Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
96b-23
April 15, 1996
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Rev. Mary Elizabeth (Maribeth) Blackman, pastor of University Park Christian Church, Enid, Okla., has been called to serve as a general consultant by the Board of Church Extension of Disciples of Christ (BCE). Blackman will begin her new responsibilities June 1, counseling congregations on their facility and capital needs, said the Rev. James L. Powell, president of the international planning and financing unit. "Maribeth's leadership will help the board provide ongoing service to a wide spectrum of our congregations," Powell said. "Her extensive experience pastoring and counseling congregations provides her with a keen understanding of local church needs that will serve well the churches with which she will work as a BCE consultant." Blackman graduated cum laude with a master of divinity degree from Phillips Theological Seminary, Enid, Okla., in 1978. She earned her bachelor of arts degree from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, in 1974. The newest BCE staff member and former Indianapolis resident was an associate regional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana from 1981-1988. She also has been minister of Disciples congregations in Walters and Yale, Okla. Currently Blackman is a member of the Phillips Theological Seminary board of directors and an adjunct faculty member this year. She chairs the Commission on Clergy of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma and has been an advisory board member of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth Special Services Council. She has contributed chapters to the Lyle Schaller-edited book, Women as Pastors, and to the Disciples women's studies volume, Patterns of Faithfulness. Blackman, the mother of two sons, Ethan and Christopher, will relocate to Indianapolis.
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