VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/15/06)-The Rev. Dr. Lloyd D. Hamblin, budget review officer for American Baptist Churches USA, has been named to serve as acting ABCUSA treasurer and associate general secretary for finance. Hamblin's selection was announced today by General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley following affirmation by the ABCUSA General Board Executive Committee at its meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Hamblin, who will begin in his new responsibilities Jan. 1, 2007, will relinquish his position as budget review officer. He will assume the financial leadership responsibilities currently held by the Rev. Dr. Cheryl H. Wade, who will be resigning Dec. 31 as treasurer and associate general secretary to become director of philanthropy for the Kendal Corporation.
Wendy Rothenberger, director of Human Resource Development, will become director of Operations and Human Resource Development as she assumes other responsibilities held by Wade related to the General Board and General Board Executive Committee and administration of the Office of the General Secretary.
Hamblin was elected budget review officer for the denomination at the Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches USA in July 2005, and began in that role Jan. 1, 2006.
He will continue to serve part-time at South Parkersburg Baptist Church, W.V., where he has been executive pastor since April 2004. Previously he had held pastorates in West Virginia at Beverly Hills Baptist Church in Huntington and Bethel Baptist Church in Parkersburg.
Hamblin was executive minister of the West Virginia Baptist Convention from 1993 to 2004. In that role, he held numerous responsibilities on the regional and national levels of American Baptist Churches USA, including membership in the General Board Executive Committee, General Executive Council and Regional Executive Ministers Council, where he also served as president.
Prior to his appointment as executive minister Hamblin held responsibilities in that region as minister of business and finance and associate executive minister.
"I am delighted that Lloyd Hamblin has consented to share his gifts in fiscal and administrative planning and stewardship at this important time of transition," said Medley. "As a colleague in regional and national ministry, I have long admired Lloyd's integrity, wisdom and pastoral compassion, and know that he brings to each ministry a deep commitment to Christ and to the health of American Baptist Churches USA.
"I look forward to the opportunities for ministry that lie ahead, confident that in their new roles Lloyd Hamblin and Wendy Rothenberger will help provide the leadership needed to effectively undertake mission in Christ's name."
Replacing Hamblin as the budget review officer will be Dr. James Ratliff, effective Jan. 1, 2007. Ratliff has just completed six years of service on the General Board while also serving on the International Ministries' Board as convener of the mission finance support group.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/