wfn.org | ABCUSA: BIENNIAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE BEGINS PLANNING

[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

BIENNIAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE BEGINS 
PLANNING FOR 2003 RICHMOND GATHERING 
 The Biennial Program Committee, charged with 
planning the Biennial Meeting of American Baptist 
Churches USA scheduled for June 2003 in Richmond, Va., 
met Jan. 25-27 in that city to begin its work.
 The committee affirmed a theme of "Centered in 
Christ," with Colossians 1:15-20 serving as the 
foundational Scripture.  The theme and Scripture lift up 
the vision statement of the new general secretary of 
American Baptist Churches USA, the Rev. A. Roy Medley. 
 The committee also determined subthemes for 
each day: "An Inviting People" (Friday), "A Witnessing 
People" (Saturday), "A Growing People" (Sunday) and "A 
Worshipping People" (Monday) and  identified worship 
leaders who will be invited to participate. 
   Multiple daily Bible studies will be scheduled, as 
will afternoon seminars, mission experiences, tours and 
discussion and action on Statements of Concern. 
Hosting the Biennial Meeting will be the American 
Baptist Churches of the South, one of 34 regions within 
American Baptist Churches USA, which includes 
approximately 275 churches and 107,000 resident 
members throughout 13 states.  The 2003 Biennial 
Meeting will be the first such American Baptist gathering in 
the South.
 The June 27-30 Richmond event will be the 
second consecutive national Biennial Meeting to be held 
over a weekend (Friday through Monday), and is focused 
on encouraging a wide generational representation at the 
event, including significant participation by youth and 
young adults.
 The committee will continue its planning of 
program elements at its meetings in June (Green Lake, 
Wis.) and November (Philadelphia area).
 The committee is being chaired by James Foster 
of Ft. Washington, Md.  Other members include: Dr. Loris 
Coletta, Aptos, Calif.; Jessica Echard, Marietta, Ohio; the 
Rev. Priscilla Eppinger, Evanston, Ill.; Anatalys Gonzalez-
Ortiz, Yauco, P.R.; the Rev. Paul Hayes, Suffield, Conn.; 
Manuel Hernandez, Portage, Ind.; the Rev. Randolph 
Palada, Gilbertsville, N.Y.; the Rev. Hank Pedersen, 
Warwick, R.I.; Dr. Mary Robinson, Cedar Falls, Ia.; the 
Rev. Kevin Rose, Indianapolis, Ind.; and Ella Washington, 
Brown Deer, Wis.
 Ex-officio members include Dr. Walter L. Parrish 
II, ABC of the South executive minister, Baltimore, Md.; 
David Hunt, American Baptist Churches USA president, 
Milwaukie, Oreg.; Yosh Nakagawa, American Baptist 
Churches USA vice president, Mercer Island, Wash.; the 
Rev. A. Roy Medley, American Baptist Churches USA 
general secretary, Valley Forge, Pa.; and Barbara A. 
Williams, esq., American Baptist Churches USA associate 
general secretary and legal counsel, Valley Forge, Pa.  
 Instrumental in the planning are the Rev. Barry T. 
Young, pastor of Mosby Memorial Baptist Church in 
Richmond and faculty member at the Samuel DeWitt 
Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, 
and Dr. Delores Pretlow, associate superintendent of the 
Richmond City School District, who are serving as co-
chairpersons of the Local Arrangements Committee.
 Also assisting the committee in its work are David 
L. Greenfield, production director, Bloomington, Ill., and a 
Staff Advisory Group chaired by Biennial Meeting 
Coordinator Linda Bonn.

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