Michael Armbrister, a member at First United Methodist Church of Marion, Va., is the new executive coordinator for the United Methodist Appalachian Ministry Network, retiring coordinator the Rev. Dr. Bob Wilkins announced. Ambrister's appointment is effective June 2.
"Michael is an energetic communicator who is deeply motivated to use his leadership and skills to meet human needs in Appalachia through The United Methodist Church and other entities of the region," said the Rev. Chuck Jack, president of UMAMN.
The Appalachian Ministry Network partners with annual conferences, districts, local churches and general agencies to develop and support leaders within the UMC in the Appalachian region. The region includes annual conferences in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
The Rev. Eric Doolittle has been named new campus chaplain for North Central College in Naperville, Ill. He will assume the role from the Rev. Dr. Lynn Pries ’67, who retires in June after 20 years of service as campus chaplain at North Central College.
An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Doolittle has served as a pastor in three UMC congregations in Tennessee and as chaplain at Hiwasee College in Madisonville, Tenn. Most recently, he was interim Protestant chaplain at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.
Doolittle’s ministry passion is working with young, college-age adults. As chaplain at Georgetown, he led prayer groups, worship and retreats, promoted interfaith cooperation, and designed programs to promote social justice and advocacy. While a church pastor in Tennessee, he launched new ministries to undergraduate and graduate students at a nearby university and promoted cooperation between his congregation, the university and community.
Brenda Dowell, an M.DIV. United Methodist student from the Holston Conference, has received the Sewanee School of Theology Prize in Theology and Ethics.
Dowell was recognized on April 23 during a School of Theology celebration of upcoming commencement exercises.
Steven Lambert has been selected by the board of directors of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) as General Counsel, effective in June. Lambert was one of several candidates from a national search for a lead lawyer for GCFA.
Lambert is a native of Kingsport, Tenn., and his father, Charles Lambert, still lives in Kingsport.
Lambert is currently a retired partner with Foley & Lardner, LLP in its Washington, D.C. office, and has been with the firm since 2001. In addition to his representation of clients throughout the country, he has served his law firm as the Chair of its Finance Committee, Training Partner to its Litigation Department and as a leader of its nationally-recognized pro bono program. Lambert has served in various leadership positions in the legal community, including as president of two national bar associations. In addition, he has been very active in community and church-related organizations, both at the local and national levels. As part of this service he has provided leadership as Chair of the Board of a United Methodist-affiliated college and of a United Methodist-affiliated seminary.