wfn.org | ABCUSA: Biennial Program Committee Concludes Planning

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

American Baptist News Service (11/13/02)--The Biennial Program Committee,
charged with planning the 2003 Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches
USA next June 27-30 in Richmond, Va., concluded its work today in Valley
Forge, Pa., in the last of three planning meetings for the denomination-wide
event.

The Biennial Meeting will focus on a theme of "Centered in Christ" (based on
Colossians 1:15-20),  lifting up the vision statement of American Baptist
Churches USA General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley.  Subthemes for
each day will be: "An Inviting People" (Friday), "A Witnessing People"
(Saturday), "A Growing People" (Sunday) and "A Worshipping People" (Monday).
	
Major worship and plenary elements include a service of installation for
General Secretary Medley, which will open the meeting on Friday, June 27.
Preaching that night will be the Rev. Dr. Joan Parrott, vice president of
the Children's Defense Fund and former American Baptist Churches USA deputy
general secretary for Cooperative Christianity.  The Shokei Girls' Choir
from Japan will be among the participants. 

Former National Football League player Steve Fitzhugh, founder/director of
the youth-oriented motivational organization PowerMoves, will address
participants Saturday, June 28.  A Sunday morning worship and communion
service will be led by Medley and evening worship will feature the Rev. Dr.
James Carrington, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda,
Calif., and a choir from that church.  Closing worship on Monday, June 30,
will feature the Rev. Yamina Apollinaris, former executive minister of the
American Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico, and well-known Christian musician
Ken Medema.  A special Festival of New Life will be held prior to the Monday
worship gathering.

Thirty-six Bible sessions over three days will be led by American Baptist
pastors, educators and other leaders.  Multiple on-site and off-site
afternoon mission experiences also are scheduled.  Other components of the
gatherings include the election of denominational officers and members of
the Statements of Concern Committee for the 2003-2004 biennium and
discussion and action on Statements of Concern (including "The Global Impact
of AIDS," "Celebrating Clergy/Congregational Covenants," Christ-Centered
Parenting/Mentoring," and "How Shall American Baptists Respond to Global
Terrorism?")

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.  Once again, regional youth representatives
will be participating in all parts of the gathering. 

Registration fees have been set: (until April 15, 2003; includes Festival of
New Life) fulltime delegates/visitors--$95; first-time delegates/visitors
and host region visitors--$60; (after April 15, 2003, includes Festival of
New Life) delegates/visitors--$115.  Other tickets will be available:
one-day visitors--$40; two-day visitors--$80; evening worship gatherings--$5
each.

The committee is chaired by James Foster of Ft. Washington, Md.  Other
members include: Dr. Loris Coletta, Aptos, Calif.; Jessica Echard, Marietta,
Ohio; the Rev. Priscilla Eppinger, Lamoni, Ia.; 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, Waterloo, 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.; and the Rev. A. Roy Medley, American
Baptist Churches USA general secretary, 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.; Karen Shipp, music consultant, Decatur, Ga.;
and a Staff Advisory Group chaired by Biennial Meeting Coordinator Richard
Schramm.	      

02ABN158  

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