wfn.org | ABCUSA: American Baptists In Mission Reformatting Scheduled

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

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 1/5/05)--American
Baptists In Mission, the quarterly feature magazine of American Baptist
Churches USA, will be reformatted as a quality printed newsletter and
expanded Web-based resource in spring 2005.

In announcing the change, Richard W. Schramm, deputy general secretary
for communication, Office of the General Secretary, emphasized "American
Baptist Churches USA, like many church organizations, is being
confronted by expanding opportunities for sharing mission through
electronic media,  which has become an increasingly cost-effective and
user-friendly means of telling our story."

"A large number of American Baptists now are comfortable receiving-and
responding to-information disseminated through internet communication,"
he said.  "And yet while our General Board has affirmed computer-based
communication as the denominational standard, we all know that quality
print media needs to remain accessible for everyone who wants or needs
it."

The cost of maintaining a four-color 32-page magazine "was not
consistent with the best stewardship of mission dollars," Schramm said.
"And with inevitable increases in paper and production expenses not far
ahead, we needed to look at the most effective means we can utilize for
sharing the great stories of American Baptist mission with our
denominational family and others."

Schramm said that the newsletter format will be carefully designed to
include concise but substantial information on American Baptist mission,
and will direct readers to www.abc-usa.org and other ABCUSA Web sites
for expanded and additional features, photographs and audio and video
resources.  The new format will be introduced following publication of
the Spring 2005 issue of the American Baptists In Mission.  It will
continue the unbroken heritage of American Baptist national publications
that began in 1803 with the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Magazine.

American Baptists In Mission, which has a circulation of 37,000, is sent
at no cost to the 5,800 congregations of American Baptist Churches USA
representing 1.5 million members.

Please note: The Winter 2005 American Baptists In Mission (mailed in
December) and the Spring 2005 issue (to be mailed in February) contain
detailed information and all registration forms for the July 2005 Denver
Biennial Meeting.  (As most respondents in 2003 indicated they utilized
the Biennial Meeting resources contained in American Baptists In Mission
and on www.abc-usa.org, a separate packet of materials will not be sent
to each church this year. The Biennial Meeting Web page on
www.abc-usa.org includes a wide range of information and will be updated
regularly.)  All materials for the regional youth representatives to the
Biennial Meeting will be mailed within the next few days, with
additional information to be included in the Spring issue and online.

K/2005ABNS/05ABN2

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