Shirley Whipple Struchen
Shirley Whipple Struchen
Shirley Whipple Struchen has worked as an ecumenical communicator for much of her career. She is a member of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) North American executive committee.
She served as executive director of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) from 2001 to 2021, coordinating annual networking and professional development events and the annual DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards and Wilbur Awards for people working in communications for a wide variety of faith-based organizations. In addition, she was the coordinator for the global once-a-decade Religion Communication Congress in 2000, 2010, and 2020.
In 2002 Struchen also became producer for the National Council of Churches’ quarterly television programming and coordinated access for religious broadcasting on major U.S. television networks.
Prior to her work with RCC, she worked for United Methodist Communications from 1976 to 2001. She initially coordinated the Television Awareness Program and was later director of conference education, executive producer of the United Methodist Teleconference Connection, and director of regional training for the Igniting Ministry denomination-wide image and awareness campaign. She served as Associate Producer for the cable TV series “Catch the Spirit” and coordinated the Word & Music Christian radio script service.
Before that, Struchen was communications director and newspaper editor for the Western New York Conference of The United Methodist Church.
She was president of the Religious Public Relations Council, forerunner of RCC, 1996-98. She has also served as president of the Media Action Research Center; chairwoman of the National Council of Churches’ media education committee; and a member of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC Global) board of directors. She is a former member of American Women in Radio and Television, and of the National Association for Female Executives.
The United Methodist Association of Communicators (UMAC) named Struchen United Methodist Communicator of the Year in 1997 and inducted her into the UMAC Hall of Fame in 2023.
In 2010, she was named an honorary life member of the World Association for Christian Communication for service to the cause of ecumenical and interfaith communication and work characterized by dedication, integrity, and achievement.