7:00PM – 7:30PM Evening Program – Recognition of General Secretary Roy Medley 7:30PM - 9:00PM Worship, Preacher; Roy Medley 9:00PM – 10:00PM ABCUSA General Secretary Reception
More about tonight's speaker: Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley is General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA), the pastoral and administrative leader of the 1.3-million-member denomination in over 5200 congregations. Medley’s term as general secretary will conclude on December 31, 2015.
In response to the changing cultural context in which the churches in North America live and serve, Dr. Medley has led the denomination in the “Transformed by the Spirit” initiative. Transformed by the Spirit invites congregations into prayerful discernment and committed action in their communities and the world. “The church cannot live as a gated community,” remarks Medley. “A church with a sole goal of privilege and prestige, a church which has forgotten the cross, is a church with no spiritual power.”
American Baptists’ history of peacemaking has led him to be in the forefront of building relationships of mutual respect and understanding between Baptists and Muslims. Dr. Medley has been an untiring advocate on behalf of the Christian community and others in Burma who have suffered human rights and religious liberty violations under the military. He currently serves as chair of the National Council of Churches Governing Board and carries a number of responsibilities with the Baptist World Alliance. Prior to being called as General Secretary, Dr. Medley served as executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, national director of the Neighborhood Action Program of American Baptist National Ministries, and as a pastor.
