Edgar, a former six-term Democratic Party congressman from the state of Pennsylvania, has been credited with helping to turn around the financial fortunes of the NCC. He said in October 2006 he would not seek a third four-year term as the council's general secretary and is expected to end his tenure with the NCC at the end of August.

A 21-member search committee has produced the NCC General Secretary Job Description and identified priorities for the new incumbent, as well as the ideal experience and characteristics sought.

Bishop Christopher Epting, the Episcopal Church's ecumenical and interfaith officer and a member of the search committee, said: "Bob Edgar was the right person for the job at the right time. The ecumenical community will always be grateful for his contribution. This search for his successor is hugely important and I pray that many qualified candidates will put their names forward in this discernment process."

The committee facilitating the search for Edgar's successor is led by G. Angela Henry and Sarah James of Phillips Oppenheim.

Henry and James both have extensive experience conducting chief executive searches and are calling for confidential nominations for the position from the leadership of member Churches in the NCC.

Nominators and applicants can write to NCC@PhillipsOppenheim.com

"It is a complex yet exciting undertaking to find a leader with vision and finely-tuned management skills, who will maintain the confidence NCC enjoys across a diverse community, who will generate financial support, and who will connect to the many institutions and individuals that look to NCC for direction and perspective on some of the most pressing issues facing our world today," they said in a letter to the NCC's member Churches.

The NCC's member faith groups -- Anglican, Evangelical, Orthodox, Protestant, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 45 million people in more than 100,000 congregations throughout the U.S.

Under Edgar's leadership, the NCC has focused its energies on major initiatives in the areas of overcoming poverty, protecting the environment, fostering interfaith understanding, and building international peace.

Further information about the NCC is available at http://www.ncccusa.org/.