wfn.org | ABCUSA: BIENNIAL MEETING UPDATE

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.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

COMMITTEE CONCLUDES PLANNING FOR 2001 PROVIDENCE
GATHERING OF AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA 
 CHERRY HILL, N.J.--The Biennial Program Committee, in 
its final planning session, continued work begun last 
February in preparation for the national gathering of 
American Baptist Churches USA set for June 22-25, 2001 in 
Providence, R.I.
 The committee, which met here Nov. 14-15, further 
developed program elements growing out of the theme of 
"Providence!" and embodying the Scripture text of Hebrews 
12:1-2.  The theme acknowledges the pivotal importance of 
this historic setting in Baptist life and also celebrates 
God's gifts of love, nurture and guidance for contemporary 
ministries and future mission.
 Preachers and leaders for each evening session were 
confirmed.  The Rev. Dr. Trinette McCray, American Baptist 
Churches USA president and a campus minister, faculty member 
and director of Multicultural Relations at Cardinal Stritch 
College in Milwaukee, will preach at the opening Friday 
evening worship service.  Other scheduled leaders include: 
the Rev. Dr. Robert Roberts, interim general secretary of 
American Baptist Churches USA (Saturday evening); the Rev. 
Jenny Quey, senior pastor of Community Baptist Church in San 
Mateo, Calif. (Sunday morning); the Rev. Dr. Billy Kim, 
president of the Baptist World Alliance and pastor of the 
15,000-member Central Baptist Church in Suwon, South Korea 
(Sunday evening); and the Rev. Dr. Luis Palau, 
internationally known evangelist (Monday evening).
 Also announced were Bible study leaders for the 
gathering: Dr. Nancy Ammerman, professor of sociology of 
religion at Hartford Theological Seminary (Saturday); the 
Rev. Dr. Bernadette Glover-Williams, assistant pastor of 
Second Baptist Church in Perth Amboy, N.J. (Sunday); and 
Thomas Moore, a family therapist at Fort McDowell Yavapai 
Nation, Sun Hills, Ariz. (Monday). 
 A wide variety of daily on-site and off-site mission 
experiences called "Afternoon Opportunities" are being 
designed and American Baptist history will be lifted up 
throughout the gathering.  In addition many musical groups 
and presentations are scheduled and a major concert is being 
planned for Saturday evening.
 This 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 is focused on encouraging a wide generational 
representation at the event. Regional youth representatives 
once again will be active participants in Biennial Meeting 
events.  
 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.
 The Rev. Donald Shuler of Hudson Falls, N.Y., and 
Phillip Brown of Philadelphia are serving as chair and vice 
chair respectively of the Biennial Program Committee. 
 Information on the Biennial Meeting is available 
through e-mail at Biennial.Meeting@abc-usa.org, on the World 
Wide Web at www.abc-usa.org/~abc-usa/biennial/ or by calling 
1-800-ABC-3USA/x2235.

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