Oscar C. Carr, Jr. Appointed Vice President for Development
Diocesan Press Service. May 19, 1971 [93-2]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, today announced the appointment of Oscar C. Carr, Jr., of Clarksdale, Miss., as Vice President of the Executive Council for Development. The term of the appointment is for the period September 1, 1971 to December 31, 1973.
The position of development officer was authorized by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church last October at Houston, Tex. Mr. Carr was nominated to the Presiding Bishop by the Development Committee of the Executive Council.
The Rev. Dr. John B. Coburn, rector of St. James' Church, New York City, and chairman of the Development Committee, said of the newly created position:
" The purpose of this office is to prepare a program to develop the human and financial resources of the Church to strengthen her mission."
Mr. Carr will report to the Presiding Bishop in his capacity as head of the Executive Council administrative staff and to the Executive Committee of the Executive Council.
In announcing the appointment of Mr. Carr, Bishop Hines said:
" His primary job description is to 'think no small thoughts' -- but rather to identify, encourage, and enlist in the interest of 'mission' the total resources of this Church which, thus far, we have hardly begun to relate to the high responsibility of the proper role of the 'called people of God' in these creative times. It is my view that we could not be more fortunate in our search for one to begin this huge and vital undertaking."
However, Bishop Hines said that "we should caution ourselves about any tendency we may have to expect 'instant-major-miracles' of any servant of the Church."
In accepting the appointment, Mr. Carr said:
" I accept this most challenging position with no preconceived idea about exactly how the task should be accomplished. There is no charted course since this is a pioneer effort. Hopefully all of us can chart the course together -- realizing, of course, that it has both human and financial dimensions and short-range and long-range ramifications."
Born in Memphis, Tenn., Mr. Carr at present is a cotton producer and businessman. He attended Cornell University after graduating from Clarksdale, Miss., high school and received a B.S. degree, with distinction, from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1945. After two years of active service he resigned from the Navy with the rank of lieutenant (junior grade).
Mr. Carr is president of the Carr Planting Company of Clarksdale and was director of Cotton Council International from 1965 to 1967. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and was Mississippi chairman of the Robert F. Kennedy Campaign.
In the area of social services, he has been involved in Headstart, housing development and a regional ecumenical leadership training program.
He was first listed in Who's Who in America in 1970.
He has served as vestryman at St. George's Church, Clarksdale, and in 1965 he was chairman of St. George's building committee. Since 1967 he has been a lay reader, licensed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi to preach his own sermons.
In the Diocese of Mississippi he has been president of Episcopal Laymen; member of the Standing Committee, Diocesan Committee and the Cathedral Chapter; chairman of the Diocesan Capital Funds Drive; and trustee of All Saints' Episcopal Girls' School and Okolona College.
Mr. Carr was a deputy from the Diocese of Mississippi to General Convention in 1967, 1969 and 1970. He has been a member of the Presiding Bishop's Original Renewal Committee; the Joint Commission of the Church on Human Affairs; and, in the House of Deputies of General Convention, the Standing Committee on Christian Social Relations and the Advisory Committee to the President.
In 1970 he was Co-Chairman of the Agenda Committee of the General Convention which met at Houston, Tex. He has also been a member of the Executive Council and its Executive Committee since 1970.
Mr. Carr is married to the former Billie Fisher of Memphis, Tenn., and they have five children.