On August 15, Friends United Meeting (FUM) General Secretary Kelly Kellum announced that Colin Saxton will be returning to the FUM staff as director of North American Ministries. Saxton had previously served as FUM general secretary from 2012 to 2018.
Ben Snyder, who previously held the title of coordinator of North American Ministries, left FUM on June 30 to become the pastoral minister at Carmel Friends Church in Carmel, Ind., part of Western Yearly Meeting. Saxton’s director responsibilities in the position will be significantly different than Snyder’s with a greater emphasis on fundraising.
Saxton will serve as FUM’s principal advancement officer, strengthening relationships with donors and guiding fundraising strategies to support the organization’s general and global ministries. In addition, Saxton will also coordinate with FUM’s North American Yearly Meetings and Associations to initiate programs to support Friends leaders, churches, and meetings.
In his report to the FUM General Board, Kelly said, “Colin is an effective fundraiser, he knows the FUM community well, and he is passionate about FUM’s work and mission. It is an honor to welcome him back home.”
Saxton told the board, “I am so excited to be coming back and to be part of the FUM community. I really love FUM and believe in it. I am interested in coming back and giving time and energy to North American Friends, especially in the area of leadership development and gathering the resources needed to carry out this work that God has called us to.”
Saxton will continue to work for Everence, a Christian-based financial services organization, until the end of this year and will take up responsibilities with FUM in early January 2021.
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