wfn.org | ABCUSA: Chhangte Named Director of Ecumenical Formation

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

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 1/3/03)--The Rev.
Rothangliani R. Chhangte, ecumenical coordinator for American Baptist
Churches USA since October 2000, has been named director of Ecumenical
Formation for the denomination.

Chhangte has provided leadership for Office of Cooperative Christianity in
promoting the ecumenical relationships and ministries of American Baptist
Churches USA.  She has represented American Baptists Churches USA in
committees and gatherings of the National Council of Churches of Christ, the
World Council of Churches, the Baptist World Alliance and other bodies and
has staffed the denomination's Committee on Christian Unity.

Chhangte recently attended the four-month Graduate School of Ecumenical
Studies of the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, a World Council
of Churches endeavor focusing on study, research and community life.

In addition to continuing her current responsibilities, Chhangte will use
the newly-created position to develop an expanded "ethos, enthusiasm and a
programmatic focus" to encourage ecumenical involvement at the regional and
local church levels of American Baptist life.  She will work closely with
regional executive ministers to help develop particular ecumenical emphases.
 
Chhangte previously served in Philadelphia as pastor of Woodland Baptist
Church, a multicultural congregation comprised of Vietnamese, Cambodians,
Laotians, African Americans and Liberians, and as executive director of the
Asian American Youth Association, a ministry to children, at-risk youth and
their families.

She also was administrator/coordinator of the Oxford Conference on Christian
Faith and Economics and held several assistant or interim pastorates in the
Philadelphia area.
	
Chhangte served in the Philadelphia Baptist Association as secretary and
board member and as vice president of the region's Ministers Council.  In
addition she was a senator-at-large in the national American Baptist
Churches USA Ministers Council from 1995-1999.	

She holds a B.A. degree from Bethel College, St. Paul, Minn.; the M.B.A.
degree in economic development from Eastern College, St. Davids, Pa.; and
the M.Div. degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa.

In announcing the appointment, the Rev. Dr. Cheryl H. Wade, American Baptist
Churches USA associate general secretary and treasurer, said, "Cooperative
Christianity happens perhaps most significantly in the arena of local
churches. This appointment of a highly qualified person to shepherd such
efforts and involve more local churches through regional ministry will be a
powerful witness to our American Baptist conviction that the local church is
the fundamental unit of mission."

03ABN1

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