SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (ABNS 6/30/11)—The General Board meetings of American Baptist Churches USA came to a close on Wednesday, June 29, which marked the last meeting of the General Board before the amendments to the bylaws take effect on January 1, 2012.

The Board of General Ministries will meet beginning in 2012, which includes: At-Large Directors (33) elected by the Biennial Meeting Delegates, with one from each Region; General Directors (5) elected by the Board of General Ministries; and Ex-Officio Directors (6) (ABCUSA elected officers and Inter-Caucus President) on the Board of General Ministries.

“I am honored and humbled to take office as the next president of the American Baptist Churches USA,” said Ruth Clark, president elect for ABCUSA. “We have been blessed with a heritage of great leadership. My goal is to continue to build on the foundation they have provided to help our denomination grow and prosper as I work with the board and leaders of ABCUSA.”

The final plenary session of the General Board meeting ended with a celebration to close the meetings following Celebrate! 2011 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Roy Medley, general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, recognized outgoing members saying, “General Board members who are retiring, you have shared generously of your time, talents and Christian love as you have served over the years. Sometimes this has been difficult, because of the focus of our deliberations. Sometimes it has been joyful as we celebrated our ministry and mission together. Through it all you have served as you were called.”

Medley also recognized outgoing President Frank Christine, outgoing Vice President Patti Stratton, and Budget Review Officer James R. Ratliff.

“Serving as Vice President of ABCUSA this Biennium has been a joy-filled honor and delight,” said Patti Stratton, vide president of ABCUSA. “I’ve met wonderfully committed lay folk and pastors who have hearts tuned in and turned toward God. My prayers will be with the new slate as they take office. Thank you for allowing me to serve.”

The names of the retiring representatives are as follows:

Lacey Alford
Barbara Anderson
Tim April
James Ash
Older Azard
Kenneth Board
Garth Brokaw
John Burns
James Callaway
Lois Chiles
Ruth Clark (president elect of ABCUSA)
Pamela DeLeon
Brenda Fluker
David Gnirk
Sharon Gober
David Gregg
Wendy Hagn
Lorna Hansen
Robert Hendrix
Manuel Hernandez
Desmond Hoffmeister
Neil Hoppe
Darrell James
Danica Hernandez Keefe
Kenneth Kenipe, Jr.
Thom Lacy
Sherman Lambert
Antonio Lombardi
Chrity Matic
Trinette McCray
Lee McDonald
Jorge Medero
Reg Mills
Carole Moore
Paul Nelson
Don Ng (vice president elect of ABCUSA)
David Nuhfer
Timothy Pantoja
Sandra Phares
Susan Pittman
Corazon Pueblos
Roger Raikes
Jay Rambo
Scotty Robertson
Jeff Savage
Rich Schweissing
Hopeton Scott
Robert Scott
Nancy Shaver
Eleanor Siegrist
Laura Sinclair
Wallace C. Smith
Lynne Stauffer
Sharon Stradling
Brazilian Thurman
George Tooze
June Totten
Paul Vick
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.