VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/21/09)—During the General Board plenary session on Saturday, November 21, the ABCUSA General Board voted to adopt the 2010 budget presented by budget review officer James Ratliff. The budgets for the Office of the General Secretary, the Representative Process, and Mission Resource Development are included in the adoption process.
The third plenary session began with receiving an offering to benefit Interim Ministries and its ministry with churches. Interim Ministries partners with state and regional staff to provide intentional interim leadership for churches, enabling the congregation to use the in-between time to become more vital and healthy. The collection totaled $1232. Last year, the offering was received for the Mill Creek Baptist Church of Philadelphia.
The report of Mission Resource Development (MRD) was given by Leo Thorne, associate general secretary for Mission Resource Development. Thorne commented on American Baptist Mission Support and United Mission giving, outlining the breakdown between national boards and other ministry areas.
The final plenary session of the General Board meeting ended with a celebration of service, leadership and talents. ABCUSA President Mary Armacost Hulst was recognized by general secretary A. Roy Medley.
“Through your powerful preaching and your reminder to us that ‘Christ has no body but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours,’ we will continue to move ahead seeking to live out the true vision of our ministry as God’s people in turbulent times,” Medley said.
Medley also recognized outgoing Vice President and incoming President Frank Christine, Jr., budget review officer James R. Ratliff, and past President Arlee Griffin, Jr.
The retiring representatives of the General Board were recognized for their hard work and devotion to Christ and American Baptist Churches. The names of the retiring representatives (and years served) are as follows:
Tina Breitenbach – 6 years
Edwenia Brown – 6 years
Jerry Cain – NM – 6 years
Herbert Edmondson III – 6 years
Alice Greene – 4 years
Charles Gregory – 6 years
Arlee Griffin, Jr. – 6 years
Carolyn Hayes – 6 years
Annette Kakimoto – 6 years
Thomas Lacy – 6 years
Annie Marie LeBarbour – 6 years
Betty Long – 6 years
Archie Mason – 4 years
Coleman McLean – 6 years
Howard McLendon – 6 years
Hank Pedersen – 6 years
Johnell Powell – 6 years
Fred Robbins – 6 years
Steven Schmidt – 6 years
Douglas Stowers – 6 years
Lewis Wright – 4 years
Dagoberto Zelaya – 4 years
American Baptist Churches 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.