Title: Northwest, Illinois/Wisconsin regions call new executives
Date: March 11, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
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98b-13
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A Detroit pastor and former Homeland Ministries executive, and the senior minister of a large Illinois congregation received calls March 7 to new regional ministry posts.
The Rev. Jack Sullivan, Jr., begins May 15 as regional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northwest. The Rev. Herbert L. Knudsen, Bloomington, begins May 1 as regional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Sullivan, who succeeds the Rev. Robert C. Brock, becomes the second African American to serve as a regional minister in the Indianapolis-based denomination. The first was the Rev. John R. Compton, Sr., who headed the Indiana region from 1979 to 1982.
Since November 1995, Sullivan has been senior pastor of United Christian Church in Detroit. He served as a Homeland Ministries associate for African American Christian education from 1989 to 1995.
The NW regional minister-elect has a doctor of ministry (1993) from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, and a master of divinity degree (1986) from Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1983 from Ohio State University in Athens.
After seminary he served as associate regional minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mid-America and was pastor of Second Christian Church, Jefferson City, Mo.
He currently is a member of the Council on Christian Unity Board of directors and the Association of Christian Church Educators, and is president of the Michigan Black Disciples Caucus. In Detroit, Sullivan is active with Citizens Against Arson and Peoples Community Services, and is an adjunct professor at Marygrove College.
Sullivan and his spouse, Gloria, have one child, Nia, and are expecting a second. Gloria is a former staff member of the Office of General Minister and President.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northwest comprises 8,300 participating members in 77 congregations in Washington, northern Idaho, and Anchorage, Alaska.
Knudsen, who also will be based in Bloomington, succeeds the Rev. Nathan S. "Pete" Smith, who retires April 8. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin counts more than 28,000 participating members in 193 congregations.
The new regional minister-elect has been senior pastor of First Christian Church, Bloomington, since 1990. The veteran pastor served from 1973-1990 as minister of First Christian Church in Downer's Grove, Ill.
The Colorado native has a doctor of ministry degree (1979) from Chicago Theological Seminary. He also holds master of arts (1973) and master of divinity degrees (1971) from Sangamon State University, Springfield, Ill., and Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1968 from Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa.
Knudsen has an extensive record of involvement with Illinois/Wisconsin regional ministries including the College of Professional Christian Ministers, the New Church Start steering committee, the regional board, personnel commission and the evangelism committee.
He was a teaching parish supervisor for the University of Chicago Divinity School from 1977-1990. In the Bloomington community he has been chair of the downtown commission. He is currently vice president of the Young Men's Club and serves on the delegates board of BroMenn Regional Medical Center. In 1996 Knudsen was named one of 10 top executives and community leaders in the McLean County (Ill.).
Knudsen and his spouse, Barbara, have two adult sons, Rob and Chris, both of whom live in Chicago.
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