wfn.org | ABCUSA: General Board Update: 6/26/03 #1

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

GENERAL BOARD OF AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA VOTES 
TO CONTINUE EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES' HISTORIC COMMITMENT 
TO DISCIPLESHIP AND PUBLISHING THROUGH NATIONAL MINISTRIES

American Baptist News Service (Richmond, Va. 6/26/03)--The American Baptist
Churches USA General Board voted today to assign discipleship and publishing
programs currently within Educational Ministries to National Ministries.

The General Board vote followed the annual meeting of the American Baptist
Board of Education and Publication (ABBEP), at which time its members voted
to wind up its affairs as recommended by the General Board's ABC
Discipleship Task Force. The ABBEP vote also affirmed the task force's
recommendation that Educational Ministries' discipleship and publishing
ministries, including Judson Press, be assigned to National Ministries along
with the assets required to accomplish these ministries.

The decision to wind up Educational Ministries' affairs followed votes by
the Board of Educational Ministries and the Board of National Ministries in
respective meetings here June 24-25.		

Also affirmed by the General Board was the task force recommendation that
"administratively related organizations that relate to Educational
Ministries be temporarily assigned to the Office of the General Secretary
and that current membership on the General Board and staff councils remain
as is until permanent lodgment is determined."	The task force proposal
calls on the General Board to "assess the nature of administrative
relationships of the administratively related organizations to the
denomination."

Responding to a recommendation from the Board of Educational Ministries, the
General Board voted last November "...to instruct the ABC President in
consultation with the General Secretary to appoint a task force to recommend
to the General Board specific steps by June 2003 to secure the
denomination's education mandate and its commitment to making disciples.
This shall include, but not be limited to, the allocation of United Mission
funds for this purpose.  The future of Judson Press Books shall be part of
this process."

President David Hunt, in consultation with General Secretary the Rev. Dr.
Roy Medley, appointed the ABC Discipleship Task Force chaired by Dr. Robert
Shaw, of Overland Park, Kans.  The Task Force met in February, March and
April.	It received input from Educational Ministries staff, National
Ministries staff, the Regional Executive Ministers Council, pastors, the ABC
Treasurers Council, Judson Press staff, the Strategic Mission Plan
Committee, various consultants and others.  This input, according to Chair
Robert Shaw, assured that the task force's work has been "undergirded by
extensive studies, reports and dialogs across the ABCUSA structure and
family that have informed our deliberations and decisions."

In discussing the work of the ABC Discipleship Task Force, Chairperson Shaw
commended the "astuteness, commitment and dedication of its members" and
emphasized that "the entire process was saturated in prayer" in order to
achieve "God-directed outcomes."  In its work, the task force considered
discipleship as "the heart of how American Baptist Churches USA should equip
our churches and members."  

Arthur Munson, interim executive director of Educational Ministries,
commended the task force "for its quick and thorough work." He noted: "Its
recommendations provided an excellent framework for the actions that were
taken by the boards this week. These actions will ensure the continuation of
the programs and services that Educational Ministries has provided for
American Baptist churches across our denomination."

Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III, executive director of National
Ministries, recognized the hard work of staff and the commitment of the
National Ministries Board to expanded ministries of education, discipleship
and publishing in the denomination.  "We are excited about giving these
ministries a new home," Wright-Riggins said.  "God always knows the plans
God has for us-to give us a future and a hope."

General Secretary Medley, in remarks Monday to the General Board, praised
"the tremendous spirit of cooperation which has permeated this whole
effort."  From the beginning of its work, the task force has "sought to
bring together all the critical parties in order to seek God's will and
wisdom," receiving direct input from "staff from the boards, the treasurers
and consultants, all discussing our potential course of action."  "It was a
model of integrated cooperative thinking and planning," Medley said.