VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 8/9/16)—A search is now underway for a new General Secretary to serve the American Baptist family. The General Secretary Search Committee met for the first time on August 8 in Chicago, Ill.

This meeting held a two-fold purpose.  First, members began to establish a sense of cohesion as a community bonded together through Christ to do the holy task set before them. Committee Chaplain, Rev. Kelly Legg, facilitated an interactive devotion that created a climate of deep appreciation for each member of the committee.  Continuing with the first focus, the committee signed a Statement of Confidentiality and agreed to a covenant commitment for the season together.   They also discussed ways to work together that allow every voice to be heard and affirmed. Secondly, the committee began to interview consultants to assist in the search process.

As the day’s work was completed, ABCUSA President Judy Fackenthal reported, “We are grateful for the commitment of the committee members who summarized this day with words such as: excited, energized, grateful, satisfied, encouraged, affirmed, assured, hopeful, contemplative, sacredness, and fascinated.”  Fackenthal is urging all American Baptists to continue to pray as the committee seeks to identify God’s will in the selection process for an ABC General Secretary.

Committee members are:  Judy Fackenthal, chair; Wesley Roberts, vice-chair; Kelly Legg, chaplain; Robert Crouch; Shirley Fair; Charity Matic; Donald Robinson; Tom Ross; Don Ng; Marcia Patton; Charles Revis; John Williams; Doris Garcia-Rivera; and Marilyn Tyson, support staff.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.