wfn.org | ABCUSA: BOARD WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS AFFIRMED

[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

BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES AFFIRMS 
WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 
 The American Baptist Board of 
Educational Ministries, meeting last week in Cherry Hill, N.J. in
semiannual sessions, approved recommendations for 
dealing with financial and strategic planning  presented by 
its Executive Committee and developed by the Educational 
Ministries Working Group.
 The board took action last June to appoint the 
working group with the responsibility to discern how 
Educational Ministries can best be organized to help every 
American Baptist congregation become a disciple-making 
church. The mandate included hiring a consultant to assist 
the group in its discussion and planning.  
 In August 2001 Educational Ministries contracted 
with Dr. Craig Van Gelder to serve as consultant.  The 
proposal for services accepted by Educational Ministries 
included two phases: phase 1--assist Educational 
Ministries in developing a balanced 2002 budget and a 
work plan with a view toward developing a strategic 
business plan; phase 2--assist Educational Ministries in 
developing a strategic business plan and a focused vision 
for the longer-term ministry of the organization.
 The task before the board, according to 
Educational Ministries' acting executive director, the Rev. 
Daniel Rawleigh, is "to reinvent Educational Ministries 
around a vision of discipleship."  Despite the significant 
challenges it faces, "Educational Ministries will not 
disappear," Rawleigh said.  "Those challenges threaten but 
do not prevent Educational Ministries from moving into the 
future."
 Dr. William Apel, Board of Educational Ministries 
president, traced the progress of the working group's 
activities and noted that the objectives of phase 1 had 
been met.  He said that the consultant's report affirmed 
the dedication of the EM staff while at the same time 
pointing to a need to address a lack of clarity in EM's 
mission and vision and a need for organizational/structural 
change.  Apel also voiced optimism, saying he had 
"confidence that Christ will meet us on the way" in the 
reenvisioning and restructuring process.
 Specifically, the EM Working Group recommended:
 1. Seeking approval for a special denomination-
wide offering for EM, probably to be taken in 
2003.  The group recommended continued 
development of long-term capital funding sources 
and identification of individual donors in support of 
EM's ministries. 
 2. That EM continue to explore potential for a 
"new" entity with NM.  [This would be put on hold 
until the completion of phase 2.]
 3. Bringing the role and the priority of a 
denominational publisher to the ABC General 
Board. This recommendation requires a compelling 
presentation of the present and potential future 
contributions of Judson. The group clearly 
recommended that Judson remain within ABC 
USA. 
 4. That EM staff work on a clear focus of discipleship, 
further clarifying and articulating mission and 
vision. 
 The Educational Ministries Planning Working 
Group includes: Dr. William Apel, president, BEM, 
McMinnville, Oreg.; Jean Cunningham, BEM, Charleston, 
W.V.; the Rev. Daris A. Dixon-Clark, BEM, Ithaca, N.Y.;  
Dr. Lowell H. Fewster, American Baptist Churches of 
Connecticut, Hartford, Conn.; the Rev. H. Jay Flu-Allen, 
BEM, Columbus, Ohio; Dr. Larry Greenfield, Chicago, Ill.; Dr. 
Lloyd D. Hamblin Jr., West Virginia Baptist Convention, 
Parkersburg, W.V.; the Rev. Jeffrey Jones, director, Partners 
in Discipleship Ministries, Educational Ministries; the Rev. 
Trinette V. McCray, president, American Baptist Churches 
USA, Milwaukee,  Wis.; the Rev. A. Roy Medley, American 
Baptist Churches of New Jersey, Trenton, N.J.; Kristy 
Arnesen Pullen, Judson Press publisher; the Rev. Daniel J. 
Rawleigh, acting executive director, Educational Ministries; 
Dr. Robert Roberts, interim general secretary, American 
Baptist Churches USA. 

WFN1121B.TXT

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