wfn.org | ABCUSA: BIENNIAL MEDIA ADVISORY

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

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

MEDIA ADVISORY: 

NOTE: Because of WFN's recent technical difficulties, 
this communication, originally sent 4/26/01, was not posted.

Information/media packets for the Biennial Meeting 
in Providence were mailed last week to a list of 
national news services and major newspapers, religious 
communication agencies and Providence-area 
media.  News organizations desiring to receive 
this information should contact the Office of 
Communication. Details on the Biennial Meeting 
schedule and program are available on the 
American Baptist Churches USA Web site: 
www.abc-usa.org.

AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA BIENNIAL 
MEETING TO LIFT UP `PROVIDENCE!' 
 The Biennial Meeting of American Baptist 
Churches USA, set for June 22-25 in Providence, R.I., is 
expected to bring together 3,500-4,000 delegates and 
visitors for worship, fellowship, denominational business, 
mission experiences, election of denominational officers 
and discussion of spiritual and social issues.
The Biennial Program Committee, in three 
planning meetings, developed program elements growing 
out of the theme of "Providence!" and embodying the 
Scripture text of Hebrews 12:1-2.  The theme 
acknowledges the pivotal importance of this historic 
setting in Baptist life and also celebrates God's gifts of 
love, nurture and guidance for contemporary ministries 
and future mission.
 Preachers and leaders for each session are: The 
Rev. Dr. Trinette McCray, American Baptist Churches USA 
president and a campus minister, faculty member and 
director of Multicultural Relations at Cardinal Stritch 
University in Milwaukee, who will preach at the opening 
Friday evening worship service; the Rev. Dr. Robert 
Roberts, interim general secretary of American Baptist 
Churches USA, Saturday evening; the Rev. Jenny Quey, 
senior pastor of Community Baptist Church in San Mateo, 
Calif., Sunday morning; the Rev. Dr. Billy Kim, president of 
the Baptist World Alliance and pastor of the 15,000-
member Central Baptist Church in Suwon, South Korea, 
Sunday evening; and the Rev. Dr. Luis Palau, 
internationally known evangelist, Monday evening.
 Bible study leaders include: Dr. Nancy Ammerman, 
professor of sociology of religion at Hartford Theological 
Seminary (Saturday); the Rev. Dr. Bernadette Glover-
Williams, assistant pastor of Second Baptist Church in 
Perth Amboy, N.J. (Sunday); and Thomas Moore, a family 
therapist at Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Sun Hills, Ariz. 
(Monday). 
 A wide variety of daily on-site and off-site mission 
experiences called "Afternoon Opportunities" are being 
designed and American Baptist history will be lifted up 
throughout the gathering.  In addition many musical 
groups and presentations are scheduled, including a 
concert featuring Ginny Owens Saturday evening.
 This will be the first national Biennial Meeting to 
be held over a weekend (Friday through Monday) instead 
of within the traditional Tuesday-Friday timeframe. That 
new schedule is focused on encouraging a wide 
generational representation at the event. Regional youth 
representatives once again will be active participants in 
Biennial Meeting events.  
 Hosting the Biennial Meeting will be the American 
Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, one of 34 regions within 
American Baptist Churches USA, which includes 
approximately 76 churches.  The Rev. Donald Shuler of 
Hudson Falls, N.Y., and Phillip Brown of Philadelphia are 
serving as chair and vice chair respectively of the Biennial 
Program Committee. 
 Information on the Biennial Meeting is available 
through e-mail at Biennial.Meeting@abc-usa.org, on the 
World Wide Web at www.abc-usa.org/~abc-usa/biennial/ 
or by calling 1-800-ABC-3USA/x2235.

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