December 19, 2003

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA has named the Rev. Florence Li national coordinator for Intercultural Ministries, Asian Churches strategist. Li will join the National Ministries' staff - where she will work with partners to strengthen Asian American Baptist churches - on March 1, 2004. As part of the Church in Community Transformation team, Li also will work to build and strengthen intercultural understanding and ministry.

Currently assistant executive director/youth services of the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc., in New York City, Li manages and administers the youth division's program development, which includes strategic planning, goal setting, funding research, networking and advocacy.

"We are delighted that the Rev. Li has accepted our call," said the Rev. Dr. Cheryl F. Dudley, National Ministries' associate executive director for Church in Community Transformation. "Li's relationship with the American Baptist family began when she was a small child. Since then she has demonstrated her gifts in leadership in a number of contexts including the church and social-civic organizations. Li's knowledge of American Baptist systems, her thorough processing and clarity, as well as her vision and pastoral heart and sensitivity, will contribute greatly to our team."

Tri-lingual in Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin and Toi Shan), Li serves as East Coast coordinator of the Asian American Baptist Caucus, where she plans and organizes meetings for pastors and lay leaders. She also has served the caucus as Convocation Planning Committee chair.

Li has served in pastoral roles in Providence, R.I., and at the Elmhurst Baptist Church in Queens, N.Y., where she helped nurture a church back to life following a devastating fire. Currently Li resides in Valley Stream, N.Y., and serves as pulpit supply throughout the American Baptist Churches of Metro New York region. She also is a member of the Public Commission Committee and Nomination Committee of the Metro N.Y. region.

Ordained by First Baptist Church in America, Providence, R.I., Li holds a Master of Divinity degree from American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, Calif., a Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan.

American Baptist News Service