People
Episcopal News Service. January 23, 1997 [97-1672U]
Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning moved the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for the Episcopal Church into the Office of the Presiding Bishop, "In view of the high priority I wish to place on ecumenical and interfaith relations during the coming year...." The Rev. Canon David Perry, ecumenical officer for the Episcopal Church, said that the "new relationship will help me, as (Browning's) deputy, support and give greater visibility to our essential work for the unity of all God's people."
Nell Braxton Gibson has been named associate general secretary for inclusiveness and justice for the National Council of Churches. Prior to her appointment, Gibson was coordinator of ecumenical programs for urban service for the NCC. She said that, in her new position, she will "be responsible for nominations committee process within the NCC and also for monitoring, advocating and aiding the NCC and its constituents to be just and inclusive in its staffing patterns, its policies. . . with regard to questions of class race and gender."
The Rev. Catherine M. Waynick, rector of All Saint's Episcopal Church in Pontiac, Michigan, was elected the bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Indianapolis January 11 by the diocesan convention on the third ballot. She will become the seventh woman bishop of the Episcopal Church when she succeeds Bishop Edward Jones upon his retirement in September after 20 years in the diocese. Waynick said she believes "that the bishop needs to be the articulator of vision and mission of a diocese, to engage with others in listening, study, reflection and the fashioning of a faithful, consistent response to what is being learned."
Terry Parsons is the new chief stewardship officer for the Episcopal Church. Before her appointment as director of the Office of Stewardship in 1996, she served as a consultant to the office for three years, delivering keynote addresses at four stewardship conferences, leading four diocesan stewardship conferences, and working on a number of diocesan and parochial capital campaigns. Before beginning her work in stewardship in 1993, she served as director of development for a social service agency with an annual budget of $2.3 million.
Steven J. Smith has been named executive vice president and general manager of the Church Insurance Company and executive vice president of the Church Pension Group. He is executive vice president of Continental Insurance in New York. "The Church Insurance trustees are confident that Steve can lead the effort to restore the Church Insurance Company to its historic position of honor," said Alan Blanchard, president of the Church Pension
The Rev. Dr. Joan Butler Ford has been appointed director of telecommunications for the Anglican Communion Office in London. The newly created post will involve enhancement of global communication via computer and other electronic means. Ford is head of the technology committee of the board of trustees of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and was rector of St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, San Francisco.
The Rev. Thomas C. Wand has been appointed interim dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in the Diocese of New Jersey and will lead the church's efforts to recover from financial challenges and a damaging sexual harassment scandal involving the cathedral's former dean, Chester Grey. Wand is rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Pheonixville, Pennsylvania. He will begin his duties on February 9.
Bishop John S. Spong of Newark led New Jersey Monthly's list of "The 50 most interesting people in New Jersey." The list is the editors' "dream guest list for the New Jersey dinner party of the decade." The article said that Spong "has rattled Christian cages both in and out of his faith with his blunt and provocative writings that challenge traditional Christian thought."
The Rev. Canon Samuel Van Culin, former secretary general of the Anglican Communion, was recently appointed an honorary officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). The citation said that "this honor is conferred on you by Her Majesty in recognition of the outstanding services which you have rendered over many years to the Anglican Church in Britain and in the wider Anglican Communion."