wfn.org | ABCUSA Educational Ministries Presents Strategic Plan

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (6/22/02)--American Baptist Educational
Ministries today presented its new strategic ministries plan, "Discipleship
Matters," during the semiannual meeting of the American Baptist Churches USA
General Board here.

The plan is the result of a process, begun a year ago with an evaluation of
issues and needs within Educational Ministries, that has included input from
the EM board, denominational staff and officers, and consultants.  It was
approved today by the Board of Educational Ministries before being presented
to the General Board by Acting EM Executive Director Daniel J. Rawleigh and
BEM President H. Jay Flu-Allen.

The plan is founded on the newly-developed mission statement, "Support,
learn from, equip and challenge the diverse congregations of the ABC to be
disciple-making communities of Jesus Christ fully engaging their ministry
contexts," and the new vision statement, "Every ABC congregation a
disciple-making community." 

Nine goals for the plan have been developed:

"By 2007, the overwhelming majority of congregations and every region in the
ABC are reflecting...an emphasis on discipleship and developing
disciple-making churches;

"By 2007, a full range of resources for discipleship and disciple-making are
made available through both on-line and catalog ordering;

"By 2007, EM is utilizing a...virtual communications system that regularly
interacts with all region and area ministries and is available to all ABC
congregations...;

"By 2007, every region through its staff is part of a seamless delivery
system...through strategically deployed EM personnel...;

"In 2003-2004, the operation of all support services of the 'new' EM...are
fully centralized and integrated with the virtual communications system;

"By 2007, EM is partnering with all ABC seminaries to
enhance...discipleship...and is helping ABC colleges and universities
contribute to...these themes;

"By 2003-2004, the organizational structure of EM is designed to support the
implementation of the strategic ministries plan;

"By 2003, EM has developed a balanced budget consistent with anticipated
income with a view towards increasing capacity as it increases revenue; and

"By 2003, Judson Press Books will be relocated. (JPB has a broader mission,
and both EM and JPB can more effectively fulfill their missions
independently.)"

Next steps in the implementation process include a search for a new
executive director (June-November 2002), the preparation of new job
descriptions (September and October 2002), the election of a new executive
director (in November 2002 to begin in January 2003), and the completion of
new staffing (by March 2003).

02ABN95

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org