wfn.org | FORMER BCE PRESIDENT MEMORIALIZED, STAFF CHANGES ANNOUNCED

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     Title: Former BCE president memorialized, staff changes announced
     Date: January 10, 1997
     Disciples News Service
     Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
     Contact: Clifford L. Willis
     Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
     on the web: http//www.disciples.org
     
     97a-2
     
         INDIANAPOLIS (DNS)  -- The Rev. Rolland H. Sheafor, 82, long time
leader of
     the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and retired president of the
Board of Church
     Extension of Disciples of Christ, died Dec. 21 at his home in Pinehurst,
N.C.
     
         A native of Topeka, Kan., Sheafor joined the staff of BCE in January
1945, where
     he served in several positions, including treasurer, before being named
president Jan. 1,
     1967.  He was the fourth full-time chief executive of the board,
completing 35 years of
     service upon his retirement in December, 1979. 
              Sheafor is survived by his wife, Laura Frances; a son, Scribner;
a daughter,
     Margaret Jackson; and three grandchildren.  A memorial service will be
held at National
     City Christian Church, Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the church's
board meeting
     the first week of May.  
      
         In other news, the Rev. Ryan D. Hazen has been called to the position
of general
     consultant for Board of Church Extension.  Prior to his Jan. 1, 1997,
call, Hazen served as
     a part-time BCE special consultant while serving as the full-time general
manager of
     Christian Church Services at the Disciples Center in Indianapolis.  He
will continue a
     part-time administrative responsibility to Christian Church Services
while serving on the
     Church Extension staff.  
     
         In his new role, Hazen will give primary attention to counseling
congregations
     and regions on their facility and capital needs, said the Rev. James L.
Powell, BCE
     president.  
         
         The Board of Church Extension has also announced that Joseph G.
Gardner, Jr.,
     AIA, has been named as an on-call special architectural consultant.
Gardner, an active
     member of Peachtree Christian Church, Atlanta, Ga., and founder of an
Atlanta
     architectural firm,  will help resolve problems related to facilities
usage, remodeling,
     renovation and site development for Disciples congregations.  
     
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