wfn.org | DNS - Northwest, Illinois/Wisconsin regions call new executives

["Wilma Shuffitt" <WILMAS@oc.disciples.org>]

     Title: Northwest, Illinois/Wisconsin regions call new
     executives
     Date: March 11, 1998
     Disciples News Service
     Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
     Contact: Clifford L. Willis
     Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
     on the web: http//www.disciples.org
     
     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, an at-large member of the
     Association of Christian Church Educators board of directors
     and president of the Michigan Black Disciples Caucus. In
     Detroit, Sullivan is a board member of Wayne State
     University's Ecumenical Campus Ministry and 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.
     
                              -- more --add 1-1-1/Northwest, 
Illinois/Wisconsin regions ministers
     Disciples News Service 
     98b-13
     
     
         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.
     
     
     -                   - end --
                                  
     
     [Editor's note: Photographs of Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Knudsen
     will be sent in the next Disciples News Service mailing.]