Parker

The Rev. Everett C. Parker, Director Emeritus of the UCC's former Office of Communication, turned 90 on Jan. 17. Four years before the UCC came of age in 1957, Parker founded its communication office to make sure the truth was being told about this new united church. For 30 years, Parker held the office to a high professional standard, and was cited by the Associated Press for "bringing professional skills to church communications."

Although he retired in 1983, Parker still teaches courses in communications policy and ethics at Fordham University. He has been especially active as treasurer of the Emma L. Bowen Foundation, which helps place youth of color into jobs with major broadcasting and cable TV companies. Parker also continues to needle and wheedle communications industries and the FCC on behalf of women, persons of color, and the public interest in communications.

Gibbons

The Rev. Ray Gibbons, former executive director of the UCC's Council for Christian Social Action, a predecessor body to Justice and Witness Ministries, will turn 100 on Feb. 10. In 1944, Gibbons became director of the Council for Social Action of the Congregational Christian Churches. With the formation of the UCC in 1957, he headed up the new council formed by the union of the social action agencies of the Congregational Christian Churches and Evangelical and Reformed Church. He retired Jan. 1, 1969, but continued for a time serving as a housing consultant.

A pioneer in developing social action by U.S. churches, Gibbons frequently was at the center of controversy as he sought to apply Christian principles to political, social and economic issues. Under his direction, the Council for Christian Social Action conducted programs for racial justice, opportunity for economically disadvantaged persons, world order and responsible political life.

Hargraves

The Rev. J. Archie Hargraves, 86, pastor of Chicago's South Shore Community UCC, died Jan. 3. Known as a pioneer of nonviolence, civil rights and community organization, Hargraves served as president of Shaw University in North Carolina, vice-president of the Association of American Colleges, president of the Institute for International Development and consultant to the League of Arab States.

In 1972, President Nixon appointed him to the Fulbright Board of Foreign Scholarships, U.S. Department of State. President Ford re-appointed him to the position in 1978. He also received an appointment by North Carolina Gov. James Holshouser to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

A well-known author and lecturer, Hargraves also was co-founder of the East Harlem Protestant Parish, which has been referred to by some as "the most significant 20th-century experiment in American Protestantism."

Mackey

The Rev. Sheldon E. Mackey, 89, of Blandon, Pa., died Friday, Nov. 22, 2002, at Phoebe Berks Health Center, Wernersville, Pa.

In 1957, Mackey served as a member of the Committee on Orderly Transition for the formation of the United Church of Christ following the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and Congregational Christian. He was elected co-Secretary of the UCC in 1957. He was chosen as the first executive secretary of the UCC's former Stewardship Council and served in that capacity from 1961 to 1979. Mackey also served as chair of the Commission on Stewardship and Benevolence, National Council of Churches.

Prior to the formation of the UCC, Mackey served in various capacities with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. He was called as administrative assistant to James E. Wagner, then president of the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1953 and elected secretary of the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1956. He also served as pastor of many local congregations. Mackey served on the Boards of Directors of Ursinus College, Lancaster Theological Seminary, and the Mercersburg Society. He was a member of First UCC in Reading, Pa.

Pastoral changes and obituaries are reported by Local Church Ministries and run as space permits