Title: General church communicator called to congregation
Date: December 21, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99a-81
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Rev. Neil E. Topliffe, marketing project director for Board of Church Extension, has accepted a call to become the senior associate minister at Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis, Ind., effective February 1, 2000.
In his new position, Topliffe will lead the evangelism efforts of Geist Church and direct the program staff to create a strong network of membership and education programs.
"BCE staff will miss Neil's wonderful gifts and skills. At the same time, we celebrate his new ministry at Geist Christian Church," said the Rev. James L. Powell, president of BCE. "The communication skills that he brought to BCE were invaluable in helping to interpret our ministry throughout the church and ecumenically."
During the past seven years, Topliffe has served as public relations director for BCE. He had primary responsibility for the Board's communication and marketing services. He also assisted congregations with financial and capital planning in connection with their building projects.
Before coming to BCE in 1992, Topliffe was executive director for communication services for the Office of Communication of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
He also has been an editor at Christian Board of Publication and served on the staff of Division of Homeland Ministries. During the 1960s, he was minister of First Christian Church in Fremont, Mich.
Topliffe, a native of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, graduated from Bethany (WV) College, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism. He also received a master of divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Conn.
He is married to Sandra K. Topliffe, a school teacher. They have two grown daughters.
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