Episcopalian Elected to World Council Post
Diocesan Press Service. November 15, 1973 [73246]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Rev. Charles H. Long, Jr., rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Glenside, Pa., has been elected Executive Secretary of the U.S. Conference for the World Council of Churches by the Executive Committee of the Conference. At the same time, the officers of the WCC, on authority of its Executive Committee, appointed Mr. Long Executive Secretary of the New York Office of the Council. He will take office on January 1, 1974.
Dr. John Coventry Smith, chairman of the U.S. Conference, in announcing the election, stated that the U.S. Conference is fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Long. "He brings to the top U.S. post in the World Council of Churches wide experience in both denominational and ecumenical circles. "
From his student days, Mr. Long has been interested in and involved in ecumenical activities. He was secretary of the New England Student Christian Movement; secretary of Dwight Hall at Yale; and organizing secretary of the Middle Atlantic Region of the Interseminary Movement.
His career has included being a missionary in China from 1946 to 1949; acting chaplain of the University of Pennsylvania from 1949 to 1950; assistant secretary of the Overseas Department of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, 1950 to 1954; missionary in Hong Kong from 1954 to 1958; and a secretary in the World Student Christian Federation in Geneva, Switzerland, 1958 to 1960.
Important appointments in the Episcopal Church have included being deputy to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church; member of the Joint Commission on Renewal; vice chairman of the General Board of Examining Chaplains; chairman of the Diocesan Commission on Ecumenical Relations; and currently a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania; president of trustees of the Overseas Mission Society; and vice president of the Evangelical Education Society.
Mr. Long also served as vice president of the Greater Philadelphia Council of Churches from 1963 to 1966.
Recently he has traveled to Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Sudan and East Africa.
Mr. Long is married to the former Nancy Marie Ingham. They have four children.