(RNS)Longtime executive Bill Anderson has resigned after more than two decades as the leader of the CBA, the major umbrella group for Christian retailers.
Anderson, 61, abruptly ended his role as president and CEO of CBA, the organization formerly known as the Christian Booksellers Association, in late October, Christian Retailing reported in its Dec. 7 issue.
“Christian retail has been given a high and holy calling and we must be faithful to God and his Word,” Anderson said in a statement. “CBA plays a vital role in this industry, and the industry has a vital role in the kingdom.”
The statement did not include a reason for his departure.
Anderson became the association’s first full-time convention manager in 1978 and was named president in 1985. At its peak, its annual summer convention had close to 15,000 in attendance in 1999.
Since that time, the industry has struggled with competition from big-box chains and online retailers and has seen store closures.
A total of 1,903 Christian retailers attended the 2009 International Christian convention, which was a drop of 20 percent from 2008 figures.
