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ABCUSA Together: We are American Baptists
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New Resources Posted, Reopening Discussion Guide Now Available
The American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary has released a new resource for American Baptist churches. The resource, "Discussion Guide for Reopening Your  Church Building," is designed to help American Baptist churches look at various points of consideration as they implement new methods, policies and procedures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is available in English and Spanish.
The Discussion Guide, developed with input from members of the Regional Executive Ministers Council, specifically focuses on two core areas, the physical and the personal.
In addition to the Discussion Guide, we are working to collect resources in a common location for local churches and pastors. We invite you to visit our resource page at www.abc-usa.org/coronavirus, where resources are added daily.
Here you will find resources from a variety of sources offering insight, ideas and aid during this new and rapidly changing time. Updates from regional and national American Baptist partners are also included by date, found in a section directly under the resources on this page.
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ABCUSA Connections - 2020, Issue 1
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Join us on May 7 for a Webinar Looking at Reopening Churches
As state and local authorities begin to ease restrictions, it will be important to engage in
 pre-planning prior to hosting worship and ministry activities in our church buildings.
Any plan for reopening needs to have health and safety as its top priority. With that in mind, the American Baptist Churches USA has partnered with Church Mutual Insurance and Sovereign Insurance to bring us helpful recommendations around Safely Returning to Worship.
Please join us at 3:00pm EDT on Thursday, May 7, for a live webinar featuring Guy Russ, Church Mutual's Assistant Vice President of Risk Control. He will provide important information regarding social distancing, effective cleaning practices, procedures and how to protect the most vulnerable and many other COVID 19 safety related issues.
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Giving Tuesday Now
Did you know that TODAY is
Giving Tuesday Now? We invite you to give to support American Baptist Churches USA for #GivingTuesdayNow, a new global day of giving and unity taking place on May 5, 2020 - in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday - as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
Gifts can be made on our website
here - we invite you to enter specific gift designations in the comments section.
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American Baptists Invited to Participate in Climate Webinar Training
People are growing more concerned about climate change. As they witness and experience  impacts to their health, livelihoods and communities, they are increasingly looking for guidance on solutions from people in their daily lives-including faith leaders like you.
On May 8, 2020 from 11:30am-4:00pm EDT, the ABC Creation Justice Network will be hosting a webinar training that will equip you with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to speak and act confidently from a firm biblical grounding on climate change and solutions. Registration is required for the free training:
click here to register.
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A Generosity Project Reflection: Generosity in the Midst of a Global Pandemic
The Generosity Project is a collaborative effort between ABCUSA, regions, and local congregations. The Generosity Project aims to help pastors re-frame the conversation around stewardship and generosity in their congregations. Bi-monthly
blogs help support new growth
 and understanding as we deepen our ministry and discipleship.
The
latest posting is written by Rev. Dr. Campbell B. Singleton, III, Associate Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York.
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Don't Miss It!
This new Ecumenical Stewardship Center resource is available at no cost to you.
ABCUSA has purchased licenses for American Baptist churches who would like to use this online
subscription for the 2020 theme Faithful, Hopeful, Loving. This complimentary subscription based on 1 Corinthians 13:13 includes the Giving magazine and 9 categories of digital files to enhance your congregation's emphasis experience.
Every congregation in North America practices stewardship. The question is whether they do so well, or not so well.
Giving
magazine vol 22 no 1 focuses on year-round stewardship and provides thoughtful, practical, and inspirational articles on all these topics and more. Request your subscription today and receive not only this issue, but three more on faithful generosity, hopeful generosity, and loving generosity-a great companion to the Faithful, Hopeful, Loving stewardship resource.
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