wfn.org | ABCUSA: GENERAL BOARD NEWS

[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

UPDATE:  November 16, 2001

CHANGES TO `COMMON CRITERIA' AFFIRMED 
BY AMERICAN BAPTIST GENERAL BOARD
 CHERRY HILL, NJ--The General Board of American 
Baptist Churches USA, meeting here today in semiannual 
session, voted to affirm changes to the "common criteria" 
which serve as the minimal qualifications for a congregation 
to be considered a cooperating church of American Baptist 
Churches USA.
 The approved revised criteria (vote: 124 yes,
0 no, 2 abstentions) are: 
 "1.  Affirm the statement entitled, `We are 
American Baptists' (revised 6/19/98) as descriptive of 
American Baptist faith and practice. (*See full statement 
below.)
 "2.  Affirm the mission/purpose of the American Baptist 
Churches USA and of the Region in which the church is a 
member.
 "3.  Participate in the life and mission of the 
American Baptist Churches at local, regional, national and 
international levels.
 "4.  Financially support the mission of the 
American Baptist Churches USA at a responsible level.
 "5.  Share with the family the impact of the 
church's ministries in reaching the community and world 
for Christ by reporting annually on forms supplied by the 
region and/or the ABC/USA."
 [The existing common criteria listed in Standing 
Rule 5.1.1. include: "1. Accept and publicize the purpose 
statement of American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. 
(ABC/USA) and of the regional mission organization in 
which the church is located;  2. Participate regularly in 
programs and the ministries of ABC/USA at both the 
national and regional levels; 3. Utilize ABC/USA resources 
appropriate to the congregation's needs; 4. Support the 
mission of ABC/USA by contributing a fair share of the 
congregation's income (exclusive of building payments) to 
American Baptist Mission Support; and 5. Provide reports 
on the forms supplied by the regional mission organization 
and/or the ABC/USA."]
 The revised criteria are the result of a process 
begun several years ago.  The American Baptist General 
Executive Council, addressing a responsibility given it by 
the General Board, appointed a task force to review the 
denomination's Standing Rule 5.1.1, which details the 
common criteria.  Following the report from this task force 
the General Executive Council recommended changes to 
S.R. 5.1.1., the first reading of which took place at the 
General Board meeting in June 2001.  
 The General Board now will forward the revised 
common criteria to the covenanting regions for approval
by at least three-fourths of them in order to adopt the 
common criteria and thereby change the Standing Rules. 

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
*"We Are American Baptists" (revised 6/19/98)
 American Baptists worship the triune God of the Bible, who is 
eternally one God in three persons.  This one, true God is most clearly 
revealed to us in the incarnate Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
 American Baptists proclaim the Good News of the atoning 
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, knowing that salvation 
(forgiveness of sins, release from guilt and condemnation, reconciliation 
with God) and eternal life are granted in grace to all who trust Jesus 
Christ as Savior and Lord.  This Gospel is the central message of the 
Bible.
 American Baptists believe that the Bible, composed of the Old 
and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired Word of God, the final 
written authority and trustworthy for faith and practice.  It is to be 
interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit 
within the community of faith.  The primary purpose of the Bible is to 
point to Jesus Christ, the living Lord of the Church. 
 Although Baptists have produced numerous confessions to 
express our common understandings of Christian faith, we hold  
the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as our final authority.  We 
accept no humanly devised confession or creed as binding. 
 American Baptists affirm that God is sovereign over all and that 
this sovereignty is expressed and realized through Jesus Christ.  Therefore, 
we affirm the Lordship of Christ over the world and the 
church.  We joyously confess that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord.  
 We are called in loyalty to Jesus Christ to proclaim the power 
of the Holy Spirit, the Good News of God's reconciling grace, and to 
declare the saving power of the Gospel to every human being and to 
every human institution.  We celebrate Christ's charge to "make disciples 
of all nations" and to bear witness to God's redeeming reign in human 
affairs.
 American Baptists are summoned to this mission in common 
with all Christians.  With the whole body of Christ, we also believe that 
God has been revealed in Jesus Christ as in no other, and that "God was 
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" (II Corinthians 5:18).  We 
anticipate the day when every creature and all creation, on earth and 
beyond, will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
 God has given this particular community of believers called 
Baptists a distinctive history and experience.  As we share in common 
with Christians everywhere, so Baptists everywhere celebrate a common 
heritage.

