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Vargas named acting president of Disciples overseas ministries INDIANAPOLIS, November 27, 2002 -- The board of the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) announced the election of the Rev. David A. Vargas as Acting President following the effective date of the resignation of the Rev. Patricia M. Tucker. Beginning January 1, 2003, Vargas will serve until the selection and confirmation of a new President. "We believe that this action of the DOM board will ensure continuity and stability in the leadership which we have had in DOM and for our work in Global Ministries with the United Church of Christ," noted Chad Cline, who has given leadership to the DOM's personnel committee. Cline has also been named by DOM chairperson, Maria Perez, to head the presidential search committee. Vargas has served since July 1, 1989 as the executive of the office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Common Global Ministries board, a common witness of Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ and the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada. Prior to 1989, he served for six years as the Disciples' executive secretary of the Department of Latin America and the Caribbean. Throughout these years, he has been responsible for relationships and programs with church-related partners in 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to these responsibilities, he was appointed vice president of the Disciples' Division of Overseas Ministries on April 18, 1999, and has served in that capacity with distinction. Prior to his work with the DOM, Vargas served as director of the Program Services to Hispanic and Bilingual Congregations for the Division of Homeland Ministries, and was an Urban Planner for the Department of Human Resources of the city of Chicago. Vargas was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the son of a Disciples minister. He received a BA Degree in History from the University of Puerto Rico, an M.Div. Degree from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, and pursued postgraduate studies in the field of Church History at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. He is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, and of the Disciples of Christ in Puerto Rico. Vargas is married to Aida Margarita Burgos and has two grown children. The Vargas' are members of Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana in Indianapolis. -- end -- 02-97 Contact: |