ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 19, 2009
Eric Shafer, ELCA Pastor, Named Senior Vice President of Odyssey Networks
09-231-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Odyssey Networks, New York, has appointed the Rev.
Eric C. Shafer to the post of senior vice president. Shafer is a former
director of the Communication Services unit of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA).
He is expected to start his newly created position on Jan. 1, 2010.
As Odyssey's senior vice president, Shafer, 59, will be responsible for
fundraising activities and relationships with U.S. faith groups,
according to an Odyssey news release.
Odyssey describes itself as "the nation's largest coalition of
Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith groups dedicated to building bridges
of understanding among people of faith through media." The company uses
television, the Internet and theatrical releases to distribute content.
Shafer has served since 2006 as senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran
Church, Lansdale, Pa., from which he resigned effective Dec. 31.
In his letter to the congregation announcing his new position,
Shafer noted that he has "long been both interested in the intersection
of faith and media and committed to an interfaith approach to peace and
justice in our world. This new position gives me the opportunity to work
full time in these areas."
Shafer is a 1972 graduate of Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa. He
attended Hamma School of Theology, Wittenberg University, Springfield,
Ohio, where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1976. Muhlenberg
College and Wittenberg University are among 28 ELCA colleges and
universities. Hamma is a predecessor of Trinity Lutheran Seminary,
Columbus, Ohio, one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Prior to arriving at Trinity Lutheran Church, Shafer served nearly
14 years as the ELCA director for communication. While in his churchwide
position, Shafer was responsible for a successful national advertising
campaign and the return of the children's stop-motion animation program,
Davey and Goliath, to television. Shafer also served as an assistant to
the bishop in the ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod and as pastor of
Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church in Catasauqua, Pa.
Shafer presently serves on the Odyssey Networks board of trustees
representing the ELCA. He is also vice chair of the board of the Good
Shepherd Home and Rehabilitation Hospital, Allentown, and a member of the
Muhlenberg College Board of Observers.
Shafer is chair of the Religion Communicators Council's "Wilbur
Awards," which recognize excellence in communicating religious issues,
values and themes in the public media. He has previously served as an
advisor to the Lutheran World Federation Council, on the board of
directors and executive committee of the National Council of the Churches
USA and on the Muhlenberg College board of trustees.
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Information about Odyssey Networks is at
http://www.odysseynetworks.org/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
