Title: Georgia Disciples choose new regional minister
Date: November 18, 1998
Disciples News Service Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98c-69
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Georgia Disciples have elected the Rev. Tom Neal, Abilene, Texas, as regional minister. Meeting Nov. 13-15 for the 149th annual Regional Assembly on St. Simon's Island, the assembly elected Neal by unanimous vote.
Neal accepted the position with the hope that the region will choose to call a person of color to serve as co-regional minister. He believes the Georgia region has the opportunity to model reconciling, cooperative ministry. "Georgia is on the threshold of becoming a model region for the church," he said. "For perhaps 2000 years now, the world has set the agenda for the church and now the church has the opportunity to set the agenda for the world."
Neal's election comes a year after the regional board decided not to forward the name of an African American candidate for the executive position to the regional assembly for a vote. Although board members noted concerns about the candidate's experience, the decision was labeled by some as racist. Amid vigorous church-wide discussion of the vote and its effect, the Georgia board adopted a plan to receive anti-racism training and to equip others to carry the training into Georgia congregations.
One of the new regional minister's first priorities will be meetings with clergy and congregations to set mutually agreed upon goals for the region.
The newly elected regional minister has served as Central Area minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest since 1993. Previously he served congregations in Texas and Tennessee. Neal was ordained in 1975 in Knox City, Texas.
A Texas native, Neal, 52, received a bachelor's degree from Disciples-related Eureka (Ill.) College and a master of divinity degree from Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University. In 1986 he completed his doctor of ministry degree, also at Brite.
His wife, Linda Neal, is director of human resources for the Abilene State School, a facility providing services to individuals with mental retardation. The couple has two grown sons and one grandson.
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