United Methodist News Service

Christian Century, Jan 30, 2002

Tom McAnally, the longtime director of Methodist News Service who pioneered church-sponsored independent news agencies, has retired after 33 years with the church. McAnally, 61, accepted an early retirement package late last year and said he wants to spend his time relaxing and focusing on creative writing projects.

Director of the Nashville headquarters office since 1983, McAnally turned a small operation into a widely admired news service reporting on developments, including conflicts, in the nation's second-largest Protestant church. "We spend a lot of time helping the news media understand the church, and helping people in the church understand the news media," he said, noting that the news service needs to be an independent voice to have credibility in both spheres.