wfn.org | ROBERTS NAMED ABC/USA INTERIM EXEC

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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

ROBERTS NAMED INTERIM GENERAL SECRETARY 
FOR AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA
 GREEN LAKE, WIS.--Dr. Robert H. Roberts, longtime 
American Baptist denominational leader and pastor, was 
affirmed June 25 as the interim general secretary of the 1.5-
million-member American Baptist Churches USA.
 American Baptist Churches USA President Trinette V. 
McCray, on behalf of the American Baptist General Board's 
Executive Committee, had presented Roberts' name to the 
Board, which is meeting here in semiannual sessions. 
 He will succeed Dr. Daniel E. Weiss, who is retiring 
Aug. 31.  
 Roberts retired in January after ten years as 
associate general secretary for World Mission Support of 
American Baptist Churches USA.  In that position he was 
responsible for providing leadership in raising 
approximately $40 million annually for American Baptist 
missions and programs through American Baptist Mission 
Support.  He was involved in more than 100 tithing seminars 
across the U.S. in 1993 and produced numerous resources for 
that focus and other areas of mission giving.  
 Previously Roberts served from 1982-1990 as executive 
minister of the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut.  
Prior to that (1979-1982) he was executive minister of the 
American Baptist Churches of the Central Region (which 
includes Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas).
 His wide experience has included service as pastor of 
Braemar Baptist Church, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (1959-
1962); First Baptist Church, Ridgefield Park, N.J. (1962-
1966); and Flemington Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. 
(1966-1979).
 An active leader in the Evangelistic Life Style 
denominational emphasis in the 1970s at both the national 
and regional levels, Roberts also chaired the American 
Baptist Evangelism Team.  He was a well-known spokesperson 
for the denomination's Grow By Caring program in the 1980s.
 A native of Western Canada, he holds the B.A. degree 
in philosophy from the University of Alberta, the B.D. 
degree in theology from McMaster Divinity School, the S.T.M. 
degree in homiletics from Union Theological Seminary (New 
York), and Ph.D. degree in theology from New York 
University.
 He and his wife, Joan, are parents of three adult 
children and have five grandchildren.

GENERAL SECRETARY SEARCH COMMITTEE, 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS APPOINTED
 GREEN LAKE, WIS.-Members of the General 
Secretary Search Committee of American Baptist Churches 
USA were named here during semiannual sessions of 
the denomination's General Board.
 American Baptist Churches USA President Trinette V. 
McCray announced her appointments to the Search Committee 
and to an Advisory Committee that will help to facilitate the
search process.
 Members of the General Secretary Search Committee are: 
the Rev. Trinette V. McCray, Milwaukee, Wis., chair; Vernell C.
Neely, Nashville, Tenn.; the Rev. H. Jay Flu-Allen, Columbus, 
Ohio; Jorge Pierola, Culver City, Calif.; Dr. Stephen E. Hasper, 
Granada Hills, Calif.; Mary H. Purcell, Wallingford, Pa.; David 
G. Hunt, Portland, Ore.; and Kevin D. Rose, Indianapolis, Ind.
 When the previous General Secretary search was 
conducted in 1987 the General Board Executive Committee 
determined that in addition to a Search Committee composed 
of Executive Committee members there would be an Advisory 
Committee to the Search Committee to provide balance and a 
broader perspective.  The current General Board Executive 
Committee determined to use the same pattern for this search.  
The Advisory Committee to the General Secretary Search 
Committee includes: the Rev. Lemaire Alerte, Jersey City, N.J.; 
Dr. James Chuck, San Francisco, Calif.; Dr. George C. L. 
Cummings, Hercules, Calif.; the Rev. Luis Cortés, Philadelphia, 
Pa.; Jean Cunningham, Kenna, W.V.; the Rev. Clydia 
Nahwooksy, Cache, Okla.; Daniel Flores, Carolina, P.R.; Dr. 
Mary E. Robinson, Cedar Falls, Ia.; Dr. Robert Frykholm, 
Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dr. Cora Sparrowk, Ione, Calif.; Katharine 
Bau Hsiao, Castro Valley, Calif.; and the Rev. Dianne W. 
Steelman, Cincinnati, Ohio.
 Also named were observers to the General Secretary 
Search Committee: the Rev. Sumner M. Grant, New York,
N.Y.; Dr. Linda C. Spoolstra, Dedham, Mass.; Dr. Lloyd D. 
Hamblin Jr., Parkersburg, W.V.

6/28/00
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