World Assembly: celebrating the past and facing the challenges of the future by United Bible Societies Staff
NEWPORT, Wales, September 17, 2004 — Delegates representing many different cultures and languages but sharing a common passion to see the world enriched by the Bible gathered at the end of August for the United Bible Societies (UBS) World Assembly. In the year in which the Bible Society movement celebrates two centuries of its mission and ministry, and in the country which - through one girl's determination to read the Bible in her own language - gave birth to the movement, leaders of national Bible Societies reflected on the theme 'God's Unchanging Word for a Changing World'.
New President Elected
During the World Assembly delegates voted in a new President for the United Bible Societies. Dr. George Barton from Wellington, New Zealand will serve a six-year term. D. Barton has served on the board of the Bible Society in New Zealand since 1966, during which time he served as president of that board from 1966 to 1998. Prior to his election, Dr. Barton had been serving as vice-president of UBS.
Debate, reflection, decision-making, worship and celebration all had their place in a week during which the delegates both acknowledged the past achievements of the Bible Society movement and considered the challenges of ensuring effective and meaningful distribution of the Holy Scriptures and helping people interact with the Word of God in a rapidly changing world.
As the delegates returned to their own countries, they took with them a renewed commitment to working together not only to provide Bibles to people who have not yet heard God's Word, but also to helping people to think differently about the Bible and to working with the Church to live out the Bible message; above all, to making the Bible known, loved and respected everywhere.
