Wiltschek resigns from ‘Messenger’ to lead campus ministry at Manchester.

Walt Wiltschek has resigned as editor of the denomination’s "Messenger" magazine, effective Feb. 1, in order to accept a call as campus pastor at Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind.

He has served as staff of the Church of the Brethren for more than 10 years. He began work with the former General Board in Aug. 1999 as interim editor for Newsline and the "Messenger" news section. He began as full-time director of News Services in Jan. 2000. He also briefly covered the Identity and Relations position for part of 2003. He began as editor of "Messenger" in Jan. 2004.

In previous positions, he was an associate pastor of Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren and program director for Camp Eder in Fairfield, Pa. He has volunteered regularly at several Brethren camps each summer. He also has been a sports writer and editor for the "York (Pa.) Daily Record," and has done freelance work for several other newspapers.

Wiltschek is an ordained minister and a member of York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and mathematics from York (Pa.) College, a certificate in biblical studies from Eastern Mennonite University, a master of arts in religion from Lancaster (Pa.) Theological Seminary, and a master of arts in communication studies/journalism from Northern Illinois University.

He is "well-regarded for his inter-faith mentoring of youth and young adults," said a release from Manchester College, where he will begin Feb. 2 as part of the Student Development team. He will lead a religious life program that serves students from more than 30 denominations, on a campus that reflects a diversity of faith including non-Christian faiths as well as many not affiliated with a specific denomination.

Source: 12/17/2009 Newsline