wfn.org | ABCUSA: ABCUSA-UMC Initiative Supports Educational Institutions

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 9/22/04)--Presidents of 
American Baptist-related colleges and seminaries will have an opportunity 
to protect their institutions against a litigious society, thanks to a new 
cooperative venture with The United Methodist Church.

An agreement signed Sept. 3 in Nashville by officials of both denominations 
offers group buying power to the 26 colleges, universities and seminaries 
related to American Baptist Churches USA through the insurance and risk 
management services of Educational & Institutional Insurance 
Administrators, Inc. (EIIA). The president of each American Baptist 
institution will be offered the option of taking part in the program.

"This is the church's expression of equal opportunity; it is a major factor 
in helping schools in underserved areas, where access to higher education 
historically has been limited," the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, general 
secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, said of the agreement he signed.

Also signing the document was the Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, top executive 
of the Nashville-based United Methodist General Board of Higher Education 
and Ministry, which is affiliated with the insurance and risk management 
agency.

"The services of EIIA ensure that each school has access to protection, and 
relieve some of the burden of seeking individual coverage," said Del 
Pino.	Both he and Medley affirmed that the insurance administration 
agency offers the schools better stewardship of resources through favorable 
group rates extended to member bodies.

In addition, Del Pino said, "The agreement expresses ecumenicity and the 
community of Christ. The theological implication is this: Higher education 
is not something that is an optional luxury. It is God's will that the 
human predicament be enriched. Christian higher education is one way we 
accomplish carrying out that enrichment."

The 16 colleges and universities and 10 seminaries related to American 
Baptist Churches USA are in partnership with the denomination through 
National Ministries. Following the Civil War, National Ministries (then 
known as the American Baptist Home Mission Societies) founded 27 
institutions of higher learning for newly freed people.

"Historically, American Baptists have valued higher education for the 
current and future clergy and lay leaders in our churches," said the Rev. 
Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III, executive director of National 
Ministries. "The ability to offer this insurance coverage affirms our 
ongoing commitment to American Baptist-related educational institutions."

Headquartered in Chicago, EIIA was formed in the 1960s to provide group 
purchasing and administration of insurance programs for United Methodist 
schools, especially in "response to the desperate need of historically 
black colleges and universities that were refused coverage by most 
insurance companies during the latter days of legal racial segregation," 
Del Pino said.	EIAA later expanded its services to provide comprehensive 
coverage to schools affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 
America and the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Through the present 
partnership, schools affiliated with the four denominations benefit from 
the combined insurance purchasing strength of more than 150 Christian 
liberal arts higher education institutions in 40 states.

Also in attendance at the signing of the agreement were Siri S. Gadbois, 
president of the insurance organization, and Wanda D. Bigham, assistant 
general secretary of schools, colleges, and universities, representing the 
Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist agency.

Appreciation is expressed to the General Board of Higher Education and 
Ministry of The United Methodist Church for providing information contained 
in this news release.

K/2004ABNS/04ABN109

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