The National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc. (NICC), doing business as Faith & Values Media, announced on January 17 the election of Fred Kinsey and the Rev. Eric C. Shafer to its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees makes policy and has fiduciary responsibility for Faith & Values Media, the nation’s largest coalition of Jewish and Christian faith groups dedicated to media production, distribution and promotion.
“We are honoured to announce the addition to our Board of Trustees of Fred Kinsey and Rev. Eric C. Shafer, two highly respected individuals within their faith communities,” said Edward J. Murray, president and chief executive officer of Faith & Values Media. “Mr. Kinsey’s and Rev. Shafer’s addition complements perfectly the expertise of their fellow NICC Board members.”
Currently, Fred Kinsey is Assistant to the President for Communication at the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in Washington, D.C. He also serves as President of the Adventist Media Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Previously, Mr. Kinsey was a communications professor and department chair at Pacific Union College. Prior to his tenure at Pacific Union, Mr. Kinsey served in various capacities for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, most notably for the Northern California Conference.
After serving as Pastor in the Ohio Conference from 1978 to 1981, Mr. Kinsey relocated to California and began his tenure at the Northern California Conference, where he was appointed to the post of Communications Director. He has also served as Stewardship Director and as the Assistant to the President of Communications.
Mr. Kinsey received his Master of Divinity from Andrews University in 1978 and was ordained in 1982. He is a graduate of Loma Linda University and received his Bachelor of Arts in History and Communication.
“It is a privilege for me to join the Faith & Values Media Board of Trustees,” said Mr. Kinsey. “The Seventh-day Adventist Church shares NICC’s vision of making faith visible through the media, and as such, has been part of NICC since its inception. I look forward to exploring ways in which we can work together to further our common goals.”
Rev. Eric C. Shafer has dedicated nearly three decades to serving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and led the ELCA’s Department for Communication for 13 years.
"I'm honored to represent Lutherans in North America on the Board of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition,” said Rev. Shafer. “The NICC is an important place for Christians and Jews to work together and one of the few places where faith and media meet and can make an impact."
Rev. Shafer’s notable accomplishments during his tenure include the creation of the ELCA Communicators Network, overseeing the return of the beloved classic "Davey and Goliath;" ensuring the growth of the "Grace Matters" radio ministry; the creation of the ELCA emblem and tag line, "Living in God's Amazing Grace,” and overseeing the growth of the ELCA Web site. Mr. Shafer’s efforts have resulted in increased awareness of the name “Lutheran” by 15 million people, or 5 percent of the U.S. Population.
In addition, Rev. Shafer chaired planning committees for the installations of two presiding bishops in 1995 and 2001, and chaired the 1995 ELCA Churchwide Assembly planning committee. He was a volunteer or ELCA staff member at every ELCA Churchwide Assembly, including the 1987 ELCA Constituting Convention.
Rev. Shafer received his Master of Divinity degree at the Hamma School of Theology of Wittenberg University and his Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences at Muhlenberg College.
The 17-member Board of Trustees is made up of Christian and Jewish religious leaders and communication and business leaders. They are: the Rev. E. Wayne Antworth, Vice President of Philanthropy, Guideposts, Pawling, N.Y.; Commissioner W. Todd Bassett, National Commander, The Salvation Army, Alexandria, Va; Rabbi Alvin Berkun, Senior Rabbi, Tree of Life Congregation, Pittsburgh, PA and President Elect of the Rabbinical Assembly, the International Organization of Conservative Rabbis; Betty Elam (Treasurer), President and CEO, The Brauner Foundation, New York, N.Y.; Rabbi Daniel Freelander (Secretary), Vice President, Union for Reform Judaism, New York, N.Y.; Ralph W. Hardy Jr. Esq. (Vice Chairman), Partner, Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, Washington, D.C. and Member of The Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the Rev. Larry Hollon, General Secretary, United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn.; Dr. Daniel Paul Matthews (Chairman), Rector Emeritus, Trinity Wall Street, New York, N.Y.; Frank Morock, Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C.; Edward J. Murray, President and CEO, Faith & Values Media, New York, N.Y.; Nikki Stephanopoulos, Director of News and Information/ Public Relations, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, New York, N.Y.; Robert N. Thomson, Chairman of the Board, TekConnect Corp., Cherry Hill, N.J.; Peter M. Wallace, Vice President and Executive Producer, Episcopal Media Center/Day1, Atlanta, Ga.; the Rev. William M. Wilson, Minister and Executive Producer, Voice of Salvation Ministries, Cleveland, Tenn.
