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Alliance News
Plans underway for the Alliance of Baptists' 2018 Annual Gathering
by Toya Richards
Alliance members and supporters from near and far will unite under the theme "Earth: Beloved Community" at the 2018 Annual Gathering set for April 26-29 in Dayton, Ohio. Registration is open!
"We are excited about once again co
ming together as a
movement of people, faith communities and ministry partners who are deeply passionate about ecumenism, partnership in mission, relentless hospitality and social justice," said
Sarah Macias, chair of the 2018 Annual Gathering planning committee.
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Ched Myers |
"Additionally, we are energized about joining together under a theme designed to empower and equip us to
participate as co-creators with God in bringing about earth as beloved community."
Noted activist theologian Ched Myers
will be the guiding force behind that theme as the featured speaker at the gathering, taking place at Harmony Creek Church in Dayton, Ohio. Myers' peace and justice work spans 25 years and includes numerous books and work with various social justice organizations.
Keep reading...
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News and Analysis
Alliance supports Gilles Bikindou, and scores of others being detained by ICE
by Paula Clayton Dempsey
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Gilles Bikindou |
Individuals threatened with deportation today serve in our communities in various ways -- as caretakers, childcare workers, small business owners, gardeners, cooks, builders and also as contributing members of congregations. One such committed member at Alliance congregational partner Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary, N.C. -- Gilles Bikindou -- was handcuffed and detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on Jan. 9 during a routine check-in. That, we believe, is unacceptable.
Gilles, a member of Greenwood Forest since March 2006, is law abiding, compliant with all requirements of immigration officials, a productive worker, a devoted Sunday school member and a regular worshipper at the church. He also has been in the process of pursuing political asylum. Gilles fled the Democratic Republic of Congo after witnessing state-sponsored violence and murder in his role as a civil servant, and because of his refusal to perjure himself in a public trial.
Keep reading...
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Members of
Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, the local community and the larger Alliance family gathered for a press conference in support of Gilles Bikindou.
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Practicing Congregation
Between fear and exhilaration
by Tim Moore
With my college-age children enjoying a longer Christmas break than exists in high school, we drove up to West Virginia for a day of skiing once the holidays had passed. With school-age children back in class the slopes were generally clear for us to ski wherever and however we wished.
After a couple of easy runs, my three were ready to head to the top of the mountain. As I stood at the top of a steep black diamond slope a brief wave of fear swept over me--as it always does when I return to ski after nearly a year's absence. What am I thinking? Can I still do this? One false move and I will surely break something. A moment later I lived into the fear, pushed off and in seconds felt the exhilaration of flying down the slope.
I've felt similar moments in ministry.
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Unity Flag a symbol of justice for all
As a minister at College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C., I am proud to serve a congregation whose members live out the Alliance of Baptists' commitment to the pursuit of justice on a daily basis. As this work is carried out through a variety of methods and in diverse community settings, it is clear that many social justice streams continue to intersect in profound ways.
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Unity Flag |
While the work done on behalf of each of these individual causes is no doubt crucial in its own right, a positive symbol that integrates visual aspects of these different movements into one design could potentially be meaningful to all communities that support basic human and civil rights for all people. The Unity Flag is an attempt to do just that, utilizing designs and colors from several human rights/social justice causes and bringing them together in one design.
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