Finding new leadership for the Christian retail industry isn't just about appointing a replacement for Bill Anderson at CBA.

Finding the right person for that position is important, for sure, but doing so will not make everything all right. What is needed isn't about an individual, it involves all of us.

We need to step back and take a broader look. We need to recognize that during Anderson's tenure at CBA there were some fundamental changes not only in the industry, but in the business world in which it operates, the church it is part of and the culture it seeks to address.

Failing to consider these shifts is like expecting a new quarterback to turn a team around single-handedly. It takes more than one player, however good they may be.

For starters, as we have noted before, CBA is no longer the exclusive hub of the Christian products world. The days when "CBA" and "Christian retail" were synonymous are over. The trade association still has an important role to play, but it needs to be redefined.

That is a reflection both of the rise of sales channels outside traditional Christian retail and the changes that have occurred within it—with the growth of the chains, the emergence of church-based stores and the reduction in the number of independents.

But those developments have in turn taken place against a broader backdrop. Think about how Internet shopping has impacted consumer behavior and customer loyalty, driving down price and pushing up breadth of choice. People can get most Christian resources pretty much anywhere.

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