June 15, 2009

VALLEY FORGE, PA – National Ministries Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III today announced the appointment of Rev. Rothangliani R. Chhangte, an ordained American Baptist minister, as liaison for Burmese refugees. Chhangte assumes her new post on June 22.

Chhangte will address needs of the growing influx of Burmese refugees by building successful relationships and fostering meaningful partnerships among this population and American Baptist churches and regions. She will remain abreast of arrivals, conduct needs assessments, identify English as a Second Language and other social service resources, and assist local church ministries serving this population.

Chhangte comes to National Ministries from the New York City office of Church World Service where she served as program analysis coordinator and interim associate director for the Mission Relationships and Witness Program. Previously, she was director of ecumenical formation for American Baptist Churches USA, executive director and founder of the Asian American Youth Association in Philadelphia, adjunct professor at Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, PA, and administrator for the Oxford (United Kingdom) Conference on Christian Faith and Economics.

Chhangte has nearly a decade of experience working with Southeast Asian refugees. She has visited the Maela Refugee Camp in Thailand and understands the Burmese refugee experience. As pastor of Woodland Baptist Church and assistant pastor of Chestnut Street Baptist Church, both in Philadelphia, she worked with refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

With broad denominational experience, Chhangte has served on the planning committee of several national conferences for Asian American Baptist pastors as well as the executive committees of the national Ministers Council and the Philadelphia Baptist Association.

Chhangte is a recipient of the Human Rights Award from the Human Relations Commission of the City of Philadelphia. In addition, she received the Community Service Award from Philadelphia's Association of Asian American Educators. Her original video about Vietnamese and Cambodian refugee youth received a citation from local public television station WYBE.

Along with a master of divinity degree from Palmer Seminary, Chhangte holds a master of business administration degree in economic development from Eastern University, St. Davids, PA, and a bachelor's degree in business from Bethel University, St. Paul, MN. Chhangte earned diplomas from the Oxford Graduate Summer School of Theology and the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Switzerland.

"American Baptist congregations throughout the nation are being transformed in powerful ways as a result of the internal displacement of ethnic groups in Myanmar [formerly known as Burma], the increasing numbers of Karen refugees along the Thai-Burma border, Chin refugees in India and Malaysia, and the anticipated arrival into the United States of more refugees from Thailand, India, and Malaysia. These, our brothers and sisters, bring with them a passion to connect with their American Baptist family and a desire to share their gifts and perspectives," says Rev. Marilyn Turner, National Ministries' associate executive director for Program Ministries. "Rothangliani Chhangte brings an impressive array of gifts, expertise, and talents that will be invaluable in our efforts to minister alongside our newcomer brothers and sisters."

American Baptist News Service