wfn.org | Nominees for moderator named

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

Date: January 25, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

99b-1

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- If elected in October, a New York City-area 
construction engineer will be the first Hispanic member to lead the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) General Assembly.  

	Paul D. Rivera, Valley Stream, N.Y., is the nominee for moderator of 
the Indianapolis-based denomination. Nominated as first and second 
vice moderator were the Rev. Lanny C. Lawler, Nashville, Tenn., and 
Minnie L. Smith, Hannibal, Mo.

	The trio was recommended during the Jan. 16-19 meeting of the 
General Nominating Committee in Daytona Beach, Fla. Rivera, Lawler 
and Smith stand for election during the Oct. 8-12 General Assembly in 
Cincinnati.  

	Rivera has been a senior project manager with Lehrer, McGovern, 
Bovis, a construction management firm in New York City, since 1996. A 
member of Iglesia Cristiana Sinai in New York, he has been a 
prominent leader in the Hispanic Disciples community. He recently was 
nominated as president-elect of the Pastoral Commission for Hispanic 
Ministries and is now moderator of the Northeastregion's Hispanic 
Convention.

	He previously served on the General Board and Administrative 
Committee and was second vice moderator of the General Assembly from 
1995 to 1997. His service also includes stints as moderator and vice 
moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)in the 
Northeast.  

	Rivera holds a bachelor of science degree in architectural 
engineering from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y.

	Lawler has been senior minister of Eastwood Christian Church in 
Nashville for six years. He has held pastorates in 
Connecticut,Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky and served on regional 
commissions and committees in Indiana, Greater Kansas City, 
Mid-America and Tennessee. 

	He is a board member of Christmount Christian Assembly, a retreat 
center in Black Mountain, N.C. He is a former board member inthe 
Tennessee and Northeast regions. In the wider church, Lawler 
coordinated the ecumenical response in Nashville after tornadoes 
ravaged the city in April 1998.

	He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Christian 
University, Fort Worth, and Yale University Divinity School, 
NewHaven, Conn. Lawler earned a doctor of ministry degree from 
Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville.

	Smith is a claims representative with the Social Security 
Administration in Hannibal. She has worked for SSA for 34 years. 
Theactive laywoman is a member of Willow Street Christian Church in 
Hannibal. 

	She currently is a member of the General Board and recently finished 
a term on the Administrative Committee. She just began a three-year 
period as a director with the Board of Church Extension. In November, 
Smith completed a term as moderator of the Christian Church 
(Disciples of Christ) in Mid-America where she previously was vice 
moderator. She now serves on the regional Reconciliation Committee.

	Smith attended Hannibal-LaGrange College and Truman State University 
(formerly Northeast Missouri State University), Kirksville. 

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