wfn.org | ABCUSA: BOARD AFFIRMS 'DISCIPLESHIP AND EDUCATION'

[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

`DISCIPLESHIP AND EDUCATION' ARE VITAL 
COMPONENTS OF MISSION, 
AMERICAN BAPTIST GENERAL BOARD NOTES IN 
STATEMENT OF AFFIRMATION
  The General Board of American Baptist Churches 
USA, at its semiannual meeting last month in Providence, 
R.I., issued a statement, "Discipleship and Education: An 
ABC Family Matter," which "reaffirm(s) our historic 
commitment to ministries of discipleship and education in 
our local churches, regions, institutions and national 
organizations."
 The statement notes:
 "We believe that discipleship and education are 
vital components of evangelism, which is a fundamental 
part of our calling to fulfill Christ's Great Commission.  We 
believe that discipleship and education are critical in 
calling and training faithful ministerial leadership for the 
21st Century.  The future of ABC leaders and ministries 
will be directly dependent on the vitality of our discipleship 
and educational ministries today.
 "Recognizing that American Baptist Educational 
Ministries faces a significant annual budget deficit and 
lacks a major source of endowment funding to adequately 
sustain ministries of discipleship and education, we call on 
and affirm the response of other American Baptist 
organizations (including the Board of International 
Ministries, the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, 
and the Board of National Ministries) as they answer God's 
call to this challenging opportunity by:
 1.  Joining with American Baptist regions, 
congregations, and individuals in praying for God's 
guidance and intervention in ensuring the vitality of ABC 
ministries of discipleship and education;  
 2.   Sacrificially giving financial resources to 
support Educational Ministries in the short term;
 3.   Engaging in cooperative efforts with regions 
and congregations to identify long-term organizational and 
funding solutions to advance vital ministries of discipleship 
and education in our denomination; 
 4.  Supporting the implementation of long-term 
solutions to these challenges."

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