wfn.org | [ENS] Director of Episcopal News Service announced

[enslist@epicom.org]

Thursday, May 20, 2004

Director of Episcopal News Service announced

ENS 052004-1

[ENS] Robert Williams, communications director of the Diocese of Los Angeles
since 1993, has been named director of the national Episcopal News Service
effective July 1, Dan England, director of communication at the Episcopal
Church Center, announced today.

In his new capacity, Williams will oversee both news reporting and media
relations for the Episcopal Church Center in New York. He will also expand
operations by opening an ENS bureau in Los Angeles, England said. The Los
Angeles bureau will be housed at the Episcopal Cathedral Center of St. Paul
in an agreement made possible by the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the
Diocese of Los Angeles.

Commenting on the appointment England said, "Working on two coasts will help
the news service to broaden its scope. We will be much more aware of news and
movements within the church on the West Coast and we have specific plans to
increase reporting on diocesan and parish activities between coasts. ENS
cannot be New York-centric."  He added, "We are also beefing up the media
relations activity of the News Service to take advantage of our high name
recognition and marked presence in the public square. Bob's experience will
help us a great deal in this regard."

Williams said a priority for the news service will be outreach to the
church's 113 dioceses with the goal of broadening coverage "to reflect more
fully the Episcopal Church in its rich diversity, creativity, and national
scope." Williams said he further plans "to pursue cultural competence in
order to serve better the several language groups of the church."

"I look forward to collaborating with communications professionals across the
church to help amplify the good news of our faith and shared mission," he
said. "ENS is at present expertly staffed by Jan Nunley and Matt Davies.
James Solheim, its most recent director, provided years of outstanding
leadership to ENS. I give thanks for this excellent foundation upon which to
begin work."

Williams, 42, has completed various national and international assignments
within the Anglican Communion. In 1998, he edited the daily newspaper that
served the Lambeth Conference of bishops convened by the Archbishop of
Canterbury. Last summer, he was editor of the Convention Daily newspaper
serving the General Convention during its triennial proceedings in
Minneapolis, having reported or edited news from the five previous triennial
meetings.

Joining the diocesan communications staff in Los Angeles in 1986, Williams
served as managing editor and then editor of The Episcopal News, the
30,000-circulation diocesan newspaper, which launched weekly electronic-mail
Update editions in 2000.

A member of Episcopal Communicators since 1987, Williams hosted the
professional organization's national conference in Los Angeles last year, and
coordinated its Polly Bond awards competition from 1995-1997. He is currently
Southern California chapter president of the national Religion Communicators
Council.

Williams holds a master's degree in print journalism from the University of
Southern California, and a bachelor's degree in English from Biola
University. He has been a guest lecturer and a summer-program student at the
San Andres Anglican Seminary in Mexico City. For the past 15 years, he has
also taught language arts courses in the adult education division of the Los
Angeles Unified School District.
 
A fourth-generation Southern Californian, Williams was born in Escondido and
raised in north San Diego County. His family traces Anglican roots to
parishes in Minnesota, Canada and England. He is a member of the Wilshire
Center parish of St. James', Los Angeles.

___________________________
To UNSUBSCRIBE from enslist or change your address, click here:
 http://mh.epicom.org/c.php?L=enslist&E=wfn-editors@igc.org

To SUBSCRIBE to enslist, send a blank email message, from the address which
you wish subscribed, to: join-enslist@epicom.org

Send QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS to The Rev. Jan Nunley, deputy director,
jnunley@episcopalchurch.org 
The enslist is published by Episcopal News Service:
www.episcopalchurch.org/ens