wfn.org | Vargas called to lead Hispanic Ministries office

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

Date: July 15, 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-43

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 
executive for Latin America and the Caribbean has been called to lead 
the denomination's Hispanic Ministries office. 

	The Rev. David A. Vargas will assume the position of national pastor 
for Hispanic Ministries, Jan. 1, 1999. His appointment was announced 
during the July 8-11 gathering of the ninth National Hispanic and 
Bilingual Assembly in San Antonio.

	The Puerto Rico native has worked with the Disciples' Division of 
Overseas Ministries since 1983. The denomination's overseas 
ministries now are jointly conducted with the United Church of Christ 
through the Common Global Ministries board. Vargas was director of 
program services to Hispanic and bilingual congregations from 
1979-1983 with the Division of Homeland Ministries. 

	Prior to serving with the church's general ministries, Vargas was a 
planning associate in Chicago. While there, he also worked with a Big 
Brothers program and directed a legal aid clinic. 

	The national-pastor elect has a bachelor's degree from the 
University of Puerto Rico and a master of divinity degree from the 
Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. He has done further graduate 
work at the University of Chicago. The ordained Disciples minister 
served several congregations in his home country. 

	Vargas has chaired the National Council of Churches committee for 
the Caribbean and Latin America and served on the NCC Church World 
Service and Witness executive committee. He also is a past board 
member of the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico.

	He and his wife, Margarita, have two children, David Jr. and Irene.

	-- end --

Editor's note: A photograph of Mr. Vargas will be sent to regional 
editors in the mail.
 

Disciples News Service releases 
are available at http://www.disciples.org/dns/index.htm