wfn.org | ABCUSA: A. ROY MEDLEY IS NOMINEE FOR GENERAL SECRETARY

[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

A. ROY MEDLEY, EXECUTIVE MINISTER IN NEW 
JERSEY, IS NOMINEE FOR GENERAL SECRETARY 
OF AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA
 The Rev. A. Roy Medley, executive minister of the 
American Baptist Churches of New Jersey and an 
experienced leader at local, regional and national levels of 
denominational life, is the nominee for the position of 
general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA.  
 The Executive Committee of the General Board of 
American Baptist Churches USA selected Medley as its 
nominee, acting on the recommendation of a search 
committee chaired by ABCUSA President Trinette V. 
McCray.  The Executive Committee will present the 
nominee to the entire General Board at its Nov. 14-18 
meeting in Cherry Hill, N.J.  If confirmed by the board 
Medley would begin a four-year term as general secretary 
beginning Jan. 1, 2002.
 As the chief executive officer of American Baptist 
Churches USA, the general secretary exercises executive 
and prophetic initiative in support of an effective mission 
outreach for the denomination.  The general secretary and 
General Ministries (Office of the General Secretary) are 
charged with implementing policy decisions of the General 
Board; relating to and coordinating the work of the 
national and regional boards; fostering ecumenical 
relations; raising and administering the mission budget 
through the Office of World Mission Support and the Office 
of the Treasurer; overseeing denomination-wide 
communication media such as American Baptists In 
Mission magazine, the American Baptist News Service and 
the ABCUSA Web site; administering American Baptist 
Information Systems; providing staff services for the 
General Board; operating a human resource 
management/legal services program; arranging for 
Biennial Meetings of the denomination; and maintaining 
denominational records.
 Medley has served since 1992 as executive for the 
American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, one of 34 
regions within the denomination.  Under Medley's 
leadership the approximately 265 congregations of the 
region have been challenged to pursue an intentional 
emphasis on congregational renewal, new church 
development and racial reconciliation.  One of the most 
diverse regions racially and ethnically, ABC of New Jersey 
has welcomed 18 new congregations within the past three 
years.
 Prior to work as executive Medley was an area 
minister and minister of Mission Support for the ABC of 
New Jersey from 1986-1992.  He held responsibilities for 
mission and stewardship education and fund raising, and, 
as area minister, he emphasized pastoral recruitment, 
conflict management, mission identification, among other 
areas.   
 From 1979-1985 Medley was national director of 
the Neighborhood Action Program of American Baptist 
National Ministries.  In that role he held primary 
responsibility for directing denominational Christian center 
programs, focusing on programmatic vision, recruitment, 
support for National Ministries home missionaries at the 
centers and mission interpretation with local churches.  He 
previously had been administrative assistant to the 
manager of National Ministries' Operations and Program 
Resource Unit.  
 He represented American Baptist Churches USA at 
the National Council of Churches of Christ in the Domestic 
Hunger and Poverty Working Group and at the World 
Council of Churches through the Ecumenical Development 
Cooperative Fund.
 Medley's pastoral experience includes service as 
interim pastor at Christ Congregation, Princeton, N.J. 
(1977-1978) and associate pastor at First Baptist Church, 
Trenton, N.J. (1974-1977), where he also served as a 
seminary intern and was ordained in 1975. 
 Currently Medley is a member of the Baptist World 
Alliance Commission on Freedom and Justice and the 
Church Renewal Committee; serves on the faculty for the 
American Baptist Churches USA Church Planters Institute; 
and is a contributing writer to Baptists Today.  
He recently helped plan and lead "Baptists 
Together," a conference of denominations seeking better 
understanding and unity (1999); was a speaker at the 
American Baptist Churches USA Seminarians/New Pastors 
Conference (1998); and served on the ABCUSA Church 
Planting Council (1997-2000) and on the Governing Board 
of the National Council of Churches of Christ (1996-1999).  
He has been a Bible study leader and speaker at 
numerous gatherings in the U.S. as well as in Haiti, the 
Philippines, India, Myanmar and Cuba.
 In New Jersey he has been a member of the 
Denominational Executives Committee of the New Jersey 
Council of Churches and the New Jersey Coalition for a 
Moratorium on the Death Penalty. 
 A native of Columbus, Ga., Medley holds an A.B. 
degree (psychology) from the University of Chattanooga 
and an M.Div. degree from Princeton Theological 
Seminary.  He currently is enrolled in a D.Min. program at 
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga.  He also 
participated in the Ecumenical Institute of the World 
Council of Churches, Bossey, Switzerland (1972-1973).
 He is a member of First Baptist Church, Freehold, 
N.J.
 Medley is married to the Rev. Patricia Ann 
Stauffer, an ordained Lutheran pastor currently serving 
Hope Lutheran Church, Freehold, N.J.   They have two 
sons, James, 21, and Christopher, 10.
 "I love this denomination very deeply as an 
adoptive son," Medley said recently.  "I rejoice in who we 
are and the wonderful things God has accomplished 
through us.  I believe deeply in my heart that God has 
wonderful intentions for us...."
 "We are a people motivated by mission," he said.  
"It is the heartbeat of our life....  The strengthening of our 
churches to make disciples fully formed in Christ will be 
the key to revitalized mission to North America and the 
world." 
 Commenting on Medley's selection by the search 
committee, chair and American Baptist Churches USA 
President Trinette V. McCray said that the General Board 
Executive Committee and the General Secretary Search 
Committee "were very impressed with Rev. Medley's 
vision, statement of faith and experience within the ABC.  
He clearly distinguished himself as a candidate prepared to 
lead our denomination in this critical time."
 In addition to McCray, members of the General 
Secretary Search Committee include: 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.; David G. Hunt, Portland, 
Ore.; Mary H. Purcell, Wallingford, Pa.; and Kevin D. Rose, 
Indianapolis, Ind.  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. Irma Cruz, Humacao, Puerto Rico; 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.  
Observers to the General Secretary Search Committee are: 
the Rev. Sumner M. Grant, New York, N.Y.; Dr. Linda C. 
Spoolstra, Dedham, Mass.; Dr. Lloyd D. Hamblin Jr., 
Parkersburg, W.V.
 Dr. Robert H. Roberts has served as interim 
general secretary since the retirement of Dr. Daniel E. 
Weiss in August 2000.  In commending the work of the 
search committee, he noted: "One of the things that 
impressed me in this interim period is the intensity of the 
prayers of American Baptists that God's Spirit would lead 
the search committee in its process.  I also was impressed 
by the spirit of prayerful discernment that has surrounded 
the work of the committee.  I rejoice that a new major 
step has been taken in identifying Roy Medley--a gifted 
leader of God's people and a dear friend of many years-
to be the person presented to the General Board for its 
approval.  Let us pray that God's Spirit will continue to 
lead us to the person of God's choosing who in turn will 
lead the American Baptist family into the new century." 

WFN1001A.TXT

 -0-