wfn.org | American Baptists Delegates set Number of General Board Representatives

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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

June 23, 2001

BIENNIAL MEETING DELEGATES SET NUMBER OF GENERAL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES

PROVIDENCE, RI (ABNS)--Delegates to the Biennial Meeting of American Baptist
Churches USA here today determined the number of representatives
that will serve on the denomination’s General Board, its top
policy-making body, for 2002-2003.

The delegates affirmed the board’s recommendation of 111 regionally
nominated representatives for both 2002 and 2003 and 37 nationally nominated
representatives for both years. Those figures will produce a total General
Board of 160 in 2002 and 2003.

The process of reducing the number of General Board members through
attrition from 210 to 160 was affirmed by delegates to the 1995 Biennial
Meeting. Based on extensive studies, input from former board members and
studies of other denominations with policy-making bodies smaller than the
General Board, it is expected to improve the effective functioning of the
board. The reduction will be completed in 2002.

DAHLBERG PEACE AWARD PRESENTED TO MARK HATFIELD AND GORDON BENNETT

PROVIDENCE, RI (ABNS)—The 2001 Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace Award, one of
the most significant commendations of American Baptist Churches USA, was
presented today to well-known politician Mark O. Hatfield and to Gordon C.
Bennett, an educator and longtime peace advocate.

The award was presented during the Biennial Meeting of American Baptist
Churches USA.

Hatfield, former Republican U.S. senator from and governor of Oregon, is a
member of First Baptist Church in Portland. During his 47 years of public
service in state and national arenas he has been known as a strong advocate
of legislation and public policy affirming the mandate for peace and justice
within the U.S. and around the world.
Most recently he co-authored the 1999 Oregon statewide initiative to repeal
the death penalty.

Bennett, a member of Central Baptist Church in Wayne, Pa., and a retired
longtime faculty member at Eastern College in St. Davids, Pa., has worked
for decades to promote peace through writing, teaching and personal
involvement in nonviolent civil disobedience.

In presenting the award, Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III, executive
director of American Baptist National Ministries, praised Hatfield as
“a tenacious, articulate and effective peacemaker” who during
his career “was able to bring together bipartisan coalitions to enact
federal legislation and international treaties to advance peaceful
programs.”

Wright-Riggins, noting Bennett’s peace-making efforts, his extensive
work on articulating the concept of nuclear-free zones, and his commitment
to ending apartheid, said the award was presented “with a deep sense
of appreciation for his faith-based commitment to peace.”

MARTHA PIXLEY HONORED WITH SPARROWK PRESIDENT’S AWARD

PROVIDENCE, RI (ABNS)--Martha Cortner Pixley of Kalamazoo, Mich., was
honored here today during the Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches
USA as the 2001 recipient of the Cora and John Sparrowk President’s
Award of the denomination.

The award notes that Pixley, an active member of First Baptist Church in
Kalamazoo, has “over a period of years made an exceptional and
outstanding contribution to the life of Christ’s church; and in life
and service manifests richly the fruits and gifts of the Spirit.”

Pixley and her late husband, the Rev. William W. Pixley, served for more
than a half century in ministry in town and country churches throughout
Michigan. Always actively involved in the pastoral ministry of her husband,
she worked with youth and, especially, women.

At retirement the Pixleys settled in Kalamazoo, where they remained involved
in a wide range of ministries and programs at First Baptist. Today she
continues as an active participant in Sunday school, worship, American
Baptist Women’s Ministries, leadership roles in local and regional
events, correspondence, and an ongoing prayer vigil for pastors,
missionaries, denominational leaders and others.

At the presentation of the award, the following words of admiration from her
pastor, the Rev. Pieter Kiwiet-Pantaleoni, were shared:

“The fruit and gifts of the Spirit are ‘love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control.’ I always thought that it would be impossible to be
able to find all of these characteristics in one person. Then I met Martha
Pixley.

“Throughout my ministry Martha has graciously and generously blessed
with words of encouragement, constant prayer and regular letters of support.
In biblical discussions in Sunday school Martha has been a wonderful source
of wisdom and perspective. In service to one’s neighbor Martha has
been the first to offer whatever she has been able to offer.

“In the Great Commission to evangelize the world Martha has been a
stalwart, never stopping in her efforts to proclaim the good news of Jesus
Christ, always reminding the church of its greater task to share the Gospel
story, constantly keeping missionaries in the forefront of our minds and our
prayers. In the daily living of life Martha eagerly shares the joy of being
one of God’s children and calls on each of us to know that same joy.

“Martha Pixley is living proof that the Gospel of Jesus Christ knows
no bounds and each of us who claim Christ as our Lord and Savior are called
to rejoice and serve in love and fellowship.”

AMERICAN BAPTIST BIENNIAL MEETING LIFTS UP 100 YEARS OF HISPANIC MINISTRIES

PROVIDENCE, RI (ABNS)—Delegates and visitors to the Biennial Meeting
of American Baptist Churches USA here this morning marked a century of
Hispanic ministry within their denomination.

Visión 2001 and 100 years of ministry in the United States were emphasized
at the morning gathering. A video highlighting that ministry,
“Celebrando Nueva Vida/Celebrating New Life,” was premiered.

The Rev. Eddie Cruz, director of Hispanic Ministries for National
Ministries/The American Baptist Home Mission Societies, noted that the
American Baptist Churches USA now includes 380 Hispanic congregations.

“We are thankful for being part of this diverse yet inclusive family
known as ABCUSA,” he said.

American Baptist home missionaries initiated ministry among Spanish-speaking
people in Puerto Rico in 1899. Today Hispanic American Baptists represent a
broad spectrum of nationalities and cultures and share a strong commitment
to mission. In the 1980s church planting was identified as a key priority.
As a result, during the denomination’s “500 More by "94”
decade, 32 percent of new church starts were
Spanish-speaking congregations.

In 1991 Visión 2001 was launched, and took the Hispanic American Baptist
commitment to church planting to a new level, setting a goal of 100 new
churches and 30,000 new believers. Focusing on spirituality, evangelism,
Christian education, stewardship and social action, Visión 2001 helped lay
the groundwork for NEW LIFE 2010/NUEVA VIDA 2010—the
denomination’s current emphasis to plant 1,010 new churches, reach
1,000,010 new Christians, reach out in a multitude of caring ministries, and
so transform our congregations by the year 2010.

The U. S. Census Bureau has documented that the Hispanic population in the
United States grew by almost 60 percent from 1990 to 2000. That growth is
paralleled by Hispanic representation in American Baptist Churches USA,
which now includes more than 45,000 believers in the United States and
Puerto Rico.