wfn.org | Oldenburg Nominated as Second Candidate for Moderator

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

29-October-1997 
97412 
 
    Oldenburg Nominated as Second Candidate 
    for Moderator 
 
    by Alexa Smith 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Atlanta Presbytery has endorsed the Rev. Douglas W. 
Oldenburg, president of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., for 
moderator of the 210th General Assembly. 
 
    Oldenburg was nominated by the Rev. Ted Wardlaw, pastor of Central 
Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, during the presbytery's Oct. 28 meeting. 
Wardlaw is Oldenburg's pastor. 
 
    Oldenburg is the second Presbyterian to announce his candidacy for 
moderator this year.  Richard G. Hutchison, pastor of First Presbyterian 
Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., and a member of the General Assembly Council of 
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), was endorsed as a moderatorial candidate 
by Whitewater Valley Presbytery in early September. 
 
    "I'd like to focus on `The Year with Education,'" Oldenburg told the 
Presbyterian News Service, referring to the denomination's yearlong 
observance set for 1998-99.  "And I'd like to do whatever I can to help 
keep this church together, encourage this church to engage its differences 
with civility and respect for each other and move us beyond the issues that 
are tearing us apart into other issues of justice and biblical fidelity. 
 
    "Forty thousand children die of malnutrition in this world every day." 
 
    President of Columbia Seminary since 1987,  Oldenburg has led a 
financial campaign that has raised over $35 million for the seminary's 
endowment and capital needs.  He is chair of  the denomination's Committee 
on Theological Education and he has served on several General Assembly task 
forces and committees, including the Task Force on Christian Faith and 
Economics (1979-1984) and the Task Force on International Peace and Justice 
(1978-1980).  Oldenburg was also a member of the Special Committee to Study 
Theological Institutions (1988-1993). 
 
    An ethicist, Oldenburg has been pastor of churches in Lynchburg, Va.; 
Elkins, W.Va.; and Charlotte, N.C.  He holds degrees from Davidson College, 
Union Theological Seminary in Virginia and Yale Divinity School.  He and 
his wife, Claudia, are the parents of three sons. 
 
    The Assembly meets June 13-20 in Charlotte, N.C. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--