wfn.org | ABC/USA BIENNIAL PLANNING UNDERWAY

[RICH_SCHRAMM.parti@ecunet.org (RICH SCHRAMM)]

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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 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

UPDATE:  February 8, 2000

ABC/USA 2001 Biennial Meeting Planning Underway

 The Biennial Program Committee, charged with planning 
the next Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches USA 
set for June 2001 in Providence, R.I., met Feb. 4-6 in that 
historic city to begin its work.
 In response to a decision by the denomination's 
General Board, the June 22-25 Providence gathering will be 
the first national Biennial Meeting to be held over a 
weekend (Friday through Monday) instead of within the 
traditional Tuesday-Friday timeframe.  That new schedule, 
complemented by the committee's initial planning, is focused 
on encouraging a wide generational representation at the 
event, including increased participation by youth and young 
adults.
 The committee affirmed a theme of "Providence!", in 
part to acknowledge the pivotal importance of this historic 
setting in Baptist life* and also to celebrate God's gifts 
of love, nurture and guidance for contemporary ministries 
and future mission.  The familiar passage in the twelfth 
chapter of Hebrews setting forth the example of Jesus Christ 
(verses 1-2a) was chosen as supporting Scripture for the 
theme.
 Hosting the Biennial Meeting will be the American 
Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, one of 34 regions within 
American Baptist Churches USA, which includes approximately 
76 churches and 13,500 resident members.
 The committee will continue its planning of program 
elements at its meetings in June (Green Lake, Wis.) and 
November (Cherry Hill, N.J.).
 The committee is being chaired by Lauren Ng of 
Philadelphia, Pa.  Other members include Brandon 
Birdfaraway, Billings, Mt.; Phillip Brown, Philadelphia; Dr. 
Loris Coletta, Aptos, Calif.; Dr. James Evans, Rochester, 
N.Y.; Anatalys Gonzalez-Ortiz, San Juan, P.R.; the Rev. Jose 
Guerra, Bakersfield, Calif.; the Rev. Randolph Palada, 
Gilbertsville, N.Y.; Dr. Mary Robinson, Cedar Falls, Ia.; 
the Rev. Donald Shuler, Hudson Falls, N.Y.; Dr. Suzanne 
Snyder, Fairmont, W.V.; and Ella Washington, Brown Deer, 
Wis.
 Ex-officio members include Dr. Donald Rasmussen, ABC 
of Rhode Island executive minister, Providence; Dr. Trinette 
V. McCray, American Baptist Churches USA president, 
Milwaukee, Wis.; David G. Hunt, American Baptist Churches 
USA vice president, Portland, Oreg.; Dr. Daniel E. Weiss, 
American Baptist Churches USA general secretary, Valley 
Forge, Pa.; and Barbara A. Williams, esq., American Baptist 
Churches USA associate general secretary and legal counsel, 
Valley Forge, Pa.  Also instrumental in the planning are the 
Rev. Hank Pedersen, Local Arrangements Committee chair, 
Warwick, R.I.; Paul Baker, music consultant, Los Angeles, 
Calif.; David I. Greenfield, production director, 
Bloomington, Ill.; and Chris Ross, production coordinator, 
Goshen, Ind.  A Staff Advisory Group, directed by Biennial 
Meeting Program Coordinator Linda Bonn, is assisting the 
committee in its work.

*Founded by Roger Williams in the late 1630s, 
Providence was an unprecedented haven for absolute freedom 
of worship and belief and home to the first Baptist 
congregation in the New World, First Baptist Church in 
America. 

2/8/00
WFN28A

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