ORLANDO, FL (ABNS 11/17/06)―The General Board of American Baptist Churches USA, meeting here this week, heard presentations on an ongoing process of "adaptive change" to better position the denomination for the future.
General Secretary A. Roy Medley told board members that the process is basically an effort to determine "what it means to be a denomination in these days."
He noted that the General Executive Committee identified last April four areas of special concern―leadership, structure, the representative process, and relevance.
In September, after initial feedback from the General Board, the GEC agreed upon a number of priorities, leading with "protecting and securing the local church as the fundamental unit of mission." Other major points of consideration included: respect for diversity and inclusiveness; improving ABCUSA's financial position in various ways; enabling better oversight of ministry and mission outcomes; committing to clear accountability in all circumstances; determining how best to provide central office funtions; and resolving or at least moving the denomination forward on the issue of homosexuality.
Board members reviewed the criteria this week and gave additional feedback to a writing team charged with drafting a final proposal for changes that would be needed in the denomination's by-laws. This feedback took the form of roundtable discussions that invited board members to discuss "what do you believe is an optimal size for a general board," "what do you affirm regarding what you have heard," and "what concerns you [regarding what you have heard]."
The revised proposal will return to the General Board in coming months for its final recommendations. Any necessary by-laws changes are expected to come to a final vote at the Biennial meeting in the summer of 2009.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/