December 2022

You may recall last year that the members of the National Executive Council (NEC), comprised of Sharon Koh, Jeffrey Haggray, Louis Barbarin, Gina Jacobs-Strain and me, participated in a video story reading produced by Jonathan Wu from the Max Lucado book entitled, “You Are Special.”

This year, the members of the NEC came together to do another reading, this time of the award winning children’s book entitled, “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. The story is about Peter, a young boy who embarks upon a snow-filled day. He experiences such wonder, adventure, and delight that he puts a snowball in his pocket so that he can enjoy the snow again the next day.

This story reminds me of the biblical character of Peter, who also wanted to extend a moment with Jesus. Recall with me the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus when Moses and Elijah appeared before Peter, James and John. Claiming, “It is good for us to be here,” Peter proposes that they build three tents and just dwell there for a while. Indeed, overcome with the connection of past, present, and future, Peter seeks to extend the moment indefinitely.

There are many occurrences in scripture when people seek to extend a moment with God...

Read the full reflection from Dr. Woods here.

American Baptist Churches USA is pleased to offer a new children’s storybook video for the American Baptist family based upon the book, “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. Members of the National Executive Council provided the voices and narration for the story and director Jonathan Wu produced the video. “The Snowy Day,” 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow had fallen while he slept. It allows the reader to remember childhood adventures and enjoy a snowy day from a child’s eyes.

We invite you to view the video below, and learn more here.

After months of advocacy efforts by many American Baptists, the Burma Act Bill was passed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday, December 15. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees had in recent weeks included the Burma Act amendment in the final language of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 (NDAA).

General Secretary Dr. C. Jeff Woods said, “If anyone is wondering if denominations are still needed today, this is a prime example of the power of a group congregations and institutions with similar polity choosing to work together on a critical issue. This result would not have been possible without the cooperative efforts of national, international, and local staff and volunteers, journeying together toward a common goal. We are indebted to the Burma Advocacy Group, the Burma Refugee Commission, American Baptist International Ministries (IM), American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), the Regional Executive Ministers Council (REMC) and MMBB Financial Services (MMBB) for the collective efforts toward this outcome.”

A special advocacy group, called the Burma Advocacy Group and chaired by General Secretary Emeritus Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, was formed as a subcommittee of the ABC Burma Refugee Commission to focus exclusively on advocacy for the people of Myanmar. This advocacy group eventually included partnerships with over 20 U.S. church and advocacy groups related to the Burma diaspora in our country. The efforts of this group in large part led to the passage of this bill.

“This bill is of great importance as it contains provisions for substantial humanitarian aid, support for the democracy movement, and sanctions against those persons/entities funding the unlawful regime,” said Medley. “Our efforts began last year with the theme ‘Pray and Act for Burma.’ Each has been essential in securing the passage of this bill. When we had felt it was all but lost, God heard our prayers and the bill was given new life when Rep. Gregory Meeks, in an unforeseen legislative move, gave it new life.”

Learn more here.

The Rev. Kathryn Choy-Wong has been named the 2023 recipient of the Cora and John Sparrowk President’s Award. The award will be presented on Sunday evening, June 25 during the 2023 American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit on behalf of the American Baptist Churches USA Board of General Ministries. The 2023 Biennial Mission Summit event will be held June 23-25, 2023 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The award recognizes an American Baptist who has over a period of years made an exceptional and outstanding contribution to the life of Christ’s church, and who, in life and service, manifests richly the fruits and gifts of the Spirit. In 2021, Rev. Dr. Albert P. Brinson was named recipient of the Sparrowk Award, presented in a video presentation during the 2021 online Biennial Mission Summit.

The award is made possible by an endowment established by Cora and John Sparrowk. Cora Sparrowk served at one time as President of American Baptist Churches USA. Nominations for the 2023 recipient were received by the Board of the General Ministries in Fall 2022. Choy-Wong was selected by the board president in consultation with the vice president and immediate past president, and the selection was approved by the Board’s Executive Committee. View a list of past recipients here.

American Baptist Churches USA President Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe said, “The 2023 recipient of the Sparrowk President’s Award, the Rev. Kathryn Choy-Wong, has spent a lifetime sharing the gospel, serving on national staff of ABCUSA, regional staff, and as a local church pastor. She has served as a volunteer with the Asian American Baptist Churches. Throughout her career the Rev. Choy-Wong has exemplified all of the qualities of a servant leader, working for equality and justice for all persons with a holistic and compassionate witness to the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Read more.

Visit www.americanbaptists2023.com to learn more about the event, to meet our plenary speakers, view the schedule and learn more about the workshops offered. We hope you will join us in San Juan, Puerto Rico beginning Thursday, June 22, 2023! #abcusa2023 #abcmissionsummit

The American Baptist Churches Burma Advocacy Group calls for the immediate release of the Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson, former General Secretary and President of the Kachin Baptist Convention.  Dr. Samson was forcibly detained by the military junta and secreted away. We fear for his safety and life while being unlawfully detained. This is now the most recent in a string of attacks directed against the people of the Kachin State by the military junta.

