News Update from Board of General Ministries
Green Lake, WisconsinJune 15-17, 2012
Report submitted by Rev. William Frederickson
The Board of General Ministries opened with worship led by Chaplain Jeff Savage of Oregon. ABC President Ruth Clark, of Kansas, led a welcome, prayer and call to order.
We were led in a team building exercise about our Baptist Identity by ABC Vice President Don Ng of California.
Two Response Group break-out sessions were held for each of the following groups: Christian Unity and Interfaith Relations, Congregational Renewal, Mission Resource Development, Missional Response and Professional Church Leadership. I was a member of the Congregational Renewal break-out team.
An update was received on the Transformed by the Spirit denominational initiative on Friday evening. President Clark gave us a financing update on this initiative.
James Ratliff, of New York, our Budget Review Officer, led the Board in a finance seminar, focusing on the audit, budget and fiduciary responsibility.
We were privileged to attend the installation service of Benjamin C. K. Mott as the new American Baptist Assembly/Green Lake Conference Center President/CEO. Later, Mott, along with Chair of the Board Directors of the Green Lake Conference Center, Tom Jones, gave the BGM an introduction to the GLCC.
President Clark and Associate General Secretary/Biennial Program Coordinator Leo Thorne gave Board Members a Mission Summit/Biennial update to be held next June in Overland Park, Kansas.
On Sunday morning, we were honored to have our General Secretary, A Roy Medley, deliver the message to the BGM members and the local community at the GLCC worship service.
Later that morning, the BGM adopted the proposed Standing Rules presented to us by the Standing Rules Committee.
The Board then received reports and proposals from the six Response Groups, which resulted from Friday's and Saturday's break-out sessions.
The final action of the Board of General Ministries was a unanimous affirmation of a resolution presented by General Secretary Medley and ABC President Clark. "The Board of General Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA, in session this day, voices its appreciation for outstanding service to the gospel of Jesus Christ by Reverend Dr. Daniel Vestal, Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship."