A United Church of Christ minister has returned to San Diego to retire – and be the new program director for the Ecumenical Council of San Diego County.
Dick Duncan took over the part-time leadership job this month. He recently retired from United Theological Seminary in Ohio, where he was a lecturer in communication ministries.
“One of the things they (board members) have asked me to do is provide additional services to local churches,” Duncan said from his office in the Disciples Center building on Fir Street, near downtown San Diego.
Among those services is to be a consultant on media-related programs and expansions for local congregations. Duncan has long been involved in this field, especially video work. He won two Emmys in San Diego in the 1980s for his production of religious television programs.
Also on his to-do list are developing an ecumenical youth choir and forming regional support groups for churches in the county.
The Ecumenical Council has about 110 member churches and funds a rotational shelter network for the homeless and a transitional living program for families. The organization has long wanted to grow – especially because only about a quarter of the county's churches are members.
While movements like this one have worked toward Christian unity for decades around the country, they have been most popular among mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic churches. One challenge will be to reach out to evangelical congregations here, Duncan noted.
The 69-year-old minister originally left San Diego in 1988. He was ordained in 1970 and spent much of his clergy career working in youth, campus and media ministries. Duncan lives in San Carlos with his 11-year-old son, Sean.
Sandi Dolbee: (619) 293-2082; sandi.dolbee@uniontrib.com
