Title: New associate general minister called
Date: July 25, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
00a-40
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A Cincinnati pastor and former Homeland Ministries executive has been named associate general minister and vice president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Administrative Committee elected the Rev. William H. Edwards here July 22. Edwards is expected to begin his ministry in the Office of General Minister and President in early October.
Edwards, 44 comes to the position from the Disciples Center of Cincinnati, a joint ministry of Forest Park Christian Church, a predominantly white congregation, and St. John's Christian Church, with mostly African American members. Edwards' resume describes his ministry in Cincinnati as "developing a model of ministry to overcome one of the greatest barriers that separates us as people of God, the barrier of race."
Prior to his call to Cincinnati, Edwards was executive pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, serving as chief operating officer of the 8,500-member Memphis Disciples congregation.
From 1982 to 1995, Edwards served as senior associate in Homeland Ministries' Center for Congregational Growth and Vitality.
"I feel that Bill is really well-equipped to serve as a vice president, which means, in part, tracking all the various initiatives of the Office of General Minister and President in the life of the church," said General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm. "I'm very excited about Bill's coming. I think he'll be a great partner in ministry," said Hamm.
"I'm also excited about the opportunity to serve the church in this role. I think this is a real critical time in the life of our church," Edwards said. "Some may think it's the worst of times, but I think it's the best of times an opportunity for God to intervene, and for the OGMP to give some significant leadership to where God would have us go."
Edwards earned a doctor of ministry degree at McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago. He holds a master of divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, and a bachelor of arts degree from Hiram (Ohio) College. Additionally, Edwards holds an executive master of business administration degree from the University of Memphis.
Edwards and his wife Sabrina are the parents of three sons, Deon, Emmanuel and Jeremiah; and two daughters, Korean and Rachel. They have five grandchildren, Taylor, Zuri, William, Tyre and Sarah.
The search that resulted in Edwards' call followed the provisions of the model executive search policy just endorsed by the General Board. At least half of the members of the search committee were persons of color, applicants were solicited from outside the Office of General Minister and President, and a personnel administrator from outside the OGMP screened applications.
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