wfn.org | ABCUSA: Hoffmeister is Interim Executive for ABC of Rocky Mountains

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

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 7/16/04)--The Rev. Desmond
Hoffmeister, a native South African who led religious and social
reconciliation efforts in his home country and who has served in the U.S. in
educational and mission work related to American Baptist Churches USA, has
begun as interim executive minister of American Baptist Churches of the Rocky
Mountains.

Hoffmeister most recently has directed the Global Prophetic Network, an
interfaith ministry designed to encourage the growth of future prophetic
leaders.  That organization was founded at the American Baptist Seminary of
the West, where Hoffmeister served as scholar-in-residence after moving to
the U.S. in 1999.  Hoffmeister also was a New Life missionary with National
Ministries (The American Baptist Home Mission Societies). In that role he met
with American Baptist clergy and laity about the role of the church in
bringing healing in the context of diversity, multiculturalism and
alienation.

In South Africa Hoffmeister served from 1994 to 1999 as general secretary of
the Baptist Convention of South Africa.  Under his leadership the convention
developed strong partnerships with American Baptist International Ministries
and other Baptist bodies worldwide.  During that time he was a leading
architect of reconciliation efforts between various ethnic and religious
groups in South Africa. 

In 1997 Hoffmeister addressed the International Ministries luncheon at the
Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches USA in Des Moines. 

The ABC of the Rocky Mountains, one of 35 regions within American Baptist
Churches USA, includes approximately 99 churches and 26,000 members.  The
region covers Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and eastern Utah.

K/2004ABNS/04ABN86

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