wfn.org | Texas pastor called to lead Indiana Disciples

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: June 11, 2001
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Curt Miller
E-mail: Cmiller@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

01c -31

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The pastor of a new congregation in
Flower Mound, Texas, was called as the regional minister of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana at the
region's board meeting June 4.

The Rev. Richard L. Spleth, 47, will assume his duties as
pastoral and administrative leader of the 199 Indiana Disciples
congregations Sept. 1. Those congregations include more than
39,000 participating members.

The new regional minister is no stranger to Indiana having
served as pastor of South Bend First Christian Church from 1986
to1992. Spleth then moved from South Bend to the suburbs of
Dallas, Texas, where he was the founding pastor of Creekwood
Christian Church. The church now averages 260 in worship with
more than 400 members.

A native of Tulsa, Okla., Spleth completed high school in Dallas
and graduated from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. His
seminary degree was awarded by Vanderbilt University, Nashville,
Tenn. Spleth was ordained in 1978.

His first full-time pastorate was at First Christian Church,
Sioux City, Iowa. He was then called to the South Bend
congregation.

Spleth is currently chair of the New Church Committee of the
North Texas Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
of the Southwest. He has served as a trustee of the United
Christian Missionary Society and on the board of directors of
Homeland Ministries. He also has served on regional boards of
the Christian Church in Indiana and the Upper Midwest. 

Spleth is married to Diane Spleth, a native of Indianapolis, who
is a student at Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth. They have two
adult children: Doug Booher, Bloomington, Ind., and Beth Ann
Hillman, Indianapolis.

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(Editor's note: Photo of Spleth is available on request or
online at http://www.disciples.org/dns/releases2001/2001c31.htm)