DOWNEY - Dennis Short, who recently retired from a 15-year ministry at Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach, has been named interim minister at Downey Memorial Christian Church.Short is expected to remain at DMCC for the next two years. A native Californian, Short was born in Long Beach and grew up in San Dimas. He graduated from Bonita High School in 1959 and attended Chapman College in Orange. While at Chapman he met his future wife, Linda Hanson. Short received his BA from Chapman in 1964 and his Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis in 1968. That same year he was called to serve as associate regional minister of the Christian church in charge of the denomination's Southern California Pro-Reconciliation Anti-Racism program. In 1975, Short became chaplain at Chapman College. He served as the campus pastor to faculty, students and administration until 1991. During this time he received his MA in Counseling Psychology from Chapman in 1985, and received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the faculty upon leaving Chapman. Short has served as an interim minister in Garden Grove and Corona del Mar, and has been involved in interfaith and interracial ministries. He served as president of the Newport Costa Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council for several years and will complete a four-year term in December as moderator of the Christian Church in the Pacific Southwest Region, comprising some 145 congregations. The Shorts have two sons, John Mark, who lives with his family in Beaverton, Ore., and Steven, who lives with his family in Long Beach. The Shorts continue to live in Newport Beach. "I'm honored to be called to this historic Downey Disciples of Christ Congregation," Short said in a statement. "I'm especially pleased to be working with Associate Pastor Annica Terrones, who is directing Downey's New Beginnings Ministry, and Pastor David Becerra of Iglesia Unida En Cristo and Rev. Gary Curtis of Familia de Fe - the other two Disciples of Christ congregations which meet on the Downey Memorial campus. I believe this church has an exciting future."

********** Published: October 14, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 26