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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 6, 2003
New
leadership introduced at General Assembly
Disciples
welcome the Rev. W. Chris Hobgood as their sixth general minister
and president. Hobgood was unanimously elected by the Administrative
Committee, in accordance with The Design, at its July 2002 meeting.
The General Assembly, like the General Board, affirmed Hobgood's
election. Hobgood began his term on the final night of General
Assembly and will serve for the next 21-months.
Selected by the General Nominating Committee and elected by the
General Assembly, three new Disciples also hold the moderator
position: Charisse Gillett (Moderator), Manuel Collazo (First
Vice Moderator), and Douglas B. Skinner (Second Vice Moderator).
These officers of the General Assembly will preside through the
Assembly in Portland, Ore., July 23-27, 2005.
Meet your
church leaders
 Chris
Hobgood is well known to many because of his good work in this
church. Born in the Republic of Congo, he is the child of lifelong
Disciples missionaries. Hobgood attended the University of Kentucky,
Transylvania University, and Lexington Theological Seminary. He
earned his D. Min. degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary
and pastored congregations in Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia before
becoming regional minister of Arkansas and then the Capitol Area.
Hobgood has served in many leadership capacities including chairing
the boards of three general units; serving in the National Council
of Churches; and representing Disciples to the Ecumenical Partnership
Steering Committee and to the United Church of Christ's Executive
Council and General Synod. He has a deep and demonstrated commitment
to social justice, is a core trainer for the Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation
initiative, chair of the Economic and Social Justice Commission
of the Interfaith Conference of Washington DC, and director of
DHM's Center for Public Witness. Hobgood has authored three books
and co-authored two others, all related to congregational life
and pastoral ministry.
 Charisse
Gillett, program director for the Lilly Project at Transylvania
University, lives in Lexington, Ky. She is a member of East Second
Street Christian Church where her husband, Donald, serves as Senior
Pastor. Gillett has served on the General Board and Administrative
Committee. She has a Doctorate in Education from Northern Illinois
University, and a MA in Education and BA from the University of
Northern Iowa.
 Manuel
Collazo is the chief system architect for Electronic Data Systems
(EDS) in Orlando, Fla. He is a member of Primera Iglesia Cristiana
Hispana de Orlando where he serves as president on the stewardship
and finance committees. He has also served as second vice moderator
for the National Hispanic Caucus and as a member of the General
Board. Collazo holds a BS from the University of Puerto Rico,
Rio Piedra Campus.
 Douglas
B. Skinner is the senior minister of Northway Christian Church
in Dallas, Texas where he has served since 1997. He has served
as moderator for the Southwest Region, moderator for the Coastal
Plains Area in the Southwest Region and as a General Board and
Administrative Committee member. Skinner holds a D. Min. from
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a M. Div. from Brite
Divinity School, Ft. Worth, Texas, and a degree in Biblical studies
from Northwest Christian College, Eugene, Ore.
Contact: Amy
Shockley
317-713-2495
ashockley@cm.disciples.org
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