Dr. Samson has been a key religious leader in Burma, working tirelessly with people of different faiths to promote religious liberty and tolerance. For many years now, he has also been in the forefront of providing humanitarian assistance for those impacted by hostilities in the Kachin State.

We join our voices with those demanding his release and consider Dr. Samson to be in grave danger of torture. We call upon the international community to work for his release.

Read the full statement from the Burma Advocacy Group here.

Rev. Dr. William H. Brackney, former executive director of the American Baptist Historical Society (ABHS) from 1978-1986, died on November 13, 2022. During Brackney’s tenure as Executive Director, ABHS became the permanent custodian of the records of the national boards of American Baptist Churches USA, the Philadelphia Baptist Association, and the Freewill Baptist movement in North America.

Rev. Dr. Priscilla Eppinger, current executive director of ABHS, noted, “As the first person to hold the title of ‘Executive Director’ of the American Baptist Historical Society, Rev. Dr. William H. Brackney left an indelible mark on the Society. We can credit Bill Brackney with initiating the Archives Center at the ABCUSA headquarters at Valley Forge, Pa. Bill’s numerable publications, projects that he spearheaded, and research were unmatched among Baptist historians. The Baptist world has lost another of its titans."

Read more.

The American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary and the Theologians Commission will host the sixth pre-biennial theology conference around the theme “Holy Presence in a Post-Pandemic World” in an effort to foster ongoing, vigorous theological conversations among American Baptist theologians, pastor-theologians, and theological educators throughout the denomination. The conference will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023, ahead of the 2023 American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit, which will be held June 23-25, 2023 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Theologians Commission invites proposals of presentations that address (American) Baptist notions of the Holy Presence in a Post-Pandemic World. Scholars in social ethics, systematic theology, biblical studies, church history, missiology, and practical theology are invited to offer proposals for a 20-minute presentation. Additionally, panels of three participants may be proposed. Presentations that explore the views and perspectives of under-represented groups are encouraged.

Learn more.

View a recording of Beyond the Offering Plate: Stewarding Life and End of Life, originally presented by Rev. Dr. Campbell B. Singleton, III, on November 21, 2022.

More:

We often focus our conversations concerning stewardship around budgets and finances. However, the very first gift God has given us to steward is life. In this webinar, we will explore what it means to be stewards of our lives, our time, our energy, our attitudes, and we will also venture into helping people consider the stewardship found at the end of a person’s life. Churches play such a critical role throughout people’s lives and it is critical that we reflect on how we can best teach the stewardship of life and end of life.



To learn more about The Generosity and how you and your congregation can join a future cohort, click HERE.

"Passing the Peace" will be hosted by American Baptist Women's Ministries. Learn more about the Everyday ABC Conversations series here.

American Baptist Women in Ministry and Illuminated Journeys invite you to "The Way," a Walk/Ride Pilgrimage across the Camino de Santiago in Spain, April 9-19, 2024.

This pilgrimage is especially designed for those who want to experience the historic Camino de Santiago and learn about the spiritual practice of pilgrimage but don’t have the time or the physical training to walk “The Way” in its entirety. Exploring some of the most interesting places and most evocative landscapes along the Camino, tour participants will walk and ride to the great cathedral city of Santiago and discover the beauty of the Spanish countryside in the region of Navarra, the riches of Spanish food in the region of Rioja, and the Celtic culture of Galici.

American Baptist leaders Patricia Hernandez, associate general secretary of American Baptist Women in Ministry, and Jackie Saxon, executive minister of Mid-American Baptist Churches, will personally escort this journey, joining Brad Berglund with Illuminated Journeys, who is an experienced tour guide with special skill in the spirituality of pilgrimage. Along with Berglund, both Hernandez and Saxon have previously walked the Camino and will provide reflective leadership and a supportive presence throughout.

Learn More.

This past year has been one of both recovery and enduring struggles for our American Baptist Churches community—a year that reminds us of all that pastors do for our churches, congregations, and the communities they serve.

The theme for RMMO 2022 is: For all they’ve done

As illustrated in this year’s campaign materials, our pastors are active. They pray, listen, baptize, marry, mourn, counsel, celebrate, and so much more. It takes great energy to sustain our congregations through the ups and downs of life.

Video and online tools needed to conduct RMMO2022 successfully are available online at www.abc-usa.org/rmmo.

American Baptist Leaders Release New Storybook Video for 2022 Christmas Season

Advent in a Post-Pandemic World: Rethinking Our Worship

Intercultural Leadership Institute’s Year-Long Program Addressing Cultural Competency Ends with Special Training Session

Burma Advocacy Group Signature Campaign Advocates Passing of Burma Act

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.