wfn.org | California pastor Paul Dirdak to lead UMCOR

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 24, 1998	Contact: Linda Bloom·(212)870-3803·New York     {248}

By United Methodist News Service

STAMFORD, Conn. - The Rev. Paul Dirdak, a pastor from the
California/Nevada Annual Conference, has been elected to lead the United
Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

The election occurred during the April 20-23 semi-annual meeting of the
United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Dirdak will serve as a deputy general secretary of the board. His
primary responsibility will be the Health and Relief unit, which
includes UMCOR, Health and Welfare and Mission Volunteers.

He was a director of the Board of Global Ministries from 1988-96 and was
president of the board's National Division from 1992-96. He also served
as chairman of the Interagency Task Force on AIDS, created by the United
Methodist General Conference, from 1988-96.

Suffering can always be found somewhere, Dirdak noted. UMCOR "has a long
and distinguished track record of knowing the whole world and being
engaged with all of it, all the time."

"UMCOR makes the world a family like few institutions do," he added.

Ordained in 1974, Dirdak served five parishes in rural and urban
California before being appointed senior pastor at First United
Methodist Church in Walnut Creek nearly two years ago. At Trinity Parish
in San Francisco, where he served from 1988-96, he remains executive
director of the AIDS/HIV Life Center. The Life Center is a project that
will replace the existing church building with a $7 million facility
housing both the church and a wide spectrum of AIDS service agencies.

Dirdak is a director of the denomination's General Council on Ministries
and was the lead clergy delegate from the California/Nevada Conference
to the 1996 General Conference.

He is married to the Rev. Wendy Pomeroy, who is in private practice as a
therapist and business consultant.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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