In his new role, Mr. Johnson will lead the department in establishing Trinity's website as a multimedia resource channel to build the faith community and offer multimedia resources for personal spiritual growth. He will assume his new position and responsibilities in September.

"This past year, we've begun to envision our website as the 'third sacred space' alongside Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel," said Linda Hanick, Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Trinity-St. Paul's. "As we look to engage a virtual congregation with a wide variety of faith formation resources and to connect to our local and global neighbors, I can't think of a more qualified person to take this journey with us. We're delighted to have Rick join our team."

Mr. Johnson founded GraceCom in 1995 as the electronic media ministry of Grace Cathedral and a vehicle for spiritual transformation. The ministry is a network of programming consisting of an award-winning web site, television programming for broadcast and cable, radio programs, satellite conferences, and related programming such as The Forum, a live weekly conversation program hosted by the cathedral's dean, Alan Jones, on critical social and spiritual issues.

He is a pioneer in using web streaming technologies to connect people in conversation and reconciliation, to educate the public on critical issues, and to facilitate spiritual growth and transformation. He has won numerous broadcast television and new media industry awards for producing and directing. In 2004 the cathedral's web site, http://www.GraceCathedral.org, won the Internet's Webby Award for best Religion & Spirituality Website.

As canon for media ministry at Grace Cathedral, Mr. Johnson served as a lay liturgical Eucharistic minister, anointer and lector, founded a Sunday at Six Eucharist, and preached regularly in the cathedral. He was a leader in the development of the cathedral's strategic plan, and has served as a cathedral trustee.

Mr. Johnson's career in radio and broadcast television has spanned over 30 years. Prior to joining Grace, he was national producer for Westinghouse Broadcasting's Evening Magazine and PM Magazine series. His producing and directing credits include prime time specials for UPN-44, San Francisco, which earned him an Emmy Award for directing, and two New York Festival awards. He ha also produced series programming for Group W Television, Discovery, Sci-Fi Channel, The Travel Channel, and Odyssey.

His first documentary project for television, Time of the First Moon, earned the national Scripps Howard Award in 1975 for Best Documentary.

His recent award-winning productions for Grace Cathedral include the documentary Rediscovering the Labyrinth, the environmental stewardship film Lighten Up!, and the prime time Christmas special Songs of the Season. He is a graduate of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and has been tutored for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of California.

"I am delighted for the opportunity to contribute and participate in the rich history of liturgy and civic involvement of Trinity Church and St. Paul's," said Mr. Johnson. "Trinity has long been a leader in supporting faith formation, spiritual growth, and reconciliation. I feel blessed to be called to serve in a position where one's spiritual and professional vocations are so fully engaged and I look forward to serving those seeking community, inspiration, and enrichment through Trinity's media ministry." Trinity's web site, www.TrinityWallStreet.org is a premier resource throughout the Anglican Communion for faith formation, with weekly webcasts of concerts, liturgy, and special events. Trinity Television and New Media has produced a wide variety of award-winning television programs including Faces on Faith, The Real Bottom Line, and Everyday Spirituality with Thomas Moore. The department is the recipient of five New York Emmy's and two Cable Ace Nominations.

Trinity Parish, established in 1697 and consisting of Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel, has a diverse congregation drawn from the New York region and offers 18 worship services during the week as well as daily interdenominational prayers for peace at St. Paul's Chapel. The church and the chapel attract over 1.8 million visitors annually.

The parish's outreach programs in lower Manhattan include John Heuss House, a 24-hour drop-in center; St. Margaret's House, government-supported housing for the elderly and disabled; full childcare services for children six months to five years in the financial district through Trinity Preschool and Nursery; a transitional men's shelter at St. Paul's Chapel; and an exhibit at St. Paul's Chapel, "Unwavering Spirit: Hope & Healing at Ground Zero" that focuses on its unique ministry to 9/11 workers during the recovery efforts at the former World Trade Center site. The parish has a strong musical tradition, with a family choir, a professional choir with CD recording contracts, and a popular twice-weekly concert series.

In addition, it supports the Episcopal Church locally and the worldwide Anglican Communion through grants made by the Trinity Grants program, supporting social transformation in metropolitan New York, spiritual formation and development in the Episcopal Church, Anglican churches in the Global South, and the development of telecommunications throughout the Anglican Communion.

For more information on Trinity Church-St. Paul's Chapel, go to www.TrinityWallStreet.org.