wfn.org | ABCUSA: Hunt Calls for Ongoing Focus on 'Centered in Christ'

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

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 7/10/03)--In remarks to
participants at the American Baptist Churches USA Biennial Meeting last week
in Richmond, Va., President David Hunt called for that gathering's theme of
"Centered in Christ" to remain a focus of denominational life.

In praising the work of lay and professional leaders, General Board
representatives and other American Baptists he noted that "To serve such a
gifted, accomplished, mission-driven, beautiful family of faith is a deeply
humbling experience."  

"We are the most diverse denomination in America--with urban, suburban and
rural mission outposts across America and around the world--and 1,010 more
on the way by 2010 through NEW LIFE 2010," he said.  "Above all else, we are
centered in Christ."

"The issue agenda for this biennium--and especially at our most recent
General Board meeting--has been heavy," he said.  "And much of that is
because we have chosen to act on several issues that have been hanging over
us for 10, 15 or 20 years.  As officers, as a General Board and as staff we
collectively decided that we must move these issues forward rather than
allow them to risk moving our focus off being centered in Christ."

"We don't have to accept the premise that God's circle of love and salvation
is defined by its perimeter," Hunt maintained.	"As the Apostle Paul wrote
to the Colossians in our Biennial theme Scripture, 'Christ is before all
things, and in him all things hold together.'...  As we tackle the future
challenges and ministry and mission opportunities that God has laid before
us, we should be centered in Christ rather than focused on fighting about
the perimeter of the circle.

"I believe that the ABC family circle is defined by our centered-ness in
Christ--and we reach out in a variety of directions from there.  God calls
us to different ministry contexts, different mission priorities, different
language communication, different theological understandings, different
music volumes, different preaching styles, different teaching
approaches--all of which are joined and held together by our centered-ness
as followers of Christ."

Hunt, a layman from Milwaukie, Oreg., will complete a two-year term as
president this December.  He is executive director of the Columbia River
Channel Coalition and a Democratic state representative in Oregon.  

K/2003ABNS/03ABN103

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org