wfn.org | General Council on Ministries names two new staff executives

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

April 6, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.     10-71B{163}

DAYTON, Ohio (UMNS) - A clergyman from California and a laywoman from Ohio
have been named associate general secretaries of the United Methodist
General Council on Ministries.

The Rev. Benoni R. Silva-Netto, pastor of Hope United Methodist Church in
Sacramento and a professor at the Pacific School of Religion and American
Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, will begin work July 1.  

Karen S. Adcock, vice president and practice manager of Gibson Fisher
Management Counsels LLC in Columbus, will assume her new responsibilities
April 23.

Both staff members will be presented when governing members of the council
meet in Phoenix, May 5-8.  The council's purpose is to "facilitate the
church's program life" as determined by the General Conference and "to
encourage, coordinate and support the general agencies as they serve on
behalf of the denomination." The agency is based in Dayton and led by top
staff executive Daniel K. Church.

Silva-Netto earned bachelor's degrees from Philippine Christian University
and Union Theological Seminary, both in Manila; his master of sacred
theology degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist
University in Dallas; a doctorate in ministry from Christian Theological
Seminary in Indianapolis; and a doctorate from United Methodist-related
Garrett Evangelical Seminary and Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

In addition to his work in academic and parish settings, Silva-Netto has
extensive experience as a hospital chaplain, pastoral counselor, and
marriage and family therapist. He has served as president of the National
Association of Filipino American United Methodists. He was a leading
contender for the office of bishop during the Western Jurisdiction
Conference last July.

Adcock earned her bachelor's degree from United Methodist-related Otterbein
College in Westerville, Ohio, and a master's degree from Wright State
University in Fairborn, Ohio. She has done advanced study in community and
human development at the Merrill-Palmer Institute in Detroit. 

In her career, Adcock has specialized in strategic planning and has served
as a consultant to organizations in Ohio, Indiana, Hawaii, Michigan,
Washington DC and Canada. A licensed professional clinical counselor, she is
active in church and civic affairs, serving as a volunteer in mission and as
a member of various nonprofit boards and agencies.

Silva-Netto and Adcock fill positions at the General Council on Ministries
vacated last year by Maxine Clarke Beach, now dean of the Theological School
at Drew University, Madison, N.J.; and Harold E. Wright, now director of
connectional ministries for the church's Desert Southwest Annual Conference.
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United Methodist News Service
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