Posted by William Nunnelley on 2006-12-08

The Reverend Michael K. Wilson, who has served church congregations and nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years, has been named director of Samford University's Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence (RCPE).

Wilson will work closely with Dr. Penny Marler, Samford religion professor and coordinator of the Lilly Grant that funds the RCPE, to continue offering services for the enhancement and enrichment of ministers' lives.

Wilson has been chaplain at Trinity Medical Center (formerly Baptist Medical Center Montclair) since 2004, and also served as chaplain for New Beacon Hospice in Birmingham. He was associate pastor of Riverchase Baptist Church, Birmingham, from 2001 until 2004.

As coordinator of a feasibility study related to the revitalization of Holy Family Catholic High School in Ensley, Wilson was instrumental in the school's successful application to become a member of a new association of Catholic schools. The effort resulted in two support grants totaling $840,000.

Wilson is a 1979 Samford graduate with a master of religious education degree from Southern Baptist Seminary in 1982. He completed clinical pastoral education at Baptist Montclair's Ingalls Center of Pastoral Care Ministries.

He also served churches in Shreveport, La., Huntsville, Ala., and Northport, Ala., as minister of education and associate pastor.

"Reverend Wilson's ministry reflects interdenominational and ecumenical endeavors, including board leadership and grant development," said Dr. Marler. "Having worked with ministers and served as a minister himself, he has firsthand knowledge of the needs of ministers."

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.