VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 8/1/12)—After 7 years of service as Executive Director of Interim Ministries-ABC, Rev. Jamie Munro retired on Tuesday, July 31, 2012.

“Jamie will be greatly missed.  He has been a tremendous gift to ABC life in his role as director of Interim Ministries,” said Roy Medley, general Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. “His love of the church and his passion for assisting congregations in the midst of pastoral change have fitted him well for his position.  We will miss him, and we wish him well in his retirement.”

Tanya L. Shelton, Governing Board president for Interim Ministries-ABC and vice president for Enrollment Management at Alderson-Broaddus College said, “I know that previous and current board members, as well as our interim pastors, would agree that Jamie Munro has provided exceptional leadership and commitment to this ministry during his tenure. He has served sacrificially in a number of ways, and we are deeply grateful for his service to our local churches and to our denomination. Upon this retirement, we pray for God’s continuing blessing on Jamie and his wife, Joyce.”

In April, the Governing Board of Interim Ministries-ABC announced that a decision was reached to close current operations.  The viability of the self-funded enterprise became unsustainable in today’s economic climate.  IM-ABC will cease to exist as an Associated Ministry Organization as of August 1, 2012 with the retirement of Rev. Jamie Munro, executive director since 2005.  Janet Newman, administrative assistant for IM-ABC, retired in June after twenty years of service.

Recognizing the vital importance of interim ministry placements and support, it was announced in June that ABCUSA is assuming responsibility for this ministry.  Rev. Patricia Hernandez will take on the director’s role, in addition to her current part-time directorship of Women in Ministry.  Joyce Lake will assume the duties of administrative assistant.

“It has been a delight to me to work with a committed staff in Interim Ministries-ABC and with hundreds of ABC ministers, most of them retired, who have given capable and dedicated leadership to churches in transition,” said Munro. “These, and many others who will join them, will continue to provide ABC churches with excellent assistance and high energy during the critical time between pastorates.”
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.