wfn.org | ABCUSA: General Board Adopts Mission Statement

["CHANDLER, David" <David.Chandler@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Denver, Colo. 6/28/05)--The General Board
of American Baptist Churches USA, meeting here in semiannual session
last night, voted to adopt the mission statement generated by the Seek
It! process as the American Baptist Churches USA mission statement.

The text was developed last June at the Seek It! Summit in Green Lake,
Wis., the culmination of an unprecedented grass roots endeavor in which
more than 2,500 American Baptists lifted up their affirmations of and
hopes for their congregations and denomination.

The mission statement text states:

"American Baptists are a Christ-centered, biblically grounded,
ethnically diverse people called to radical personal discipleship in
Christ Jesus.  Our commitment to Jesus propels us to nurture authentic
relationships with one another, build healthy churches, transform our
communities, our nations and our world, engage every member in hands-on
ministry, and speak the prophetic word in love.

"As a people of prayer, purpose, and passion, we are in the forefront of
creating a diverse community of faith where people of every race,
nationality and culture gather as one in worship, witness and work.

"The heart of the gospel is God's redemptive love.  In our life
together, the world will see the power of forgiveness to overcome
alienation, the strength of love to transform hate, the power of grace
to break the bonds of guilt, the triumph of hope over despair, and the
victory of faith over doubt.

"Through the cross of Christ we embrace the world as neighbor.	Our
vision for mission energizes a multitude of servant ministries of
evangelism, discipleship, leadership, new church development, social
justice, healing, peacemaking, economic development and education.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we work together in mutual trust,
humility, love, and giving that the gospel might be preached and lived
in all the world."

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

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