wfn.org | Allen named to area position in Mid-America

["Wilma Shuffitt" <WILMAS@oc.disciples.org>]

region
Date: March 16, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

98b-16

    INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Rev. Barbara Allen,
Wichita, Kan., has been called as the Northeast
Area minister of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) in Mid-America. 

    The Northeast Area board approved Allen's
appointment March 7. She begins the new assignment
July 1. Allen succeeds the Rev. Ralph Glenn, who
became regional minister of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest.

    Mid-America Regional Minister Stephen V.
Cranford termed her call as groundbreaking for the
denomination. Although several women serve in
regional positions throughout the church, she will
be the first to serve as an area minister, he
said.

    Allen comes to the region from Martinson
Avenue Christian Church, Wichita, where she has
served since 1986. She previously was a chaplain
at the former Atlantic (now Barton) Christian
College, Wilson, N.C. Her background also includes
work in Christian education and as a hospice
chaplain.

    The new area minister has a master of arts
degree (1971) from Yale University Divinity
School, New Haven, Conn., and a bachelor of arts
(1966) from Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis. She
completed several units of clinical pastoral
education in 1986 at Charlotte (N.C.) Memorial
Hospital. From 1985-1986 Allen was an instructor
of religious studies at the University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill.

    She currently is a board member of the
Christian Church Foundation and serves on the
General Board and its Administrative Committee.
Allen served on the General Board Executive
Committee from 1993-1997.

    While active with the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Kansas, Allen served as
moderator from 1994-1996 and chaired the
Commission on the Order of Ministry. She currently
is a member of the regional board, its executive
committee, and the transitions task force.

    Allen has two sons, Paul IV, a student at
Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary, and Carlos,
a college student in Wichita. 

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