Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- An Iowa pastor with strong credentials in stewardship has been called as the new director of stewardship in the Church Finance Council of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Rev. Edward (Ed) Taylor, pastor at First Christian Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa, will begin his new ministry on April 15. Taylor succeeds the Rev. Narka Ryan, who retired as director of stewardship services in December. He will be responsible for stewardship education churchwide. The Rev. Robert Welsh, CFC president, said, "Ed is one of only a couple of Disciples who have completed an advanced degree in stewardship studies. That, coupled with his strong experience pastoring churches in Kentucky, Nebraska and Iowa make him an ideal candidate for the important task of providing strong leadership to congregations in their stewardship efforts." Taylor received his doctor of ministry degree in stewardship from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill. He completed a master of divinity degree at Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of science degree from Western Illinois University in Macomb. The Gibson City, Ill., native served there as a student assistant at First Christian Church. During 1994, Taylor spent his sabbatical doing a research project to create an adult stewardship curriculum and participating in a "reverse mission" program to Haiti with the Ministry of Money organization. Welsh encouraged congregations to contact Taylor as they move to strengthen their stewardship ministry. "He has great skills in both the theological and human aspects of stewardship," Welsh said. "He will be a great resource to our whole church in bringing pastoral experience to the important discipline of Christian stewardship." Taylor is married to Nancy Thomas Taylor, an elementary school teacher. They have two high school-aged daughters, Kate and Molly.
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