VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/29/07) - At its semiannual meeting in Savannah, Ga., Nov. 14-16, the Board of National Ministries unanimously passed the resolution, "The Priority of God's Call to the Young and Faithful."
Reporting that American Baptist Churches USA, along with other mainline Protestant denominations, is experiencing a decline in the number of clergy less than 35 years of age, the resolution calls for American Baptists to become leaders in helping its youth hear the call to ministry.
The resolution recognizes National Ministries, in particular, for its important role "assuring the long-term health of our congregations and the development of clergy in our churches, ministries and missions" through its advocacy for and cultivation of youth who are hearing God's call.
In his report to the board, Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III, National Ministries' executive director, updated members about NEW LIFE 2010, announcing that close to 500,000 new believers were baptized between the initiative's 1998 inception and 2006. Also, 22 percent of American Baptist churches have been or presently are involved in intentional transformation initiatives between 2000 and 2006.
Wright-Riggins also announced that National Ministries will partner in prison ministry with the Progressive National Baptist Convention to battle the current trend that finds 20 percent of African American males under jurisdiction of the prison system.
Encouraging members to participate in and support January's New Baptist Covenant in Atlanta, Ga., Wright-Riggins said the covenant is designed to bring Baptists from across the country together around issues of poverty, and race and ethnicity. A free Bible study curriculum-"The Agenda," available from the Baptist Center for Ethics (ethicsdaily.com)-will help individuals and churches engage Luke 4, the focal chapter for the Covenant meeting.
In other business, Judson Press Publisher Laura Alden announced a Regional Rewards program that will benefit American Baptist regions. Using an assigned region code at checkout, online Judson customers will be able to generate a 10 percent rebate for participating regions. The Regional Rewards program-scheduled for launch in January-has been piloted successfully in the Nebraska, New Jersey and Wisconsin regions.
Michaele Birdsall, National Ministries' treasurer and chief financial officer, announced the 2008 America for Christ Offering theme, "Home Mission on our Doorstep," along with a challenge goal of $2,010,000 that represents a 24 percent increase of last year's total contributions.
Birdsall also announced a feature in conjunction with the America for Christ Offering to be launched in the new year on National Ministries' Web site-the Home Mission Banner Board. At this information sharing and networking page, local congregations will be invited to contribute stories about their home mission ministries so that American Baptists across the country can benefit from inspiring and practical ideas for doing home mission on their doorsteps.
The meeting closed with a celebration of service recognizing retiring board members in attendance: the Rev. Ashley C. Smith, First Baptist Church, Stephentown, N.Y.; the Rev. Dr. G. Daniel Jones, Grace Baptist-Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.; the Rev. Jerrod H. Hugenot, First Baptist Church, Bennington, Vt.; and Manuel Luquín, Comunidad Cristiana La Verdad, Yakima, Wash.
Additional retiring members include: the Rev. Heather Rittenhouse, First Baptist Church, Delaware, Ohio; the Rev. Jacquline Saxon, Church of the Savior, Cedar Park, Texas; David Sullivan, Red Stone Baptist Church, Anadarko, Okla.; and the Rev. Jacqueline Thompson, Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
Wright-Riggins expressed gratitude as well for the leadership of retiring board President Peter N. Wolf, Bay View Baptist Church, Milwaukee, Wis., who has served as a board member since 2002. "Obviously called for such a time as this," Wright-Riggins said, "Peter Wolf is a genuine human being who loves the Lord. We are grateful for his leadership and his love of National Ministries. He has been committed to us because he is committed to Jesus Christ."
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/