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Urgent Memorandum From The Rochester Summit Standing Rules Sub-Group Regarding A Petition To The General Board The IN/KY Region Board has succeeded in getting 200 churches from 5 Regions to petition the General Board to do away with any way for  churches dismissed by their Region to join another Region or otherwise appeal to remain American Baptist. Please urge your church to sign the Petition created by the Rochester Summit process. Suggested deadline: August 30, 2005

Petition to the General Board plus procedures for submitting (pdf format) (MS Word format)

For your information -

 

 

THE ROCHESTER SUMMIT
February 18-19, 2005

One hundred fifty eight American Baptist leaders have just concluded a historic meeting to celebrate our heritage and to affirm the diverse and inclusive nature of our fellowship.

We used a process called Open Space Technology which allowed for maximum engagement and input from all in attendance.

There were a multitude of actions and working statements developed which will be shared with the larger family in the next weeks and months.  All will become available in short order on this website.

Below is a copy of one statement which was endorsed by consensus of the group gathered. In the very near future you will be able  to add your online signature to this document. Please spread it widely to all American Baptists. This statement with signatures will be presented to appropriate American Baptist leaders and organizations.
 

THE ROCHESTER SUMMIT AFFIRMATION
February 18-19, 2005
 
We are a diverse group of 158 American Baptist men and  women, ages from our 20's to our 80's, gathering from 14 states, 49 Associations and 11 Regions or State Conventions.  We represent clergy and laity; local, regional, and national leaders; and members of the General Board and Program Boards.

We reaffirm that the Old and New Testaments are the sufficient ground of our faith and practice and, under the experience of the Holy Spirit, we need no creed or confession.

We rededicate ourselves to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and call our entire denomination to the common task of sharing the whole gospel with the whole world.  We call upon all American Baptist Churches to be welcoming communities of faith where every child of God is included.  Individually we espouse soul freedom, endeavoring to live by the moral and ethical principles taught by Christ and revealed in scripture, realizing that God is the ultimate and sole judge of our thoughts and actions.  As worshipping communities, we celebrate being worthy trustees of all of God's creation.  We uphold freedom of religious expression, expect no conformity to any creed or binding confession, and strive for justice within all human relationships.

We affirm the denominational leadership that God has imparted to us who support our Baptist principles of soul freedom and local church autonomy and commit ourselves to be the "Bridge-Builders" that our General Secretary has called us to be.
 

You may add your signature to this document by signing our online petition (contains both English and Spanish texts)

This statement with signatures will be presented to appropriate American Baptist leaders and organizations.

The Rochester Summit Affirmation in pdf format (English)

The Rochest Summit Affirmation in pdf format (Spanish)

 

 

Rochester Summit
Briefing on Current Issues & Concerns
18-19 February 2005

I.     DOCUMENTS (all are in pdf format) Get Acrobat Reader

A.   STATEMENTS

  1. A Bridge People in World of Wall -Builders
    Report to General Board by ABCUSA General Secretary A. Roy Medley        
  2. A Safe Place Covenant     
  3. Black Caucus Statement on Unity  
  4. The Judson Declaration, from The Coalition for Baptist Principles 
  5. The Forgotten ABC Resolution  


B.  DENOMINATIONAL ANALYSIS

  1. UM per Church by Region 2004      

C.  MINISTERS COUNCIL

  1. Ministers Council Report   


D.  REMC "Pastoral Letter" and Responses

  1. Regional Executive Minister's Letter  
  2. An Open Letter to the Regional Executive Ministers Council from The Council of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists   
  3. An Open Letter from the Ministers of Judson Memorial Church to Regional Executive Ministers of the ABCUSA  
  4. ABC Metro of  Chicago response to Regional Executive Ministers Letter  
  5. An Open Letter to Regional Executive Ministers Council from Doug Donley  


E.  RESPONSES TO BIM TERMINATIONS – CORTEZ AND CRUZ  

  1. Letter to IM from Hispanic Caucus  
  2. Hispanic Caucus Response to IM firing of Eddie Cruz  
  3. Hispanic Caucus Letter to ABCUSA leaders  
  4. Concerns expressed by members of the Hispanic Caucus about ABC life 


F.  PROPOSALS/POSSIBLE ACTIONS

  1. Response from Dale Salico, Executive Minister of ABCPSW (Great Commission Network)
  2. Recommendations Regarding Homosexuality - ABC/ IN-KY
  3. Knipel response to ABC/IN-KY proposal   
  4. Resolution of West Virginia Baptist Churches For Biblical Truth in the ABC/USA 

Reports from Summit Groups (all are in pdf format) Get Acrobat Reader

  1. Baptists without Borders 

  2. Draft Resolutions for Regional Boards to Bring to the General Board  

  3. Principles of Engagement

  4. I Was There by William Lippard

  5. Urgent Memorandum From The Rochester Summit Standing Rules Sub-Group Regarding A Petition To The General Board The IN/KY Region Board has succeeded in getting 200 churches from 5 Regions to petition the General Board to do away with any way for  churches dismissed by their Region to join another Region or otherwise appeal to remain American Baptist. Please urge your church to sign the Petition created by the Rochester Summit process.

  6. Petition to the General Board plus procedures for submitting

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