Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Social Welfare Office
Parallel form(s) of name
- National Commission on Social and Specialized Ministries
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1968-unknown
History/biography
The Social Welfare Office began in 1968 with the appointment of Woodrow W. Carter, Sr. as a senior associate for specialized field services. The office was originally attached to the newly formed section of Experimental and Specialized Services (ESS), which had formed out of the former Joint Urban Program.
The ESS unit's focus on prominent contemporary issues is exemplified by the 1968 Council decision to earmark $50,000 to “finance a counseling and legal advice service to Church members with conscience problems relating to the military draft.” One of the unit’s key duties was the provision of field services to Church agencies, “devoted primarily to the development of church programs of action in society and ministries to special groups.” At the time of his initial appointment, Carter’s position was intended to focus on issues and services relating to children and families, particularly minority children.
Following another staff reorganization of the Program Function that began in 1970, the ESS unit ceased and Carter was listed as Social Welfare Officer in 1972 in the Social Welfare Services unit of the Program area. His role was to serve as a liaison to various committees and commissions as needed.
Through Carter’s work, the Social Welfare Office grew to serve in a proactive advocacy role. In 1977 Carter organized the first meeting of an ad hoc group that became the National Commission for Social and Specialized Ministries (NCSSM), for which he subsequently became the assigned staff officer. The emphasis on supporting local ministry is found in a November 1980 Council resolution which called on the Social Welfare Office to “marshal and coordinate all possible resources available through the Episcopal Church Center in support of dioceses and parishes ministry (sic) with disabled persons.”
Following Carter’s retirement in 1983, Presiding Bishop Allin announced the appointment of Marcia Newcombe as the new Social Welfare Officer to work “with most of the Church’s agencies involved with delivery of human services: welfare, bail and criminal justice reform, and ministries among aging, deaf, alcoholics and other groups.” The release noted further that she would also monitor social services legislation and serve as an ecumenical liaison to educational and activist groups in those areas.
It is unclear when this office was dissolved, or if it changed names.