The Future of Our Party’s Leadership
April 13, 2021
Dear Members and Supporters,
As valued members and supporters of the Christian Democratic Party, I wanted to personally write to you with some important news about the future of our Party.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of my election to the NSW Parliament and later this year I will turn 87. By God’s grace, I have enjoyed good health but the time has come for me to wind back my responsibilities and renew the leadership of our Party for the future.
On Friday, April 9, 2020, I advised the State Board that I will be retiring from the Legislative Council on November 1, 2021. In preparation for this, our State Deputy President Silvana Nile, State Director Annie Wright and I have been in discussions with Lyle Shelton, the former Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.
On Friday I recommended to the State Board, and they unanimously agreed, that Mr Shelton be nominated for State Council’s approval as my Successor in the NSW Parliament and as CDP Party President upon my retirement in November.
I’m sure you will agree with me that Mr Shelton is an excellent choice and someone who has served God faithfully in Christian political activism for many years. His leadership of the ACL and of the marriage campaign make him uniquely qualified to lead our Party into the future.
The Board’s recommendation of Mr Shelton will be put to the next State Council meeting, which will be organised as soon as practical. I’m also excited to announce that Mr Shelton will be joining the Party organisation in the near future as Director of Campaigns and Communications. This will allow him, in conjunction with our team, to take our efforts to revitalise the party to the next level.
It is mine and the Board’s desire to give Mr Shelton as much time as possible to ensure we are in the best possible position to retain the CDP’s seat in Parliament at the 2023 election, and to possibly restore our numbers to two seats. There will also be a Federal election next year for which we also need to prepare.
With this in mind, can I encourage you to consider a generous gift today to the revitalisation of our Party? Mr Shelton’s willingness to join us and help lead us into the future is greatly appreciated by me and the Board. But he and the team will need all of our support to make this happen. Please help fuel the revitalisation of our movement today, as the Lord prompts you.
After November, I will remain active in the party as Immediate Past President, Honouree Chairman of the Board and Editor in Chief of the Party’s newspaper, ‘Family World News’ and email Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’.
In the meantime, I know you will join me in welcoming Mr Shelton and his wife Wendy into the CDP family.
Thanking you in anticipation.
God bless you and your family.
Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC
CDP Federal President & CDP MLC