THEREFORE 
 With Baptist brothers and sisters around the world, we believe:
 That the Bible is the final authority and trustworthy for faith 
and practice.  It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of 
God's Holy Spirit within the community of faith;
 That the Church is a gathered fellowship of regenerated 
believers, a sign of the coming universal reign of God;
 That the freedom to respond to the Lordship of Christ in all 
circumstances is fundamental to the Christian gospel and to human 
dignity; and
 That witness to Christ is the ongoing task of every Christian 
and of every church.
 Within the larger Baptist family, American Baptists emphasize 
convictions which direct our special task and ministry.
 We affirm that God through Jesus Christ calls us to be:
A Redeemed People
:who claim a personal relationship to God through 
Jesus Christ;
 :who follow the Lord in believer's baptism;
 :who gather as a believer's church;
 :who share in the meal of the kingdom known as the 
Lord's Supper;
 :who honor the priesthood of all believers; and
 :who live their faith as visible saints.
A Biblical People
 :who affirm the centrality of Scripture in our lives;
 :who pursue the study of God's inspired Word as a 
mandate for faith and practice; and
 :who seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the 
understanding of Scripture, while respecting the 
common interpretation of Scripture within the 
community of believers.
A Worshiping People
 :who gather regularly to praise God;
 :who receive nourishment by communion with the 
Risen Christ;
 :who share an open and public confession of faith; 
and
 :who believe that personal devotion brings vitality to 
corporate celebration.
A Mission People
 :who strive to fulfill the Great Commission to make 
disciples;
 :who invite persons to receive salvation and follow 
Christ;
 :who engage in educational, social, and health 
ministries;
 :who seek justice for all persons; and
 :who provide prayer and financial support to sustain 
a worldwide mission outreach.
An Interdependent People
 :who affirm the Church's unity as given in Jesus 
Christ;
 :who gladly embody in our practice the ministry of 
the whole people of God;
 :who recognize God's gifts for ministry and honor all 
offices of pastoral ministry;
 :who live and work together "in association;" and
 :who bring the free church tradition to cooperative 
and ecumenical Christianity.
A Caring People
 :who care for the needy, the weak, and the 
oppressed;
 :who care for the earth and for all its creatures;
An Inclusive People
 :who, gifted by a variety of backgrounds, find unity 
in diversity and diversity in unity;
 :who embrace a pluralism of race, ethnicity, and 
gender; and
 :who acknowledge that there are individual 
differences of conviction and theology.
A Contemporary People
 :who have a remembrance for the past and a vision 
for the future;
 :who are committed to religious liberty and to the 
separation of church and state;
 :who call our present world to make Jesus Christ 
Lord of all life; and
 :who trust the Holy Spirit for insight and power to 
live in the present age.
We further believe
 :That God has called us forth to such an hour as 
this;
 :That we live with a realizable hope;
 :That all things are held together in Christ;
 :That all creation will find its ultimate fulfillment in 
God;
 :That we shall see the One whose we are; and
 :That Jesus shall reign for ever and ever.
 
YOUNGER NAMED HONORARY LIFE MEMBER OF 
AMERICAN BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY
 CHERRY HILL, NJ--Dr. George D. Younger, longtime 
denominational leader, was honored here today by the 
American Baptist Historical Society for his service 
to American Baptist Churches USA and his commitment to 
Baptist principles and history.  Younger, who was unable 
to attend because of illness, was named Honorary Life 
Member of the Society.
 Younger was the editor of Foundations: A Baptist 
Journal of History and Theology from 1957-1968.  That 
publication was the predecessor of the Society's current 
journal, The American Baptist Quarterly.
 Younger served as executive minister of the 
American Baptist Churches of New Jersey from 1976-1992.  
He has been active in urban ministries work, notably as 
executive director of  the Urban Training Center for 
Christian Mission in Chicago (1972-1975) and as pastor of 
Mariners' Temple in New York City (1955-1966), among 
other positions.  Ecumenically he has held a number of 
leadership positions with the World Council of Churches, 
the New Jersey Council of Churches and other bodies.
 The author of several books on urban ministry, 
Younger also served from 1966-1968 as a program 
associate in the American Baptist Home Mission Society's 
Division of Evangelism, where he focused on issues of 
housing and urban planning.
 Following retirement Younger has been active as a 
historian and educator, teaching Baptist history and polity 
at Union Theological Seminary, Drew Theological Seminary 
and New Brunswick Theological Seminary.  Earlier this 
month he received the New York Theological Seminary's 
Award for Distinction in Ministry.
 Younger also has served on the Management 
Council of The American Baptist Quarterly. 
 The American Baptist Historical Society met here 
today during the semiannual meetings of the American 
Baptist General Board.

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