wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST GENERAL BOARD ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON SUDAN

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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

GENERAL BOARD UPDATE: June 21, 2001

AMERICAN BAPTIST GENERAL BOARD ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON SUDAN

PROVIDENCE, RI—The American Baptist Churches USA General Board,
meeting here today in semiannual session, voted to affirm (104 yes, 0 no, 1
abstention) a “Resolution on Sudan” that urges American Baptists
to pray for the people of that war-torn country and actively support
peace-making and emergency relief there.

The resolution, in part, reads:

“A variety of motives fuel the present situation. The Sudanese
government in the north seeks political hegemony over a unified Sudan, while
most southern Sudanese want self-determination either in the form of
autonomy or independence from the north....

“Widespread human rights abuses and humanitarian law violations have
characterized the war.... The principal victims of these human rights
violations are members of the racial and religious minorities. The whole
range of human rights that are universally recognized have been violated.

"There have been summary executions, arbitrary arrests, detentions without
trial, systematic torture, slavery and slave trade, violation of the rights
of children and of women, religious persecution and forced conversions to
Islam....

“In the face of unimaginable suffering and limited resources, Sudanese
Christians are struggling to reach out with physical and spiritual hope to
their beleaguered country. American Baptists, through our partnering with
the Church World Service and Witness unit of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ, have contributed One Great Hour of Sharing funds for
Sudan relief.

“Given the magnitude of this ongoing tragedy, we urge American
Baptists to:
1. Keep the people of Sudan in our prayers;
2. Educate ourselves on the tragic situation in the Sudan;
3. Donate funds directly to groups working on meeting the needs of the
people of Sudan for peace and reconciliation; and
4. Engage our political leaders in using their influence to do everything in
their power to hasten the peace process in the Sudan.

“In the light of the relative silence and lack of will within the
world community to resolve this humanitarian disaster, we call on:
1. Congregations to raise awareness of this issue and work with other
religious groups, both ecumenical and interfaith, to address the needs
created by this situation;
2. The Board of International Ministries to investigate and create
ways--American Baptist, ecumenical, and/or interfaith--by which American
Baptists can be more involved in ministry and mission to the people of
Sudan;
3. The Government of the United States to…
a. Impose an immediate arms embargo on the sale and supply of arms and
ammunitions, as well as military material and services, against all sides in
light of the human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict;
b. Promote and strengthen grassroots efforts at peace and reconciliation;
and
c. Insist on continued access of UN human rights monitors to all areas of
Sudan.”

GENERAL BOARD AFFIRMS DECLARATIONS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RACIAL JUSTICE,
CRISIS IN VIEQUES

PROVIDENCE, RI—The American Baptist Churches USA General Board,
meeting here in semiannual session, affirmed a “Declaration on an
Issue of Importance: Law Enforcement and Racial Justice” and a
“Declaration on an Issue of Importance: The Crisis in Vieques, Puerto
Rico.”

The declaration on law enforcement and racial justice, passed with a vote of
119 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention, notes “a crisis of confidence in our
country in the relationship of law enforcement and people of color.”

It states in part:
“We call the law enforcement community of our country to a thorough
self-examination…all aspects of our law enforcement agencies which
perpetuate racism need to be named and repudiated….

“We call upon the law enforcement agencies and our communities to
engage one another in a frank dialog whose goal is to assure…equal
protection under the law….

“We especially call upon our Baptist sisters and brothers in both the
law enforcement community and the community at large to apply the principles
of their faith in seeking to heal this open wound….”

The Vieques declaration, passed with a vote of 104 yes, 0 no, 7 abstentions,
noted the 60-year history of military maneuvers and live-fire
testing by the U.S. Navy on the Puerto Rican island. “The destruction
of human life and damage to the island’s ecosystem resulting from the
Navy’s presence is now a matter of record,” it states.

“As a people of faith we cannot ignore the impact the U.S.
military’s training has had on the lives of the people in the
region.”

The board, in its statement, calls on American Baptists to pray for “a
peaceful and just resolution to the crisis in Vieques; for the
safety of the residents…and for those who are demonstrating their
faith and resolve in protest of the military presence; for civilian and
military leaders in the United States and Puerto Rico who will shape the
future of Vieques by their by decisions, that they may be guided by
God’s wisdom and justice and mercy.”

Other News
DEAN WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS OF THE MINISTERS AND MISSIONARIES
BENEFIT BOARD, DIES

VALLEY FORGE, PA--Dr. Dean R. Wright, executive director emeritus of The
Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB), died June 20, 2001. The
cause of death was cancer. He was 79.
Wright retired in 1990 after having served on the MMBB staff for 36 years;
he was elected executive director in 1961. A graduate of Linfield College
and Yale Divinity School, Wright participated in the Advanced Management
Program of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business
Administration. He was the recipient of two honorary doctorates: an LL.D
degree from Linfield College in 1961 and a D.D. degree from
Alderson-Broaddus College in 1990. He was a member of the Judson Memorial
Church in New York City.

In addition to his wife, Margaret Walker Wright, he is survived by two
daughters, Cynthia Wright and Katherine Zhender; a son, Dean Wright Jr.; and
five grandchildren. Notes of condolence may be sent to his family at 570
Park St., Upper Montclair, NJ 07043.

A memorial service, to be held at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington
Square South, New York City, has yet to be scheduled. The Dean R. Wright
Memorial Fund has been established by MMBB, 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 1700,
New York, NY 10115-0049