wfn.org | ABCUSA: Stronger Ecumenical Ties Sought

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

American Baptist News Service (7/9/02)--The American Baptist Churches USA
Committee on Christian Unity, at its meeting last month in Green Lake, Wis.,
examined ways to expand American Baptist relationships with churches that
share historical roots with the Baptist tradition but with whom there have
been no close contacts in recent years.

General Secretary A. Roy Medley noted at the meeting the need to build
closer ties with communions from the Anabaptist tradition like the Brethren
and the Mennonites.  Working with Roy Unruh, the Church of the Brethren
representative to the General Board, and Les Aeilts, General Board
representative to the Church of the Brethren, the Office of Cooperative
Christianity will pursue avenues of greater cooperation with them.   

The committee also encouraged a closer relationship with the Cooperative
Baptist Fellowship, which already is working with American Baptist Churches
USA in new church development.  

It commended Churches Uniting in Christ, comprised of nine communions that
have come together in part to address racism, and encouraged American
Baptists to enter more intentionally into a relationship with the such
historic Black Baptist denominations as the Progressive National Baptist
Convention, Inc.; the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc.; and the
National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.  

In support of the "Declaration on an Issue of Importance: The
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," passed by the General Board in November 2001,
the committee recommended to the board several ecumenical documents: "By My
Spirit: What Will Make for Peace in the Middle East," a statement by a
delegation of U.S. church leaders to the Middle East issued in April 2002;
Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Denton Lotz's statement on the
Middle East, printed in April BWA newsletter; the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil
for Peace in the Middle East led by the Lutheran Church and the Churches for
Middle East Peace; and the "Lebanon Declaration" issued by a U.S.
evangelical group. 

The Office of Cooperative Christianity will develop guidelines to assist
churches in their relationships with people of other faiths.  It recommends
to churches the "Dabru Emet (to Speak the Truth): A Jewish Statement on
Christians and Christianity" and the American Baptist response to the
statement.  In relating to the Muslim community it recommends the
"Declaration on an Issue of Importance: Anti-Islam, Anti-Muslim, and
Anti-Arab Prejudice in the United States of America," passed by the General
Board in November 2001.  To gain a better understanding of Buddhism and the
people who come from predominantly Buddhist countries it recommends the
ecumenical study-tour to Thailand, Jan. 3-17, 2003.  Information on the
aforementioned resources can be found on the Web site of the Office of
Cooperative--www.abc-unity.org--or by calling 1-800-ABC-3USA/x2279.

02ABN100

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