wfn.org | Notes about people

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

Note #7388 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

19-August-2002
02303

Notes about people

by Jerry L. Van Marter

Marvin C. Wilbur, a Presbyterian communicator and public relations guru who served the Presbyterian Church (USA) for more than 40 years, died Aug. 14 in Tenafly, NJ, after a long illness. He was 88.

During his 35-year stint on the national staff of the denomination, Wilbur was credited for creating the Presbyterian Planning Calendar as well as a number of other stewardship and mission interpretation resources.

For almost 30 years he also served as executive secretary of the Religious Public Relations Council. In honor of this service, the council named its awards of merit in journalism and broadcast the "Wilbur Awards."

A graduate of Oregon State University, Wilbur joined the U.S. Navy as a chaplain in 1943, immediately after his graduation from Union Theological Seminary in New York. After his discharge, he spent a few years as chaplain to students at Yale University and as the first full-time director of public information at Union Seminary.

In 1952, Wilbur was brought onto the national staff of the PC(USA) by the legendary John Thompson Peters. In addition to the planning calendar, he was instrumental in the creation of the Presbyterian Plan Book and Rush, a publication which included stories and illustrations for congregational newsletters.

Wilbur is survived by his wife, Marie, and children Judy, George and John.

# # # 

The Congregational Ministries Division has announced the appointment of the Rev. William Mark Koenig as the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program's associate for resources, publications and program development.

Koenig, a minister member of the Presbytery of the Western Reserve - where his spouse, the Rev. Tricia Dykers Koenig is also a member - most recently served as associate for the anti-racism program in the National Ministries Division. Previously he served on the staff of Western Reserve and has also served pastorates in Ohio and Iowa.

Koenig began his new work Aug. 19.

# # #

The Rev. Jim Berkley, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, WA, has been named national issues ministry director for Presbyterians for Renewal, an independent Louisville-based organization related to the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Berkley begins his new work Sept. 1. He will continue to live in Bellevue.

# # #

Jean Webster, known as the "Mother Teresa of Atlantic City," was honored recently in Washington, DC, for her ministry serving the homeless in the New Jersey casino city.

Webster was one of 55 recipients nationwide of the Thomas Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service.

Her service career began 20 years ago when, while working as a chef at an Atlantic City casino, she stopped to watch a homeless man sifting through trash in a dumpster near her home for food. Soon thereafter she started feeding first that man, then others, out of the kitchen in her home - a ministry which continued in that fashion until the city condemned her house. These days, she feeds more than 600 people a day in First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City. The church has less than 80 members.
------------------------------------------
Send your response to this article to pcusa.news@pcusa.org

------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send an 'unsubscribe' request to

pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org