United Church editor to head EFC communications

Gail Reid takes over new position in August

DOUG KOOP
CW editor
– Toronto –

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has appointed a United Church editor as its first director of communications.

Beginning in August, Gail Reid will take primary responsibility for all aspects of the EFC’s communications strategy–overseeing its news releases, fundraising letters and web site, as well as becoming editor of the bi-monthly Faith Today magazine.

“I want Faith Today and the EFC to be known by all of the estimated 2.5 million evangelicals in Canada, including those in the mainline churches,” says Reid. For the past five years Reid has been editor of Fellowship Magazine, a renewal oriented publication seeking to uphold historicChristian-ity within the United Church of Canada.

“Gail has the professional skills and leadership gifts to empower vital Christians and draw them together in ministry and fellowship,” says EFC president Gary Walsh.

Reid agrees that her “heart for uniting Christians from all denominations” fits well with Walsh’s vision for the EFC. “I have had lots of opportunities to learn how to build bridges,” she says.

Walls coming down

As Walsh sees it, many of the historic boundaries dividing Christians are breaking down. Now, he says, it’s easier for us to recognize that God is moving “wherever people are open to the reign of Christ–wherever there are followers of Jesus firmly committed to Christian essentials.” So even though she doesn’t come from an evangelical denomination, “Gail is so obviously one of us we didn’t even blink to welcome her at EFC,” says Walsh.

Reid’s appointment marks an important stage in the revamping of EFC under Walsh, who assumed leadership in 1997. In September 1998 he unveiled a three-pronged structure designed to implement the fellowship’s priorities: to be a Christian voice in public life, to enhance ministry effectiveness and encourage partnerships among denominations and agencies.

Communications was the third element of the EFC strategy, and Reid now joins Bruce Clemenger, director of the EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life in Ottawa, and Aileen Van Ginkel, who heads its Centre for Ministry Empowerment, at the directors’ table.

“Gail is a full part of the leadership team,” says Walsh. “Communications is not a subset of leadership development. It cannot be a servant of another department.”

EFC was formed in 1964 as a means of encouraging cooperation and united action. It now encompasses 32 denominations, approximately 150 missions and independent church-affiliated organizations and more than 14,000 individual members.

EFC's new communications director Gail Reid

FELLOWSHIP MAGAZINE

Gail has the professional skills and leadership gifts to empower vital
Christians