wfn.org | ABCUSA Biennial Program Committee Continues Planning

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (6/19/02)--The Biennial Program Committee,
charged with planning the 2003 Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches
USA in Richmond, Va., continued work here June 18-19 that it began in
January in Richmond.

Major worship and plenary elements are now in place.  A service of
installation for the new American Baptist Churches USA general secretary,
the Rev. A. Roy Medley, will open the meeting on Friday, June 27, 2003.
Preaching that night will be the Rev. Dr. Joan Parrott, vice president of
the Children's Defense Fund and former American Baptist Churches USA deputy
general secretary for Cooperative Christianity.  Former National Football
League player Steve Fitzhugh, founder/director of the youth-oriented
motivational organization PowerMoves, will address participants Saturday,
June 28.  Sunday worship will be led in the morning by Medley and evening by
the Rev. Dr. James Carrington, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba
Linda, Calif.  Closing worship on Monday, June 30 will feature the Rev.
Yamina Apollinaris, former executive minister of the American Baptist
Churches of Puerto Rico, and well-known Christian musician Ken Medema.

The event will focus on a theme of "Centered in Christ" (based on Colossians
1:15-20), which will lift up the vision statement of Medley.  Subthemes for
each day will be: "An Inviting People" (Friday), "A Witnessing People"
(Saturday), "A Growing People" (Sunday) and "A Worshipping People" (Monday).

Multiple daily Bible studies will be scheduled, as will afternoon seminars,
mission experiences, tours and discussion and action on Statements of
Concern. 

Hosting the Biennial Meeting will be the American Baptist Churches of the
South, one of 34 regions within American Baptist Churches USA, which
includes approximately 275 churches and 107,000 resident members throughout
13 states.  The 2003 Biennial Meeting will be the first such American
Baptist gathering in the South.

The June 27-30 Richmond event will be the second consecutive national
Biennial Meeting to be held over a weekend (Friday through Monday), and is
focused on encouraging a wide generational representation at the event,
including significant participation by youth and young adults.

The committee will conclude its planning of program elements this November
in Valley Forge, Pa.

The committee is chaired by James Foster of Ft. Washington, Md.  Other
members include: Dr. Loris Coletta, Aptos, Calif.; Jessica Echard, Marietta,
Ohio; the Rev. Priscilla Eppinger, Evanston, Ill.; Anatalys Gonzalez-Ortiz,
Yauco, P.R.; the Rev. Paul Hayes, Suffield, Conn.; Manuel Hernandez,
Portage, Ind.; the Rev. Randolph Palada, Gilbertsville, N.Y.; the Rev. Hank
Pedersen, Warwick, R.I.; Dr. Mary Robinson, Waterloo, Ia.; the Rev. Kevin
Rose, Indianapolis, Ind.; and Ella Washington, Brown Deer, Wis.

Ex-officio members include Dr. Walter L. Parrish II, ABC of the South
executive minister, Baltimore, Md.; David Hunt, American Baptist Churches
USA president, Milwaukie, Oreg.; Yosh Nakagawa, American Baptist Churches
USA vice president, Mercer Island, Wash.; the Rev. A. Roy Medley, American
Baptist Churches USA general secretary, Valley Forge, Pa.; and Barbara A.
Williams, esq., American Baptist Churches USA associate general secretary
and legal counsel, Valley Forge, Pa.  

Instrumental in the planning are the Rev. Barry T. Young, pastor of Mosby
Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond and faculty member at the Samuel DeWitt
Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and Dr. Delores
Pretlow, associate superintendent of the Richmond City School District, who
are serving as co-chairpersons of the Local Arrangements Committee.

Also assisting the committee in its work are David L. Greenfield, production
director, Bloomington, Ill., and a Staff Advisory Group chaired by Biennial
Meeting Coordinator Richard Schramm.

01ABN89

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org