ORLANDO, FL (ABNS 11/21/06)―The General Board of American Baptist Churches USA ended a two-day meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15, after approving a plan to put the denomination's historic Mission Center in Valley Forge, PA, on the market and voting to install Dr. Reid S. Trulson as executive director of the Board of International Ministries.
Board members also heard a progress report and gave their feedback on "Adaptive Change," a process designed to better position the denomination for the future. This was another step in plans to bring about, by 2009, changes in practices, policies, and by-laws that will improve the functioning of ABCUSA.
The vote to market the Valley Forge Mission Center was nearly unanimous, with 72 "yes" votes and one abstention. It came after an explanation of a lengthy study process that recommended marketing the structure, built in 1962. Board members were told that 'outside" tenants now occupy half or more of the center, and that only about a 2 percent return on investment is being realized.
"We are not in the rental business, but the business of mission," General Secretary A. Roy Medley told the board.
Sale of the Mission Center property would bring in much needed liquid assets which would go into an endowment fund. An offer to buy would still have to be approved by the board, and any sale agreement would have to give ABCUSA and tenants three to five years to find other accommodations.
Medley reported to the board on his October trip to Lebanon as one of eight National Council of Churches delegates who met with political and religious leaders there. He urged renewed efforts to address the Palestinian issue, with sensitivity to Arab viewpoints.
In accepting his selection as Executive Director of International Missions, Reid Trulson (who succeeds Acting Executive Director Charles Jones) called for more attention to the world's growing problem of slavery, to extending AIDS ministries, and to sharing the Gospel "with those who have least heard it." Trulson will take office Dec. 1.
The board received an update on plans for next summer's Biennial/Centennial in Washington, D.C., where the denomination was founded in 1907. Centennial Chair Robert Roberts urged churches and individuals to become "Centennial Champions" by contributing $1,000 or more to defray expenses of the celebration. More than $12,000 has already been given toward a goal of $100,000.
At their Wednesday worship service, board members completed an effort begun in June to raise $5,000 for the Adopt-a-Bed program of Baptist Children's Services in Philadelphia. The goal had been short by about $1,500 and this week's collection brought in an additional $2,222. The money will go to provide a year of accommodations for a child at the BCS center.
In other action, board members:
*Heard Trinette V. McCray, president of the American Baptist Historical Society, report that the society has accepted an offer from Mercer University in Atlanta to move ABHS operations and archives there from their present homes in Valley Forge, PA and Rochester, NY.
*Were told that Lloyd D. Hamblin, Jr., has accepted an invitation to become acting treasurer and associate general secretary of finance for ABCUSA for at least three years, positions that will be vacated as of Dec. 31 by Cheryl Wade. James Ratliff has been named as budget review officer, a post Hamblin now holds. Wendy Rothenberger, director of Human Resources Development (HRD), is adding duties and becomes director of operations and HRD.
*Passed resolutions supporting by-law changes that would allow chaplains and pastoral counselors a representative to be a voting board member, reduce the size of the board somewhat by 2009, and make changes in how delegates to biennial meetings from Flexible Stewardship are selected.
*Adopted a 2007 ABCUSA operating budget with a "planned deficit" of about $600,000, to be taken from reserves.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/
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