Covenant News
Pinleys to Begin New Ministry in Iowa
CHICAGO, IL (October 15, 2004) - It is with great sadness that the Covenant Communications team bids farewell today to Craig and Mary Pinley as they head to Mason City, Iowa, where they will serve as associate pastors at First Covenant Church.Craig's name is well-known to those who follow the online Covenant news report, having served as the news reporter and writer for that report as well as contributing feature articles for The Covenant Companion and other publications of the Evangelical Covenant Church, including the annual spring Covenant Reporter that goes to all conferences and regions for their annual meetings.
Mary also is well known to those working with the Department of Christian Formation, where she served as a projects coordinator.
Highlights of Craig's work include several awards from Associated Church
Press (ACP), including double awards in 2000 for best news story and
best feature article for the article he and Bob Smietana co-authored on
the topic of forgiveness. The article focused on the tragic 1997 murder
of Mary "Lily" Baehr of Baldwinsville, New York, who was brutally killed
in the home she shared with her husband Herb, and their son and
daughter-in law. To read this award-winning article, please see The
Cost of Forgiveness.
Another ACP award honored Craig's report on the rollover dangers of 15-passenger vans, which for years were the popular choice for many schools and churches.
"We will miss Craig and the many contributions he has made over the years," said Don Meyer, executive minister of Covenant Communications. "Craig joined us very early in the development of the Covenant website and has played a key role in developing the popular online news report. He is an experienced daily newspaper reporter, but perhaps more than that, he has a long history with the Covenant as a denomination and, as a pastor, brings that perspective and a wealth of contacts to his work.
"Although we are sad to lose him as a member of the Communications team, we know that the Covenant gains in the end," Meyer continued. "Craig's heart has always been with young people and youth ministry. I remember him from many years ago, when he traveled with 'Heartsong' and stayed in our home in Jamestown, New York, where I was publisher of the newspaper and active in my home church, Zion Covenant. His heart was with young people then, and still is. It is exciting to see Craig and Mary both becoming engaged in full-time pastoral ministry and to look forward to the ways in which God will use them both."
With a master's degree in Christian education from North Park Theological Seminary, Mary was well prepared for her position in the Department of Christian Formation. In that role, she used her administrative and ministry gifts to develop learning designs, create the department's electronic newsletter, IMPACT, and coordinate the development of a variety of tools to assist churches in their formational ministries.
"We will definitely miss Mary's enthusiastic and willing spirit in our office," said Doreen Olson, executive minister of the Department of Christian Formation. "She exhibits a heart of compassion and a desire to serve the Lord in all that she does. We believe that Mason City will be immensely blessed by her ministry."
A farewell celebration was held at Covenant offices this morning for Craig and Mary, including presentation of a softball bearing the signatures of most of his colleagues in the various ministry offices. "We thought that most appropriate, given not only his intense interest in sports, but also his work in founding the Chicago-based softball league that brought together individuals from various Covenant offices, North Park Theological Seminary, area Covenant churches and others," Meyer noted, adding that Craig's regular sports coverage of the North Park athletic teams also will be missed by the many alumni around the Covenant.
The Pinleys begin their new ministry in Mason City on November 1. However, Craig will continue to contribute to the online Covenant news report for some time as the search continues for his replacement.
Printable version of this page.