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FSC student chosen for
National Council of Churches

LAKELAND, Fla. (July 8, 2003) - Jennifer Beckett, a Florida Southern College junior, has been chosen by the United Methodist Church (UMC) Council of Bishops to serve on the National Council of Churches (NCC) for the 2004-2008 term. The NCC represents the leadership of the major Protestant denominations in the United States. 

Beckett, a religion major, is the daughter of David and Kimberly Beckett of Anchorage, Alaska. "I'm very excited and passionate about getting involved in the work for unity among all Christians," she said. "No matter our differences, we all worship the same God. I'm very appreciative of this opportunity and I will do my best to represent the United Methodist Church." 

Beckett was nominated to the council by a member of her home conference (Alaska Missionary) and was one of 20 UMC representatives accepted to the NCC. She has been one of FSC's leaders of campus ministries, according to Dr. Alan Smith, FSC religion professor. "Jenny is an intelligent, attentive, genuinely nice young woman and we are blessed to have her as one of our students," said Smith. "She will be a valued member of the NCC and will bring a fresh perspective to the deliberations of that body." 

The NCC, founded in 1950, is a leading voice in the ecumenical movement and a driving force behind the positive inter-church dialog characterizing the work of the church in the United States and Canada since the 1960s, Smith said. The council also promotes harmonious relations among diverse religions, focusing especially on relationships between Christians and Muslims since the September 11 crisis. 


About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.

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