wfn.org | Notes about People

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

11-January-2000 
00016 
 
    Notes about People 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
    The Rev. Floyd N. Rhodes, vice-moderator of the 211th General Assembly 
(1999), has been named interim executive and stated clerk of the Synod of 
South Atlantic. 
    Currently an associate on the staff of Greater Atlanta Presbytery, 
Rhodes will begin his synod duties in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 1. 
    A native of Tennessee and a graduate of Norfolk State University in 
Virginia and Princeton Theological Seminary, Rhodes has also served on the 
staff of Chicago Presbytery as well as pastorates in Rochester, New York; 
Los Angeles; Wilmington, Delaware; and Cleveland.  He will continue to 
serve as an adjunct faculty member at the Interdenominational Theological 
Center in Atlanta, where he teaches Presbyterian polity and history for the 
students at Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary. 
 
                                  # # # 
 
    Beth Basham, director for marketing, advertising and sales in the 
Curriculum Publishing Program Area (CPPA) of the Congregational Ministries 
Division, has resigned effective Jan. 11 in order to accept an assignment 
in the Office of the Executive Director of the General Assembly Council for 
writing, research and special projects. 
    Basham has worked in the curriculum publishing office of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 10 years.  Prior to her current work, she 
served as an editor and senior editor for acquisitions. 
    Her departure from CPPA comes a month before CPPA's new curricula, 
"Covenant People," "Bible Quest" and "The Present Word" make their official 
debut at the annual conference of the Association of Presbyterian Church 
Educators.  She is the third top-level CPPA official to resign in recent 
months as part of a planned downsizing of the financially-troubled office. 
James Marchal, publisher, and Donna Blackstock, CPPA associate director, 
departed late last year. 
 
                                  # # # 
 
    Gustav Niebuhr, award-winning religion reporter for the "New York 
Times," has been chosen as the Presbyterian Writers Guild "Distinguished 
Writer of the Year."  He will receive his award during the guild's General 
Assembly luncheon next June in Long Beach, Calif. 
    Niebuhr, a life-long Presbyterian, covered religion for many years for 
the "Charlotte Observer," the "Atlanta Journal and Constitution," the 
"Washington Post" and the "Wall Street Journal" before reaching the 
pinnacle of his profession - the religion desk of the "New York Times." 
    Niebuhr is the grandson of H. Richard Niebuhr and the grandnephew of 
Reinhold Niebuhr, both famed Reformed theologians. 
 
                                  # # # 
 
    The Rev. Gordon Jackson, a widely known theologian and former dean of 
the faculty at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, died Dec. 10 in St. 
Petersburg, Fla.  Jackson, 81, had cancer of the throat and larynx. 
    A graduate of Monmouth College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 
Jackson did graduate work at the University of Chicago and St. Luke's 
Hospital in New York City.  After serving as pastor of Westminster 
Presbyterian Church in Olympia, Wash., for six years, Jackson joined the 
faculty of Pittsburgh seminary in 1949, where he remained until his 
retirement in 1983. 
 
                                  # # # 
 
    Bluford B. Hestir Jr., who served the former Presbyterian Church in the 
United States for 30 years in a number of media-related positions, died 
Dec. 13 in Montreat, N.C., after a brief illness.  He was 80. 
    Hestir, a native of Kentucky, spent most of his life in Texas, where he 
graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism and 
later a masters in American civilization.  In 1953 he became director of 
information for the PCUS and moved to Atlanta.  In 1962 he was appointed 
the first PCUS director of television, radio and audio visuals, a position 
he held for 20 years.  He and his wife, Lucile, retired to Montreat in 
1986. 
    In addition to his wife, "Blu" Hestir is survived by three children, 
six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 

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