Van Culin Named Executive for National and World Mission
Episcopal News Service. August 2, 1976 [76255]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, has announced the appointment of the Rev. Samuel Van Culin as Executive for National and World Mission on the Episcopal Church Center staff, effective August 2.
He succeeds the Rt. Rev. Edmond Lee Browning, who occupied the post from 1974 until his recent resignation in order to accept his election to become Bishop of Hawaii.
In his new position Mr. Van Culin will work directly with both overseas and U. S. dioceses of the Episcopal Church and with member churches in the Anglican Communion, coordinating and administering a wide variety of programs and relationships which link the national Church with its 113 jurisdictions and other churches around the world.
Mr. Van Culin, who has been a member of the Church Center staff since 1962, has most recently been World Secretary in the office of National and World Mission, serving as the principal liaison between the Episcopal Church at the national level and overseas jurisdictions. Other assignments on the staff have been Executive Secretary for the Division of Projects and Special Programs of the Overseas Department, from 1962 to 1968, and Executive Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, from 1968 to 1974.
Prior to coming to the Executive Council staff, Mr. Van Culin was general secretary of Laymen International and assistant secretary of the Overseas Mission Society of the Church, in Washington, D.C.
Born in Honolulu on September 20, 1930, Mr. Van Culin received his B. A. degree from Princeton University and his divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va.
He began his ministry as a curate at St. Andrew's Cathedral Parish, Honolulu, 1955-56, and as canon precentor there, 1956-58. He was assistant rector at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, in Washington, D.C., from 1958 to 1960, when he began his work with the Overseas Mission Society and Laymen International. From 1960 to 1962 he was also assistant rector at St. Alban's Church, Mount Saint Alban, Washington.
The 41-member Executive Council of the Episcopal Church ratified Mr. Van Culin's appointment by a mail poll, after Bishop Allin had consulted widely with overseas and U.S. bishops, staff members, Council members, and others from many parts of the world who recommended Mr. Van Culin for the position.