Allin Names Priest As Volunteer Coordinator
Episcopal News Service. January 6, 1983 [83001]
NEW YORK (DPS, Jan. 6) -- The Rev. Clifford S. Waller, a Texas-based priest with extensive cross-cultural ministry experience, has been named to coordinate the Volunteers for Mission program at the Episcopal Church Center.
Waller's appointment was announced in early January by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin. The post, called Associate, Volunteers for Mission, is part of the World Mission in Church and Society section of the Church Center Staff.
The Volunteers program was created by the General Convention to complement the overseas missionary work of the Church by providing a vehicle for matching specific missionary tasks to the gifts of Church people who might not otherwise consider missionary appointment. Volunteers serve for a limited period of time -- usually under a year -- and are responsible for the bulk of their on-site expenses.
The Church Center screens prospective volunteers, matches them with suitable projects, and provides training and supportive expenses. Originally focussed on work in overseas dioceses of the Episcopal Church and in sister Anglican provinces, the program has been expanded so that it now includes a number of persons serving domestic volunteer projects and a few cases in which overseas volunteers have served in the United States.
The program has enabled teachers, doctors, engineers, bankers, seminarians, medical workers, accountants and many others to use their talents to help others. Further, the on-site expenses are usually provided by the volunteer's own parish, or diocese; a route that maintains a lively, local interest in the mission of the Church in other parts of the country and world.
A native of El Paso, Waller is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio and the Episcopal Divinity School. He was ordained priest in 1961.
Lie began his ministry as an institutional chaplain in the diocese of West Texas during which he developed volunteer programs to local mental health facilities and prisons. From 1967 until 1980 he was director of the Inter-cultural Mission for the diocese which involved ministry with Hispanic, black and white congregations and social programs.
In early 1981, he became priest-in-charge of a new congregation, The Church of the Holy Spirit, and missioner to colleges in San Antonio. He has served on numerous parish, diocesan and community boards.
Lie has been married since 1956 to Mary Elizabeth Semmes and they have two children.
In his new post, Waller will work with the Rev. Patrick Mauney, co-ordinator for overseas ministries, and with the Rev. Page E.S. Bigelow, who remains as assistant, Volunteers for Mission.