participated in amicus curiae briefs, news conferences, and interviews. Priority was given to issues of immigration policy, climate change and the environment, religious freedom, theology and values, social justice, evangelism, humanitarian services, and cultural influence. In his leadership of the NAE, Anderson was known for avoiding partisan politics, promoting unity within the evangelical movement, and prioritizing racial and ethnic diversity. Anderson has been named president emeritus of the NAE. In 2011, President Barack Obama named Anderson to the White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He became a member of the board of World Vision International in 2018. Anderson has written over 20 books.

Personal life

Anderson and his wife, Charleen, have been married since 1965.

Chapters & contributions