Halfaker Named To National Post

The Rev. James Halfaker, regional leader for the United Church of Christ, has been named denominational director for the national church's capital campaign, which aims to raise $30 million for local and national programs.

Beginning Oct. 15, Halfaker will assume the full-time, paid post at church headquarters in Cleveland. He will be one of the church's primary spokespersons for the "Make a Difference!" campaign, helping advise money-raising experts on the structure, theology and policies of the church.

The money will be used to improve training for ministers, finance seminary education, to help start new churches and fix up old ones, and for social programs such as feeding the hungry and helping the homeless, said Barb Powell, spokeswoman for the 1.6 million-member United Church of Christ.

Halfaker will be replaced as soon as possible with an interim minister, said Mary Toal, administrative assistant at the Washington-North Idaho Conference. In the fall, the local church will begin a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for

Halfaker.