wfn.org | Donald G. Cambell Chosen to Be New CMD Director

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

24-May-1999 
99197 
 
    Donald G. Campbell Chosen to Be New 
    Congregational Ministries Division Director 
 
    by Gary Luhr 
    Associate Director for Communicaton 
 
    LOUISVILLE, KY - The Rev. Dr. Donald G. Campbell, executive presbyter 
of Donegal Presbytery in Lancaster, Pa., has been chosen to be the new 
director of the Congregational Ministries Division (CMD) of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 
 
    Campbell, the unanimous choice of the selection committee, will be 
presented for election by the denomination's General Assembly Council (GAC) 
in Ft. Worth, Tex. next month. If elected by the GAC and confirmed by the 
General Assembly, which is also meeting in Ft. Worth next month, he will 
start his new job in mid-August. 
 
    "Don is a person with a deep faith in Jesus Christ whose professional 
ethics are impeccable," said the Rev. Joanne R. Hull of Charlotte, N.C., 
chair of the search committee. "He is a good manager who expects quality 
work of those around him." At the same time, she said, "he is a nurturing 
person for clergy and lay leaders alike, with a management style that 
allows subordinates to do the best they can and to be the best they can." 
 
    Campbell described himself as a leader with "a commitment to education 
as a developmental approach to strengthen all areas of the church's 
ministry." 
 
    "From day one I have practiced ministry as a Christian educator," he 
said. "Preaching and teaching, planning and coordinating have been my tools 
for ministry. Inspiring and equipping people to live and serve as members 
of the Body of Christ is what I continually seek to accomplish." 
 
    Campbell has held his current position with Donegal Presbytery since 
1991. Before that he was associate executive presbyter of New Brunswick 
Presbytery in Trenton, N.J. A graduate of Westminster College in New 
Wilmington, Pa., he holds Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry 
degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a Master of Education 
degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Beginning in 1967, he served as 
assistant pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Easton, Pa., associate 
pastor and assistant pastor of Doylestown Presbyterian Church in 
Doylestown, Pa., and pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Butler, Pa. 
 
    Campbell has been described by colleagues as a competent administrator 
who is also approachable, dependable, and skilled at interpersonal 
relations. "This has affirmed my preferred leadership style, which is 
collegial and stresses the importance of listening skills," he said. 
 
    Campbell said his goal is to empower and inspire the staff of the 
Congregational Ministries Division.  "What humbles me is that this ministry 
of administration has the responsibility to enrich and strengthen the work 
and witness of all of our congregations and those who serve in them," he 
said. "This responsibility can be met as the leader enables a division of 
competent and committed people to become the best God created them to be." 
 
    Hull said the search committee made over 100 contacts with potential 
candidates. The group included 54 males, 47 females and 16 racial ethnic 
persons. 
 
    "From the beginning," Hull said, "the search committee sought the 
guidance of God through the Holy Spirit to help it identify the best person 
for the position regardless of gender, age, or race." 
 
    Twenty-one persons completed the application process including 17 
males, 4 females and 3 racial ethnic persons. The four most qualified 
candidates were chosen for the final interviews, Hull said. 
 
    "Through the intense interview process," she said, "the committee 
discerned that the Rev. Don Campbell would be its enthusiastic choice for 
this position." 
 
    The Congregational Ministries Division, one of three ministries 
divisions of the GAC, coordinates work in the areas of Christian Education, 
Christian Faith and Life, Stewardship, and Curriculum Publishing. Its 
responsibilities include pastor, educator and lay leader support; youth and 
young adult ministries; conference ministries; spiritual formation; 
theology and worship; theological education; mission interpretation and 
promotion; stewardship education; and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. 

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