wfn.org | ABCUSA: APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

[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

HOLMSTROM NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 
AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMEN'S MINISTRIES
 Virginia R. Holmstrom, director of communications 
and associate executive director for board relations for 
American Baptist Educational Ministries, has been named 
executive director of American Baptist Women's Ministries, 
effective Aug. 20.
 Holmstrom's appointment was announced today 
by ABW Ministries President Karen Selig following her 
affirmation by the ABW Ministries Executive Committee.  
Marty Murray, a former International Ministries missionary 
in Japan long active in women's ministries, has been 
serving as interim executive director since the Rev. Carol 
Sutton resigned earlier this year to became movement 
director for the denominational emphasis NEW LIFE 2010.
 The mission of American Baptist Women's 
Ministries is to provide vision, training, and resources for 
women's ministries in American Baptist Churches USA.  
The organization provides opportunities for women and 
girls to "become and develop as God's person, build God's 
faith community, and serve God's world."  The ABW 
Ministries national board is currently engaged in a 
strategic planning process to set vision and strategies to 
better equip local churches in their women's ministries. 
 Holmstrom has served as director of 
communications since 1990 and became assistant (later 
associate) executive director for board relations in 1993.  
Among her many responsibilities are the development and 
production of Educational Ministries brochures, 
newsletters, displays, presentations, America for Christ 
offering resources, the Educational Ministries Web site and 
other communication vehicles.  
 She also is an associate national secretary for 
Educational Ministries in the General Executive Council.
In addition she assists the executive director with 
board development and fund raising, and has supervised 
staff and team ministry, led Christian education and 
mission workshops and retreats, and written articles for a 
number of denominational publications.
 She has served as a consultant from Educational 
Ministries on the ABW Ministries board.  Prior to her work 
for Educational Ministries she was national vice president 
for missions for American Baptist Women's Ministries and 
vice president of the ABC of the Northwest.
 A graduate of Seattle Pacific University (B.A., 
Christian Education), she expects to complete a Master of 
Theological Studies degree this year at Eastern Baptist 
Theological Seminary.
 Holmstrom is a member of Saints Memorial Baptist 
Church in Bryn Mawr, Pa.  She and her husband, the Rev. 
Eric Holmstrom, are the parents of two daughters, Heidi 
and Bridget.
 In announcing the appointment ABW Ministries 
President Karen Selig noted that in the search process 
"God has answered our prayers with abundance," 
describing Holmstrom as "a strong woman of deep 
personal faith [who] understands and shares our emerging 
vision for the future of this ministry."
 Educational Ministries Executive Director Dr. Jean 
B. Kim noted that "Virginia's work for Educational 
Ministries has been a blessing for us, and I know she will 
provide inspired leadership for American Baptist Women's 
Ministries.  We wish her the very best, and pray for the 
ongoing vital work among our denomination's women that 
she will direct." 

ALEXANDER NAMED DIRECTOR OF SOCIALLY 
RESPONSIBLE INVESTING 
AND ECOLOGY FOR NATIONAL MINISTRIES
 Aundreia R. Alexander Esq., consultant for staff 
development at Elizabethport Presbyterian Center, 
Elizabeth, N.J., has been called as director of Socially 
Responsible Investing and Ecology for National Ministries, 
American Baptist Churches USA.  She will begin in the 
position Aug. 15.
 As director of this home mission program 
Alexander will be responsible for the filing of shareholder 
advocacy resolutions to companies whose shares are held 
by National Ministries, The Ministers and Missionaries 
Benefit Board (MMBB) and International Ministries.  She 
will participate in the work of the Interfaith Center on 
Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and monitor and log proxy 
voting activity.  She also will coordinate the work of the 
Eco-Justice Task Force Steering Committee in planning 
and implementing strategies in the area of environmental 
justice.
 Alexander's experience incorporates a background 
in law, ministry and corporate business practices. 
Previously she served as an independent contractor for the 
National Council of Churches of Christ, working on cross-
denominational and interfaith child advocacy programs 
and a community health project sponsored by the Robert 
Wood Johnson Foundation.  She practiced law as an 
assistant attorney general in Jefferson City, Mo., from 
1992 to 1997, specializing in governmental affairs and 
workers' compensation. Her background includes work as 
an auditor and tax specialist.  She also served with 
Sakhisizwe Christian Ministries, Port Elisabeth, South 
Africa, and at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, 
Somerset, N.J.
 Alexander holds degrees from the University of 
Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Columbia School 
of Law and Princeton Theological Seminary.
 Commenting on her appointment the Rev. Hector 
Cortez, National Ministries' associate executive director for 
Biblical Justice, said: "Calling Aundreia Alexander 
represents not only a continued commitment to socially 
responsible investing but also ushers in broader outreach 
efforts for advocacy partnerships on a range of issues that 
concern us as American Baptists.  We look forward to her 
work and ministry with us."

WFN0711A.TXT 

 

 

 -0-