wfn.org | ABCUSA: Woodbury to Retire As Executive for Pennsylvania/Delaware

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

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 1/28/05)--The Rev. Dr.
Clayton R. Woodbury, executive minister of the American Baptist Churches
of Pennsylvania and Delaware, has announced his retirement, effective
March 31, 2005.

Woodbury began his leadership of the region--which currently includes
approximately 266 churches and 48,200 members--in 1997.  Prior to that
he had served from 1989 to 1996 as executive minister of the Pittsburgh
Baptist Association, where he also held World Mission Support
responsibilities and had previously been associate executive minister.

Ordained in 1965, Woodbury held pastorates at First Baptist Church,
Bangor, Me. (1969-1985) and First Baptist Church, North Oxford, Mass.
(1965-1969).  He also has been an adjunct faculty member at New York
Theological Seminary (1973-1986) and director of Theological Education
for Laity at Bangor Theological Seminary (1981-1986).

Woodbury has served on numerous committees and other bodies of American
Baptist Churches USA, including the Regional Executive Ministers
Council, General Executive Council and World Mission Support Council.
He is well known for his considerable gifts in biblical storytelling.

In announcing his retirement in a letter to ABCOPAD churches, staff,
board and officers, Woodbury said, "I am deeply grateful to all of you
for your partnership in ministry during the last eight years.  I truly
appreciate the opportunities we have had to serve together in so many
ministry and mission efforts in the name of Jesus Christ and for the
sake of the Kingdom of God."

"Clay has had an exceptional ministry in ABC life as pastor, World
Mission Support staff and executive minister," said American Baptist
Churches USA
General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley. "He has brought to each
ministry a heart for people that is rooted in the love and compassion of
the Lord Jesus Christ, and has stirred our hearts to deeper devotion and
wider service through his life as a disciple of Jesus."

K/2005ABNS/05ABN12

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