July 2022

The Search Committee for the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA seeks input from American Baptists across the United States and Puerto Rico. American Baptists are invited to participate in a focus group with a member of the Search Committee. View the full message from the Search Committee below:

The Search Committee for the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA seeks your input!

In late July and early August, the Search Committee will be holding a number of Zoom focus groups scheduled by region, and would like to invite all American Baptists who feel called to participate in a focus group and to have a voice in the selection of the denomination’s next General Secretary.

Please add the date and connection information to your calendar and join us via Zoom at one of the scheduled focus group times to share your thoughts as we seek the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. (NOTE: If possible, join a call with others from your American Baptist region. All times listed are Eastern Time Zone.) Sessions will be hosted by a member of the Search Committee and should last for approximately one hour. Several general questions will be asked about the role and the necessary attributes of the next General Secretary.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important task on behalf of our denomination.

The General Secretary Search Committee

American Baptist Churches USA

We invite you to view our newly published 2021 Annual Summary. This publication provides a glimpse into the work of the American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary during the previous year. We are excited to share a look at the ministries and role of the Office of the General Secretary. Learn more about how we serve our congregations and partners through gathering the denomination, supporting congregations, regions and national organizations, and creating spaces for local and global issues.

In late August and early September 2022, Transition Ministries will host its next opportunity for pastors and other ministerial leaders to learn more about the skills needed to lead a church through a time of pastoral transition. Transition Ministries will offer an online training event on Friday, August 26-Saturday, August 27 and Friday, September 9-Saturday, September 10. Rev. Dr. William (Bill) C. Tatum, a long-time Transition Ministries interim pastor and Transition Ministries Training Coordinator, will lead these trainings online via ZOOM. The cost of this Transition Ministries online training is $150, and the sessions will provide 30 hours of Transition Ministries training.

The course will offer a learning opportunity for clergy interested in considering being part of the Transition Ministries Team. Each session will meet via ZOOM, and course work will take place daily from 11 AM to 7:40 PM (ET), totaling 30 contact hours (3 CEUs) for continuing education.

American Baptists and friends are invited to enjoy the worship sessions from the American Baptist Churches USA Biennial Mission Summit 2021 — An Online Experience, which met June 24-26, 2021. The Worship sessions from each evening during the event, centered around the conference theme Imagine and three event subthemes – Imagine Unity, Imagine Healing and Imagine Hope – have now been made available for the first time to all for viewing online via our YouTube Channel.

   Imagine Unity         Imagine Healing       Imagine Hope

The 2023 Biennial Mission Summit is less than one year away! Save the Date now for this event, coming June 2023 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Biennial dates are June 23-25, but make sure you save extra time as events will be held before, during and after the larger Biennial Mission Summit event.

To learn more about the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit as information becomes available, please continue to visit www.americanbaptists2023.com.

Join us for an Everyday ABC Conversation on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 3:00pm EDT with presenters Rev. Kathryn Ray and Rev. Michael Ware.

Multi-cultural ministry can mean many things. It may mean pastoring a diverse congregation that gathers each Sunday. For others, multi-cultural ministry may mean serving those outside of your church in the local community. This workshop will offer reflection on identifying different cultures within your community, ministering with people from cultures other than your own, and facilitating community-building that bridges multiple cultures, whether in the church or beyond.

View a recording of the Generosity Project Webinar, "Embracing Stewardship: Looking Through the Lens of Love," held Thursday, July 7, 2022.

View the recording of the webinar to hear a powerful story from Rev. Dr. Henrietta Carter and to be inspired to learn how to embrace stewardship through the lens of love in your congregation.

Click here to view the webinar.

Call for Nominations for National Ministers Council

Leadership Team

Ministers Council President Randolph T. Miller has announced the 2023-2024 open nomination process for the National Ministers Council Leadership Team. Positions include:

• President (one ‘two-year’ term)
• Vice President (one ‘two year’ term with succession to President (2025-2026)
• Secretary (two ‘two-year’ terms)
• Coordinator of Local Chapter Representatives (two ‘two-year’ terms)

The Nominating Committee members are Rev. Shane Kinnison, First Baptist Church, Glendale, California, Rev. Rebecca Driscoll, First Baptist Church, Attleboro, Massachusetts, Rev. Laurel Balyeat Morrison, Ministers Council of Northern California and Rev. Randolph Miller, President, Ministers Council ABCUSA.

“We invite you into a spirit of prayer and discernment as you consider the Leadership Team for the Ministers Council ABCUSA for the next term,” says Miller.

Nominations may be submitted here.

Learn more about open positions and position responsibilities below.

The deadline for nominations is August 1, 2022.

Join American Baptist Home Mission Societies

at Space for Grace

The 2022 Space for Grace theme—Testify!—speaks to the need in these times for diverse voices sharing genuine, honest dialogue about issues of Christian leadership, discipleship and justice.

Testify! will offer a place and space for telling God’s good news … and hearing it too. When we testify to each other in God’s love, our testimonies become gifts of grace that strengthen and affirm the faith we carry into facing the challenges of daily life.

Just like previous Space for Grace gatherings, “Testify!”—at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center—will provide opportunities to connect with passionate speakers and network with workshop leaders and fellow participants.

Don't Miss the MMBB RE:THINK RE:INVEST

Financial Conference

The MMBB RE:THINK RE:INVEST Financial Conference will take place November 13-15, 2022 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown. This will be a hybrid conference for clergy and church lay leaders from across the Northeast and neighboring regions.

Click here to learn more.

Worship Recordings from 2021 ABCUSA Biennial Mission Summit Now Viewable Online

International Ministries Endorses Luis Matos to Serve in Mexico

Call for Nominations for National Ministers Council Leadership Team

Deadline Approaches for 2022 Chestnut Street Baptist Church Endowment Fund Grant Applications

Radical. Redeemed. Ready. Conference Meets June 15-18

Visit the websites below

for happenings around the American Baptist denomination.

To view a full list of ABC ministry partners, click here.

ABC-related organizations who would like to submit upcoming news for a denomination-wide audience to this mid-month enewsletter may send submissions by the 10^th of the month to communications@abc-usa.org.