Michael Barwell Appointed Deputy Director of News and Information
Episcopal News Service. September 26, 1997 [97-1963]
(ENS) Michael Barwell, who has been director of communications and editor of the newspaper in the Diocese of Southern Ohio for 11 years, has been appointed deputy director of news and information for the Episcopal Church, effective September 22.
"In so many ways it is a very logical choice because Mike has worked closely with the Episcopal News Service since it took shape in 1989," said James Solheim, director of news and information. "He helped set the style and direction of ENS and headed the ENS teams at the General Conventions in Phoenix, Indianapolis and Philadelphia. He brings internationally recognized skills and experience to the church -- as well as continuity at this crucial time of transition at the Episcopal Church Center."
A graduate of Gordon College in Massachusetts, Barwell worked for newspapers in New York, Ohio, Michigan and Massachusetts and joined the staff in the diocese in the fall of 1986.
A familiar byline on the international scene, Barwell served as a member of the communications team at the Lambeth Conference of the world's Anglican bishops in 1988 and will lead the news team at the Lambeth Conference in 1998. He has traveled on assignment to Russia, England, Wales, Nigeria, Egypt, Cyprus and the Bahamas.
One of his major responsibilities in the diocese was editing Interchange, the award-winning diocesan newspaper. It received the award of General Excellence as the top newspaper in 1996 from Episcopal Communicators as well as a number of awards from the Associated Church Press (ACP). He has served on the boards of both the Episcopal Communicators and the ACP.
Barwell said that he looked forward to his news position as a way to express and extend his national and international interests. In announcing his resignation to the diocese, Bishop Herbert Thompson, Jr., called attention to Barwell's "superb job of communication and education" and his work in expanding the diocese's "relationship with local, state and national news media." And he said that he "helped us all to know much more about the needs and wants of people in our midst, as well as throughout the world."
"Everything I have done up until this point, in my career in the secular world and the church, has led me to this ministry," Barwell said. "It is an exciting time in the life of the church and I look forward eagerly to the challenges."
Barwell succeeds Jim Thrall, who has entered the doctoral program at Duke University.