wfn.org | NOTES ABOUT PEOPLE

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9-May-95

95146                   NOTES ABOUT PEOPLE 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
     Samuel T. Durrance, 51, a member of the Havenwood Presbyterian Church 
in Lutherville, Md., and a principal research scientist in the Center for 
Astrophysical Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, returned to space in 
February aboard the space shuttle Endeavor. 
     Durrance's first mission occurred in December of 1990 aboard the space 
shuttle Columbia.  He is a renowned expert in the field of highly advanced 
telescopes. 
 
                              # # # 
 
     Two Presbyterians figured prominently in the April 25 White House Farm 
Conference in Ames, Iowa.  The Rev. Allen Jergenson, pastor of First 
Presbyterian Church in Foley, Minn., was a conference panelist, and the 
Rev. Marty Rief of the staff of Prairiefire, a community ministry in Des 
Moines, Iowa, served as a conference participant. 
     Jergenson and Rief are expected to share their insights from the 
conference with the Rural Ministry Advisory Committee of the Evangelism and 
Church Development program area in the National Ministries Division. 
 
                              # # # 
 
     The Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) has 
announced that the winner of its inaugural Community Ministry Award is the 
Kendall-Whittier Ministry (KWM) of Tulsa, Okla.  The award will be 
presented at PHEWA's General Assembly event, July 17 in Cincinnati. 
     KWM is an ecumenical association of seven inner-city congregations, 
including two Presbyterian churches, that has joined with city officials, 
business leaders and the Presbyterian Church-related University of Tulsa to 
revitalize the once-dead community. 
 
                              # # # 
 
     The Rev. Richard M. Ferguson, director of Bicentennial Fund follow-up 
efforts, has announced his retirement, effective at the conclusion of the 
upcoming General Assembly in Cincinnati. 
     Ferguson has worked with The Bicentennial Fund since its inception, 
first as a paid staff member and more recently as a full-time volunteer. 
 
                              # # # 
 
     Following the devastating terror bombing of the A.P. Murrah Federal 
Building in Oklahoma City, the Office of the General Assembly received a 
message of "deep solidarity" and "sincere condolences" from Milan 
Opocensky, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. 
 
                              # # # 
 
     Marian McClure, a member of the denomination's Mission Funding team 
and a May graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, has 
been awarded the David H.C. Read Award from the Madison Avenue Presbyterian 
Church in New York City. 
 
     The $10,000 interdenominational award goes annually to a seminary 
preacher/scholar. 
 
                              # # # 
 
     The Rev. Don Wilson, associate director for social justice in the 
National Ministries Division, has announced his retirement, effective June 
30.  Wilson has been a member of the denomination's national staff for 27 
years and has served as a minister for 42 years. 
     "Don Wilson is a dedicated servant of the Presbyterian Church and the 
ecumenical movement, having been actively involved in the history of both," 
said Curtis A. Kearns Jr., director of the National Ministries Division. 
"In the short time that has elapsed since his retirement was announced, the 
overwhelming sentiment expressed by his fellow employees is that his 
extensive knowledge and experience will be truly missed. 
     "This type of response provides valuable insight into Don's worth to 
the church that he has so faithfully served," Kearns said. 
 
 

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