Episcopal Press and News
Canon Osborn New ECM Executive Secretary
Episcopal News Service. October 23, 1980 [80375]
CHICAGO -- The National Council of the Evangelical and Catholic Mission (ECM), meeting at the Church of the Ascension, Chicago, October 14-15, has named the Rev. Canon Charles H. Osborn to be Executive Secretary. Canon Osborn will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the Rev. James C. Wattley last June and will assume his new duties on January 1, 1981.
Osborn, who has been corporation secretary of the group since its inception in 1976, is presently rector of St. James' Church, Long Branch, N.J. He was formerly executive director of the American Church Union until his resignation over differences in policy in early 1976.
Born in San Francisco, Canon Osborn entered the Anglican Theological College at Vancouver, B.C. in 1957, after having been active in the business world for 18 years in both San Francisco and Portland, Ore. He became vicar of St. Francis', Sweet Home, Ore., in 1959 and moved to St. Mark's, Portland, in late 1960. He became rector of St. Mark's in 1963 where he remained until January, 1974. He was made honorary canon of Oregon by Bishop Carman in 1973.
Plans call for intensifying the activities of the Evangelical and Catholic Mission throughout the country and will involve extensive travel. International linkage with the Catholic Renewal Movement in England and elsewhere in the world is also being explored. Headquarter operations for the organization will be moved from New York to Chicago to provide greater centrality and travel convenience, although affiliation with any particular parish in the Chicago area is not contemplated.
The Council re-elected the Rt. Rev. Stanley Atkins, retired bishop of Eau Claire, as chairman, and the Rt. Rev. William C. Wantland, present bishop of Eau Claire as corporation secretary. Mrs. William (Frances) Swinford, Lexington, Ky., is vice-chairman, and Mr. Karl Sharp of Minneapolis, Minn. is treasurer.
The Evangelical and Catholic Mission is made up of bishops, clergy, religious, and laity pledged to uphold and proclaim the evangelical and catholic faith of the Apostolic Church.