wfn.org | Foundation honors Hal & Evelyn Watkins

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

Date: May 1, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
Web: http://www.disciples.org

Contact: Jim Cullumber, Exec. Dir. of Communications
Christian Church Foundation
130 E. Washington St.
(800) 668-8016, jcullumb@ccf.disciples.org

02a-41

INDIANPOLIS - The Rev. Harold "Hal" and Evelyn Watkins
received the Harry T. Ice Award for philanthropy and
overall commitment to the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) at the Christian Church Foundation's board of
directors meeting recently.

Watkins is the retired president of Church Extension, and
just recently served as interim president at Lexington
Theological Seminary. His wife of more than 50 years has
shared in the Church Extension story, as well as serving on
the board of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.

The Harry T. Ice Award is the Christian Church Foundation's
highest honor and recognizes excellence in philanthropy
within the denomination. Recipients demonstrate personal
generosity, leadership in philanthropy and a love and
commitment to the whole church. Ice, founder of a major law
firm in Indianapolis, was on the original Blue Ribbon
committee that led to the creation of the Christian Church
Foundation. He was a former board of director and general
counsel, in addition to holding leadership positions with
the Pension Fund and other church entities before his death
in 1982.

During the award presentation, several speakers noted not
only the generosity of the Watkins, but their intentional
effort to mentor young pastors. "Hal, you are a major
influence on people, and through people, on this church we
know and love," said the Rev. James Powell, current
president at Church Extension.

The Rev. Gary Kidwell, senior vice president of major gifts
and development for the foundation, said Hal and Evelyn are
"a model of not only a great marriage, but a great
ministerial partnership."

"We celebrate your witness, your commitment, but most of
all, we celebrate you," Kidwell said.

In response, Watkins said he and his wife both learned
stewardship from their parents and other people in the
churches where they have served and belonged. "You don't
have to be wealthy to be generous," he said. "You just have
to desire to be." 

In other business during the foundation's board of
directors meeting in Indianapolis:

* Agreed to rebate $2,000, roughly 1.7%, of its Basic
Mission Finance allocation to Church Finance Council to
assist regions and other BMF partners who find themselves
in financial crisis. 

* Approved the annual audit of the foundation's financial
records.

* Adopted a senior staff restructuring proposal, and
appointing the following persons to their new positions:
Kidwell, senior vice president of major gifts and
development; Ruth Weaver, senior vice president of gift
administration; and Brad Herndon, senior vice president of
investments.

* Appointed Lori Dow of Edinburgh, Ind., as assistant vice
president of gift administration and accounting.

* Created an equity value component to one of its largest
investment pool funds - the Beasley Growth Fund - as a
means to further diversify the fund.

The Foundation, a general unit of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), works with members in making planned
gifts to benefit their favorite church-related causes and
assists congregations and other church entities in
investing. It is responsible for more than $250 million of
the church's money.

The next board of directors meeting will be Oct. 25-27,
2002, in Nashville, TN.

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