ELCA NEWS SERVICE
September 30, 2005
The Rev. Eric Shafer to Conclude Service as ELCA Communication Director
05-183-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Office of the Presiding Bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced Sept. 22
that the Rev. Eric C. Shafer will leave his role as director of
the ELCA Department for Communication.
Shafer will conclude his service in the churchwide office
the week following the Nov. 11-13 meeting of the ELCA Church
Council, said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, ELCA executive for
administration and executive assistant to the presiding bishop,
in a message to staff.
"Pastor Eric Shafer's love for this church and commitment to
mission have been evidenced throughout his leadership of the ELCA
Department for Communication," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop. "In a spirit of collegiality and high energy,
he has led a gifted staff. The Davey and Goliath program reflects
Eric's innovation and ability to champion communication tools. He
has been very responsive when the ELCA faces the challenge of
joining in the rebuilding of lives devastated by natural
disasters such as Hurricane Katrina."
"I will now seek new leadership to help us strategically
build upon our strengths and lead us innovatively in new
directions. I pray that Pastor Shafer's many gifts will continue
to serve this church, as well as proclaim the Good News of Jesus
Christ and serve God's mission for the sake of the world," Hanson
said.
Shafer, 55, was appointed acting director by the Rev.
Herbert C. Chilstrom, former ELCA presiding bishop, in November
1992. He was formally elected by the ELCA Church Council to a
four-year term as director in April 1993 and re-elected in April
1997 and April 2001.
Shafer called his 13-plus years with the churchwide
organization "a real and rare privilege for me. I leave with a
great sense of gratitude to God," he said.
Shafer cited several accomplishments during his tenure as
director, including the "building up" of the ELCA communication
staff; creation of the ELCA Communicators Network; and new
networks being developed among college and university
communicators and Lutheran Services in America communicators.
Shafer chaired planning committees for the installations of
two presiding bishops in 1995 and 2001, and chaired the 1995 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly planning committee. He was a volunteer or
ELCA staff member at every ELCA Churchwide Assembly, including
the 1987 ELCA Constituting Convention. As director he served as
co-chair of the ELCA's crisis management team, and visited more
than 40 synods in the ELCA, many as the churchwide representative
to a synod assembly.
He oversaw a significant advertising program, the ELCA
Identity Project, which received a $1.75 million grant, the
largest single grant ever to a churchwide ministry by Aid
Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans).
The project resulted in increased awareness of the name
"Lutheran" by some 15 million people or 5 percent of the U.S.
population.
He also oversaw the return of "Davey and Goliath"; the
growth of the "Grace Matters" radio ministry through two
speakers, the Rev. Walt Wangerin and the Rev. Peter Marty; the
creation of the ELCA emblem and tag line, "Living in God's
Amazing Grace;" the growth of the ELCA Web site which didn't
exist when Shafer became director. In August the Web site
recorded 8 million page views.
Shafer was involved in many ecumenical and interfaith
activities. He served eight years as chair of the National
Council of Churches USA (NCC) Communication Commission and the
NCC board of directors; was vice president of Religion
Communicators Council Inc. (RCC), New York; and was chair of the
RCC's annual Wilbur Awards for excellence in religion themes in
print and broadcast, books and film. Shafer served on the board
of Lutheran Film Associates and was president.
Shafer led Lutheran communicators on work trips to Honduras
and Nicaragua, and learning experiences in the Middle East and
east Africa. He taught communication during sabbatical teaching
experiences in South Africa and Madagascar. Shafer is currently a
communication advisor to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
Council and has been part of several LWF communication
consultations.
In 1972 Shafer earned a bachelor's degree from Muhlenberg
College, Allentown, Pa., one of 28 ELCA colleges and
universities. He earned a master of divinity degree in 1976 from
the Hamma School of Theology, Springfield, Ohio. Hamma later
merged with the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary,
Columbus, Ohio, to form Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, one
of eight ELCA seminaries.
Following his ordination in 1976, Shafer was pastor of Holy
Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, Catasauqua, Pa. He was
assistant to the bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod in
both the former Lutheran Church in America and ELCA from 1983 to
1992. From 1987 to 1992 he was shared staff with the ELCA
Division for Congregational Ministries and The Lutheran, the
magazine of the ELCA.
Shafer and his wife, Kris, are members of St. Luke Lutheran
Church, Park Ridge, Ill., and they reside in Park Ridge.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
