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Director of Episcopal News Service Announced

Episcopal News Service. May 20, 2004 [052004-1]

Robert Williams, communications director of the Diocese of Los Angeles since 1993, has been named director of the national Episcopal News Service effective July 1, Dan England, director of communication at the Episcopal Church Center, announced today.

In his new capacity, Williams will oversee both news reporting and media relations for the Episcopal Church Center in New York. He will also expand operations by opening an ENS bureau in Los Angeles, England said. The Los Angeles bureau will be housed at the Episcopal Cathedral Center of St. Paul in an agreement made possible by the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Commenting on the appointment England said, "Working on two coasts will help the news service to broaden its scope. We will be much more aware of news and movements within the church on the West Coast and we have specific plans to increase reporting on diocesan and parish activities between coasts. ENS cannot be New York-centric." He added, "We are also beefing up the media relations activity of the News Service to take advantage of our high name recognition and marked presence in the public square. Bob's experience will help us a great deal in this regard."

Williams said a priority for the news service will be outreach to the church's 113 dioceses with the goal of broadening coverage "to reflect more fully the Episcopal Church in its rich diversity, creativity, and national scope." Williams said he further plans "to pursue cultural competence in order to serve better the several language groups of the church."

"I look forward to collaborating with communications professionals across the church to help amplify the good news of our faith and shared mission," he said. "ENS is at present expertly staffed by Jan Nunley and Matt Davies. James Solheim, its most recent director, provided years of outstanding leadership to ENS. I give thanks for this excellent foundation upon which to begin work."

Williams, 42, has completed various national and international assignments within the Anglican Communion. In 1998, he edited the daily newspaper that served the Lambeth Conference of bishops convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Last summer, he was editor of the Convention Daily newspaper serving the General Convention during its triennial proceedings in Minneapolis, having reported or edited news from the five previous triennial meetings.

Joining the diocesan communications staff in Los Angeles in 1986, Williams served as managing editor and then editor of The Episcopal News, the 30,000-circulation diocesan newspaper, which launched weekly electronic-mail Update editions in 2000.

A member of Episcopal Communicators since 1987, Williams hosted the professional organization's national conference in Los Angeles last year, and coordinated its Polly Bond awards competition from 1995-1997. He is currently Southern California chapter president of the national Religion Communicators Council.

Williams holds a master's degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor's degree in English from Biola University. He has been a guest lecturer and a summer-program student at the San Andres Anglican Seminary in Mexico City. For the past 15 years, he has also taught language arts courses in the adult education division of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

A fourth-generation Southern Californian, Williams was born in Escondido and raised in north San Diego County. His family traces Anglican roots to parishes in Minnesota, Canada and England. He is a member of the Wilshire Center parish of St. James', Los Angeles.