wfn.org | ABCUSA Board Adopts 2010 Budget, Recognizes Retiring Representatives

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ABCUSA Board Adopts 2010 Budget, Recognizes Retiring Representatives

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/21/09)?During the General Board plenary
session on Saturday, November 21, the ABCUSA General Board voted to
adopt the 2010 budget presented by budget review officer James
Ratliff. The budgets for the Office of the General Secretary, the
Representative Process, and Mission Resource Development are included
in the adoption process.

The third plenary session began with receiving an offering to benefit
Interim Ministries and its ministry with churches.  Interim Ministries
partners with state and regional staff to provide intentional interim
leadership for churches, enabling the congregation to use the
in-between time to become more vital and healthy. The collection
totaled $1232. Last year, the offering was received for the Mill Creek
Baptist Church of Philadelphia.

The report of Mission Resource Development (MRD) was given by Leo
Thorne, associate general secretary for Mission Resource Development.
Thorne commented on American Baptist Mission Support and United
Mission giving, outlining the breakdown between national boards and
other ministry areas.

The final plenary session of the General Board meeting ended with a
celebration of service, leadership and talents.  ABCUSA President Mary
Armacost Hulst was recognized by general secretary A. Roy Medley.

?Through your powerful preaching and your reminder to us that ?Christ
has no body but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours,? we will
continue to move ahead seeking to live out the true vision of our
ministry as God?s people in turbulent times,? Medley said.

Medley also recognized outgoing Vice President and incoming President
Frank Christine, Jr., budget review officer James R. Ratliff, and past
President Arlee Griffin, Jr.

The retiring representatives of the General Board were recognized for
their hard work and devotion to Christ and American Baptist Churches.
The names of the retiring representatives (and years served) are as follows:

> Tina Breitenbach ? 6 years
> Edwenia Brown ? 6 years
> Jerry Cain ? NM ? 6 years
> Herbert Edmondson III ? 6 years
> Alice Greene ? 4 years
> Charles Gregory ? 6 years
> Arlee Griffin, Jr. ? 6 years
> Carolyn Hayes ? 6 years
> Annette Kakimoto ? 6 years
> Thomas Lacy ? 6 years
> Annie Marie LeBarbour ? 6 years
> Betty Long ? 6 years
> Archie Mason ? 4 years
> Coleman McLean ? 6 years
> Howard McLendon ? 6 years
> Hank Pedersen ? 6 years
> Johnell Powell ? 6 years
> Fred Robbins ? 6 years
> Steven Schmidt ? 6 years
> Douglas Stowers ? 6 years
> Lewis Wright  ? 4 years
> Dagoberto Zelaya ? 4 years

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian
denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3
million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged
in God?s mission around the world.