wfn.org | Michael Barwell appointed deputy di

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org (ENS)]

September 26, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

97-1963
Michael Barwell appointed deputy director of news and information

      (ENS) Michael Barwell, who has been director of communications
and editor of the newspaper in the Diocese of Southern Ohio for 11
years, has been appointed deputy director of news and information for
the Episcopal Church, effective September 22.
      "In so many ways it is a very logical choice because Mike has
worked closely with the Episcopal News Service since it took shape in
1989," said James Solheim, director of news and information. "He
helped set the style and direction of ENS and headed the ENS teams at
the General Conventions in Phoenix, Indianapolis and Philadelphia. He
brings internationally recognized skills and experience to the church--as
well as continuity at this crucial time of transition at the Episcopal
Church Center."
      A graduate of Gordon College in Massachusetts, Barwell worked
for newspapers in New York, Ohio, Michigan and Massachusetts and
joined the staff in the diocese in the fall of 1986.
      A familiar byline on the international scene, Barwell served as a
member of the communications team at the Lambeth Conference of the
world's Anglican bishops in 1988 and will lead the news team at the
Lambeth Conference in 1998. He has traveled on assignment to Russia,
England, Wales, Nigeria, Egypt, Cyprus and the Bahamas.
      One of his major responsibilities in the diocese was editing
Interchange, the award-winning diocesan newspaper. It received the
award of General Excellence as the top newspaper in 1996 from
Episcopal Communicators as well as a number of awards from the
Associated Church Press (ACP). He has served on the boards of both the
Episcopal Communicators and the ACP.
      Barwell said that he looked forward to his news position as a way
to express and extend his national and international interests. In
announcing his resignation to the diocese, Bishop Herbert Thompson, Jr.,
called attention to Barwell's "superb job of communication and
education" and his work in expanding the diocese's "relationship with
local, state and national news media." And he said that he "helped us all
to know much more about the needs and wants of people in our midst, as
well as throughout the world."
      "Everything I have done up until this point, in my career in the
secular world and the church, has led me to this ministry," Barwell said.
"It is an exciting time in the life of the church and I look forward eagerly
to the challenges."
      Barwell succeeds Jim Thrall, who has entered the doctoral
program at Duke University.