Meet A.M.'s New Executive Director - Chris Morton
"God's call upon my life, prior to going to seminary, has been about the local, particularly in an ecumenical and interfaith ministry," says Rev. Christopher Morton, Associated Ministries' new executive director. In a recent conversation with Chris, as he likes to be called, he sees the ecumenical and interfaith setting as one of the most effective ways to address all issues of people living in poverty. "It is important to be able to help people living in poverty realize their full potential and to experience the abundance of life --- abundance being about more than money, but income sure does help pay the bills," he says.
Chris was born in Summit, New Jersey, the sixth and youngest child in a family with three older brothers and two older sisters. He is married to Kathy Hintz and together they have two children. Luc is their 19 year-old son who is in his second year of college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and their daughter, Amy, 18, who is finishing her senior year in high school as an exchange student in Germany. She will be entering Hiriam College in Ohio in the fall. She chose Hiriam partially to be near her grandmother, Chris's mother, who is 82 and lives in Ohio.
Local ecumenism is the heart and blood of who Chris is. He comes to Associated Ministries with a strong background and multiple skills in ecumenical and nonprofit experience. He most recently was the Director of Organizational Development for the Minnesota Council of Churches where he had oversight of all ten program areas, as well as of all fundraising initiatives and communications strategies, while supervising the related staff. He also has served as executive director of Minnesota Food Association, and was the co-director of the development office for the Hazelden Foundation, a national leader in chemical dependency treatment and a publishing house. In addition, for the past ten years Chris has been an independent consultant for non-profit organizations providing fundraising and communications services; interim program and organizational leadership; organizational development; visioning and strategic planning; and facilitation on a variety of processes (e.g., Future Search, Open Space, Charrette). Chris's credentials are impressive, yet he is a warm, caring, energetic and very approachable person with a delightful sense of humor.
He is an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister, graduating from Lexington Theological Seminary (LTS) in order to study under Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, current General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ, USA. In fact, local ecumenism was the focus of an independent study that Chris worked on with Dr. Kinnamon while he studied at LTS. Whether elements of the study are published in the future, or not, taking on the topic of local ecumenism while in seminary is a demonstration of Chris' passions and commitments.
When asked what his vision/plans for Associated Ministries might be he stated that he wants to come in to listen and become acquainted with staff, board, partners, and funders. Since he is coming from outside the community, Chris said that it is important for him to better understand the community first. What is clear is that AM's commitment to addressing poverty is matched by Chris' call to ministry, and with his leadership AM will move into its next stage of development to help more people move out of living in poverty, recover from disasters, grow in their faith and learn about other faith traditions. He added that he, and Associated Ministries, and the whole community of Tacoma is grateful for the years of David Alger's ministry leading Associated Ministries because he has left such a strong legacy, and provides a wonderful platform upon which we can all stand to see where we might go, together, next.
He and Kathy are excited about coming to the Tacoma-Pierce County area and getting to know the community and the people. He said in our conversation that the "kids are very supportive of the move and looking forward to visiting Tacoma -- like for Christmas, and maybe summers."
Chris will begin his ministry with the Tacoma-Pierce County community on July 1, 2009. Kathy will join him once their house in Minnesota sells and they find a place here in this community. The board and staff welcome Chris as the new executive director and know that he will carry forward the work begun by the Reverend David Alger.
New Associated Ministries Executive Director Chris Morton, center, and his wife, Kathy, talk with Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma at the Spring Celebration & Auction.