wfn.org | APOLINARIS TO RESIGN ABC/USA POST

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

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

APOLINARIS CONCEPCION TO RESIGN 
AS EXECUTIVE MINISTER IN PUERTO RICO

 The Rev. Yamina Apolinaris Concepcisn, executive 
minister of the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico since 1989, 
has announced her resignation, effective May 31, 2000.
 In a letter to the region's leaders and churches, 
Apolinaris Concepcisn said, "You granted me the honor of 
being the first woman responsible for leading our work in a 
time of great challenges....  I appreciate from the depths of 
my heart the opportunity to serve you and the support you 
have given me....  I am following the new paths that the Lord 
is opening for me...."
 Apolinaris Concepcisn previously served several terms 
as president of the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico.  The 
first ordained woman pastor in Puerto Rico with complete 
seminary training, she was pastor of First Baptist Church of 
Bayamsn from 1977-1984.  
 She also served from 1984-1988 as director of American 
Baptist National Ministries' Urban Strategies Development 
Program.  She has been a member of the American Baptist 
Churches USA General Board, the National Commission on the 
Ministry, the ABC Task Force on Women and the Board of 
Directors of the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, and 
was an American Baptist representative to the National 
Council of Churches of Christ.
 A search committee is being formed to begin the 
process of finding her successor.
 The Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico, one of 34 regions 
within American Baptist Churches USA, includes approximately 
100 churches and 25,000 resident members.

2/24/00
WFN224A

 -0-