wfn.org | ABCUSA: Patton Named Executive Minister for Evergreen Association

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

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 4/27/04)--The Rev. Dr.
Marcia J. Patton, who has served as transitional minister for the Evergreen
Association of American Baptist Churches, has been named that region's first
executive minister.  

Responding to a recommendation of the region search committee, the Evergreen
Association of American Baptist Churches called Patton to the position at a
meeting held April 17.	

As transitional minister Patton provided leadership for the process in which
Evergreen became the 35th region of American Baptist Churches USA.    

Patton previously served as associate executive minister of American Baptist
Churches of the Northwest.  She also had been an adjunct teacher at Eastern
Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and had served local churches in
Pennsylvania, Utah and New Jersey in Christian education and youth
ministries. 

She holds a B.A. degree in business education from Michigan State University,
an M.A in religion degree and an M.Div. degree from Eastern Baptist
Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in psychoeducational processes from Temple
University's School of Education.

Patton was ordained at the First Baptist Church, Salt Lake City, in 1976.

She was named associate executive minister of the American Baptist Churches
of the Northwest in 1989, initially serving as Far West area minister and
minister of Christian education.  In 1997 she was reassigned as area minister
for all of western Washington, adding the North Puget Sound Area to Far West
areas. 

She resigned in July 2002 and became transitional minister for Evergreen
Association in January 2003.  In that role she has led Evergreen through the
adoption of by-laws and the processes for fulfilling the requirements to
become an American Baptist region.

"Marcia brings incredible gifts and skills honed through years of service as
an area minister and associate executive minister in the Northwest," noted
American Baptist Churches USA General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley. 
"She will provide excellent leadership not only within Evergreen but within
ABC as a whole.  We welcome Marcia's election and pray that God will bless
her ministry and grant her deep joy in her service as executive minister."

The Rev. Dr. C. Jeff Woods, associate general secretary for Regional
Ministries, said: "Marcia's presence on the General Executive Council as
transitional minister has been a wonderful gift.  We look forward to her
continued insights and enthusiasm in this group as well as the leadership
that she will bring to the Evergreen Association.  I know that the search
committee worked diligently to discern God's person; I am delighted to see
how God has spoken."  

K/2004ABNS/04ABN54 

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org