wfn.org | Homeland Ministries Calls New President

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

Date: May 20, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

Contact: Suzanne DeMoss Brown, director of communications, 
Division of Homeland Ministries 
(888) 346-2631 or sbrown@dhm.disciples.org

	INDIANAPOLIS, May 20, 2002 -- A South Carolina Regional
Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has
been called to serve as the next Homeland Ministries
president. Arnold C. Nelson Jr., N. Charleston, S.C.,
begins his work Aug. 1.

	Nelson was elected unanimously to the post by the Homeland
Ministries Board of Directors, meeting here May 16-19. In
making the announcement, Board Chairperson, Don Tuttle,
said Nelson has a pastor's heart.

	"He knows what goes on in local congregations. As a
regional minister, he can help us {Homeland Ministries} as
partners with regions," said Tuttle. "He deeply loves and
embraces the ministry of Homeland Ministries."

	As HM president, Nelson said he looks forward to traveling
the country to share the work HM staff does. "I grew up in
the Disciples of Christ. My life is what it is because of
this church, and the programs of Homeland Ministries," said
Nelson.

	Nelson's call resulted by following the provisions of the
executive search policy endorsed by the General Board. This
process included using an outside screener and the
consideration of ethnic minorities as candidates.

	Nelson has served as Regional Minister in South Carolina
since 1998. During his four years of service, his
accomplishments have included increasing the number of
congregations in the region; encouraging racial/ethnic
desegregation of fellowship organizations, camps and
conferences; and increasing region-wide Basic Mission
Finance contributions.

	Prior to serving as regional minister, Nelson spent 21
years as a congregational pastor. From 1984 to 1997, he
served at Pulaski Heights Christian Church, Little Rock,
Ark., and from 1976 to 1984, he served at First Christian
Church, Camden, Ark.

	Notable accomplishments at Pulaski Heights include leading
worship services  that were both ecumenical and
historically Disciple; cultivating new leadership for the
congregation and beyond; and establishing and participating
in an AIDS care team. At First Christian, he established
small groups for adult study and fellowship and developed
joint children's programs with an Episcopal congregation.
In addition to increasing membership, he led the
congregation to become more financially viable while
increasing Basic Mission Finance giving.

	In addition to his regional and congregational work,
Nelson has been active at all levels of the denomination
throughout his ministry. Most recently, as a member of 
First Christian Church, Charleston, S.C., Nelson serves as
an elder and participates in several committees, including
chairing the Evangelism and Membership Committee. General
church appointments since 1984 include the General Board;
Administrative Committee; Homeland Ministries Board of
Directors; and the General Conference of Disciple Men.

	Since 1976, Nelson has served a number of ecumenical and
interfaith organizations, including the Arkansas Council of
Churches, Arkansas Ecumenical Affairs Committee; the
Consultation on Church Union Plenary; and an alternate
delegate of the South Carolina Christian Action Council.

	Nelson holds a master's of divinity degree from The Iliff
School of Theology, Denver, Colo., and a bachelor's degree
from Phillips University,  Enid, Okla.

	Nelson is married to Kelly, a CPA, who has two young
children, Anna and Kerry Ashley. He has one adult daughter,
Kate, who is finishing her first year at Vanderbilt
Divinity School.

	Homeland Ministries, a general unit of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ), commits to connecting people
to the life-changing love of God by developing partnerships
throughout the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that
strengthen congregations and leaders to make a difference
in the world by revealing the light of Christ.

                                        -- end --

(A photo of Nelson can be downloaded from the web at:
http://www.disciples.org/dns/ )

			
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