April 17, 2003

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - Matthew Giuffrida, a longtime leader in refugee resettlement and interfaith work for American Baptist National Ministries, died yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla. He was 77.

Giuffrida, who served as director of National Ministries' Direct Human Services program and was a commissioned American Baptist home missionary, retired in 1993 after 38 years of service.

Beginning in 1959 Giuffrida directed National Ministries' Office of Refugee and Immigration Services. Under his guidance the denomination's refugee program over the years led all Protestant denominations cooperating with Church World Service's refugee resettlement office.

As of December 2002, the number of refugees resettled by American Baptists since the end of World War II was 89,223.

In addition to Giuffrida's work with refugee resettlement, he represented American Baptists in interfaith arenas; worked to establish options for American Baptists seeking alternative military service; coordinated the denomination's home mission volunteer program; and administered American Baptist National Disaster Response funds in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

At the time of his retirement Giuffrida chaired the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program Committee and the Christian-Jewish Relations Committee of the National Council of Churches, as well as the World Council of Churches' U.S. Ecumenical Resource Sharing Committee. He also had served as a member of the Board of Heifer Project International

Following service in the U.S. Combat Engineers in World War II, Giuffrida studied international relations at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Upon receiving his bachelor of arts degree, he joined the staff of the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society (now part of National Ministries) as field representative of the refugee program.

Commenting on Giuffrida's contributions to American Baptist life, National Ministries Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III said, "Matthew Giuffrida served as an American Baptist home missionary with passion and compassion for those forced to flee home and homeland. The remarkable refugee resettlement ministry of our denomination can be traced directly to his tireless efforts to provide a safe haven and hope for those who had lost all hope. If anyone can be called a "Baptist Saint," it is Matthew Giuffrida. We will honor his life by continuing the legacy he has given us."

A memorial service will be held May 10 at 1 p.m. at The American Baptist Church of the Beatitudes, 2812 8th Street, N., St. Petersburg, Fla.

American Baptist News Service