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AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE
Office of Communication
American Baptist Churches USA
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director
  E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

GENERAL BOARD/BIENNIAL MEETING UPDATE: June 25, 1999

NEWS FROM THE GENERAL BOARD/PROGRAM BOARDS
Des Moines, Ia. / June 18-21, 1999

OTHER EVENTS
  Delegates to the Biennial Meeting determined the
number of representatives that will serve on the
denomination's General Board, its top policy-making body,
for 2000-2001. The delegates affirmed the Board's
recommendation of 114 regionally nominated representatives
for 2000 and 111 for 2001, and 38 nationally nominated
representatives for both 2000 and 2001.  Those figures will
produce a total General Board of 164 in 2000 and 161 in
2001.  (The process of reducing the number of General Board
members through attrition from 210 to 160 was affirmed by
delegates to the 1995 Biennial Meeting.  Based on extensive
studies, input from former Board members and studies of
other denominations with policy-making bodies smaller than
the General Board, it is expected to improve the effective
functioning of the Board.  The reduction will be completed
in 2002.)
  Music, always a major component of American Baptist
gatherings, was provided by numerous groups and individual
performers, including the Iglesia Bautista de Caguas choir
from Puerto Rico, a Biennial Ensemble of singers, the
Nagaland Singers and an All Biennial Choir.
  Mission processions on Tuesday and Friday evenings
included pastors; lay leaders; representatives of American
Baptist Educational Ministries, International Ministries,
National Ministries and General Ministries; General Board
representatives; regional executive ministers with their
youth representatives; and area ministers.

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