wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR APRIL 15, 1999

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AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR APRIL 15, 1999

URL:  HTTP://WWW.ABC-USA.ORG

American Baptist News Service 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: RICHARD.SCHRAMM@ABC-USA.ORG

UPDATE: April 15, 1999

WORLD COUNCIL JOINS ECUMENICAL CALL AT U.N. 
FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE 
 The American-Baptist related World Council of Churches 
has joined other ecumenical bodies during the 55th Session 
of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in an 
"intervention" urging action to promote worldwide religious 
toleration.  Other groups calling for that action at the 
ongoing U.N. meeting in Geneva include the Lutheran World 
Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the 
Conference of European Churches.
 In their statement the ecumenical groups noted that 
they "monitor very closely the implementation of the 
commitments in the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of 
All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on 
Religion and Belief" and "are each actively engaged in 
promoting tolerance and mutual respect among religious 
communities."
 They noted:
 "New legal provisions in many countries, whereby an 
increasing level of state control is exercised over 
religious institutions and minority religions are 
increasingly restricted, remain a matter of ongoing concern.  
We receive alarming reports from our member churches, in 
particular from those countries where a separation of 
religion and state is not recognized and plurality is not 
valued....
 "In the post-cold war period many countries have 
established new legal provisions affecting religious freedom 
and many others are in the process of drafting new 
legislative frameworks.  While these often recognize the 
practice of freedom of religion for the individual, we 
observe serious practical setbacks for religious communities 
in enjoying religious freedom.  The new legislation in 
Uzbekistan may serve as one example among many others.  On 1 
May 1998 the parliament of Uzbekistan passed amendments to 
the 1991 Law on Religious Organizations and the Criminal 
Code... [which] now require 100 citizens to sign a religious 
community's application for registration and criminalize any 
unregistered religious activity.... 
 "At present we are faced with a situation in which 
religions are increasingly mobilized for competing interests 
seeking to maintain or secure political influence....  In 
order to avoid that religion be misused for political 
purposes and instead become a powerful force in civil 
conflict resolution, legal provisions protecting religious 
freedom for all religious communities is an indispensable 
precondition.  However, legal instruments by themselves will 
not be sufficient to promote a culture of tolerance. 
 "We welcome the emphasis of the [U.N.] Special 
Rapporteur on fostering a culture of tolerance through 
education.  We believe that his office needs strengthening 
in order to be able to engage in preventive measures, such 
as...promoting dialogue between governments and religious 
communities in any given country and education for 
tolerance.  At the occasion of his...visits, contacts and 
dialogue with media representatives are of utmost 
importance, since the media often play a crucial role in 
either promoting a culture of tolerance or fueling religious 
prejudices...." 

AMERICAN BAPTIST YOUTH TO REPRESENT REGIONS 
AT BIENNIAL MEETING
by Eleanor Lundy, American Baptist Educational Ministries
 For the cost of an all-Biennial ice cream social as 
was enjoyed in 1997 in Indianapolis, Biennial Meeting 
planners are offering emerging young American Baptist 
leaders the opportunity to experience their denomination as 
a larger family of faith.  For the first time two youth 
representatives from every American Baptist region have been 
invited to participate in the 1999 Biennial Meeting in Des 
Moines, according to Linda Bonn, American Baptist Churches 
USA director of Special Services and staff coordinator for 
the Biennial Program Committee. 
 "The Program Committee was challenged to ask the 
regional executive ministers whether they would give up an 
ice cream sundae," Bonn said, "in order to send two youth 
representatives to Des Moines.  The regions really caught 
the committee's vision of youth participation."  The project 
is sponsored jointly by the Biennial Program Committee and 
the Regional Executive Ministers Council. 
 Noting that 21 American Baptist regions are 
participating, with a total of 40 youth representatives, 
Bonn said regions have selected youth representatives from a 
variety of sources such as Youth Leader Core participants 
and graduates, local church recommendations, and nominations 
by regional governing bodies.   One region, American Baptist 
Churches of the South, will hold an oratory contest to 
determine its representatives.   Regions have been 
encouraged to commission their youth representatives prior 
to the event.   Youth will receive a video orienting them to 
the Biennial Meeting as well as study materials and 
scriptural foundations for the plenaries, Bible studies and 
other sessions they will attend. 
 Regions were asked to recommend youth representatives 
who have completed their junior or senior year in high 
school or their freshman year in college at the time of the 
Biennial Meeting.  Prior to the event region executives or 
General Board members may meet with the youth to pray, share 
information and get to know one another.   Youth 
representatives will be treated as honored guests, staying 
in official Biennial Meeting hotels and participating in 
activities planned especially for them.  Bonn noted that 
local hotels have been extremely cooperative in arranging 
discounted room rates for the youth. 
 In addition to the opportunity to participate in all 
plenary sessions, afternoon Bible studies and the Biennial 
Coffee Houses, youth will have roles in worship and in the 
ministry procession on Friday night. 
 Thom Son, director of Youth Ministries for American 
Baptist Educational Ministries, will provide program 
leadership and leadership training for the youth 
representatives.   Youth will be encouraged to share their 
experiences in Des Moines with their regions and provide 
feedback for the next Biennial Meeting.  Planners hope to 
expand youth involvement in future Biennial Meetings, 
increasing the number of youth representatives in 
Providence, R.I. (2001), Richmond, Va. (2003) and beyond.  
   "We hope the youth representatives will leave the 
Biennial with a greater understanding and enthusiasm for the 
mission and ministry of American Baptist Churches USA, and a 
contagious excitement about God's work through our 
denomination," Bonn said. 

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