May 2023

The 2023 Biennial Mission Summit will be offered online! Many persons have let us know that they are unable to travel to the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico - and we are happy to offer an online option for a registration fee of $49!

We will have a number of events happening that individuals may access online as a virtual attendee:

Friday, June 23

• Welcome Session, 3:00PM ET/12:00PM PT
• Spotlight on Puerto Rico, 4:00PM ET/1:00PM PT
• Worshipful Work - International Ministries Report, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT
• Friday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT

Saturday, June 24

• Worshipful Work - American Baptist Home Mission Societies Report, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT
• Saturday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT

Sunday, June 25

• Sunday Morning Worship, 9:00AM ET/6:00AM PT
• Business Session, 2:30PM ET/11:30AM PT
• Worshipful Work - American Baptist Churches USA, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT
• Sunday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT

Learn more:

With the theme “For Such a Time as This,” the biennial event is the premier opportunity for American Baptists to gather and connect with one another, hear directly from American Baptist partners and friends, worship together as one family of God, and learn the latest happenings across the American Baptist denomination.

#abcusa2023 #ABCMissionSummit

Hear from our Keynote Speakers:

The Burma Advocacy Group continues to ask American Baptists to Pray and Act for Burma.

The Burma Advocacy Group was active and instrumental during the successful passage of the Burma Act in December 2022, which is the essential guide of the US government in its support for religious liberty, a free and federal democracy, in holding accountable the perpetrators of crimes against humanity, and the release of generous support for humanitarian aid.

Now, it is essential that sufficient funding for these provisions of the Burma Act is secured. Just as we must not cease praying, we must not cease acting on behalf of the people of Burma. Right now, funding for the Act is before the House and Senate appropriations committees. This is where funding amounts will be determined and recommended for vote.

Help is essential to the Burma Advocacy Group’s success for Burma. Individuals can ACT, in a simple yet effective way, as follows:

Use the QR code above or visit this website to advocate for the full funding for the provisions of the Burma Act, the $270 million that was proposed and agreed to by the House during the last session. The funding will go towards vital humanitarian aid, efforts to establish genuine federal democracy, efforts for protections of ethnic and religious minorities, accountability for those guilty of human rights abuses, and non-lethal support for those opposing the military junta.

You’re invited to our next Everyday ABC Conversation event, “Congregational Innovations” on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET, with presenters Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula and Rev. Travis Norvell. Mamula and Norvell will also be leading workshops at the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit.

Congregational Innovation happens in many ways across American Baptist Churches USA. We invited two American Baptist leaders to share about how they are innovating in their own ministry. Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula will share about Congregational Innovations around the Table, noting: “We are hard-wired to flourish within the context of community. Innovative opportunities like Table life are a holistic approach to faith and life while fostering thriving community connections.” Rev. Travis Norvell will share about Congregational Innovations while riding a bike, taking the bus, and walking on a sidewalk as a way to connect with your neighborhood and discover God already at work in the world around you.

Learn more.

The Generosity Project presents a free live Zoom event with Tod Bolsinger on Monday, May 22 at 1:00 PM ET. We will hear from Tod Bolsinger, who will be sharing from his book "Tempered Resilience." Following the presentation there will be a short time of Q&A.

Register Now

Tod will be sharing about leading adaptive change. The problems church leaders are facing today require adaptive change to solve: “they cannot be solved with one’s existing knowledge, skills and tools, requiring people to make a shift in values, expectations, attitudes or habits of behavior.”

The struggles we face are “systemic problems with no clear answers.” Adaptive challenges are unlike technical problems which could be addressed with “application of current knowledge, skills and tools to resolve a situation.”

Tod Bolsinger is a speaker, executive coach, former pastor and author who serves as associate professor of leadership formation and senior fellow for the De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Seminary. He is the author of "Canoeing the Mountains" and "Tempered Resilience." 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.

This webinar is open to persons from all American Baptist regions, and is sponsored by the Generosity Project, a ministry of the American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary, in partnership with:

• District of Columbia Baptist Convention
• American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis
• American Baptist Churches of the Central Region
• American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains
• Great Rivers Region of American Baptist Churches

Our denomination is participating in a national survey on well-being and help-seeking in ABCUSA pastors and, if applicable, pastors’ spouses. I am asking pastors who would like to participate to take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey and, as applicable, forward to your spouse as well. We believe that this information will help us better understand and assist our pastors and, for those who are married, their spouses. This survey is completely anonymous, and your answers will not be shared with regional or national offices. 

Click this link to take the survey provided by Pastoral Wellness Research.

Thank you so much for your participation! 

Rev. Dr. C. Jeff Woods

General Secretary

American Baptist Churches USA

We need boosters for our Biennial Mission Summit 2023. Whether you are attending the Biennial Mission Summit in Puerto Rico or not, you can be a Booster by praying for those who attend, speak, lead and plan. We want every component of the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit to be covered by prayer as we meet and share. Pray for our churches in Puerto Rico as they continue to be generous hosts. Pray for our times of worship and our

times of work. Pray for safe travels and safety as we gather.

Individuals can also be a Booster by making a financial gift to support the important ministry taking place as we gather in Puerto Rico. Churches and individuals can contribute for this special event. We are gathering in person for the first time since 2019, costs are high and the need is great. Many lives will be touched by the gathering of God’s people as we worship, study, learn and celebrate, all God has given to us.

Prayerfully consider joining as a Booster to make this a pivotal event in the story of God’s work in our churches and communities.

Yes, I will be a Biennial Booster through prayer! Learn more about the event here.

Yes, I would like to contribute financially. Select "Biennial Support" from the Fund options here.

Whether you just entered the workforce or are soon to retire, it’s important to be aware of new legislation that will affect your retirement savings plans. The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 was signed into law on December 29, 2022.The SECURE 2.0 Act includes multiple provisions that touch retirement savings plans, including church plans.

Read the MMBB article by clicking here.

The American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas has called Rev. Dr. Aaron Kilbourn to be the region’s next Region Executive Minister. Rev. Dr. Kilbourn’s term of service as Executive Minister will begin June 1, 2023.

According to Rev. Brian Skar, president of the Region Policy Board of the American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas recently extended a call to Dr. Kilbourn to serve as their Executive Minister. “Aaron Kilbourn has been a pastor in the Dakotas for over twenty years, so we know him well. He is a serious disciple and a Biblical scholar. He is a man of energy and passion. We are excited to have him as our new Executive Minister.”

Read more.

2022 marks two years in a row that MMBB has had two articles in Church Executive's top 15 most read articles of the year. In 2022, MMBB's "Hidden Cost of Job Relocation" ranked third and "Financial Strategies for Your Church" ranked ninth on the list. 

A ReSource Leadership Conference will be held May 18-19, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Champaign in Savoy, Ill. This conference is open to any/all American Baptist regions. Learn more below:

Domestic violence is a serious issue that impacts many women and families in our communities and congregations. As pastors and church leaders, we have a responsibility to help those who are affected by domestic violence. In partnership with Safe Haven Ministries, American Baptist Women’s Ministries is pleased to invite you to our Domestic Violence Workshop & Certification, occurring this Saturday, April 29, 2023, virtually or at the First Baptist Church of Detroit, 21200 Southfield Rd, Southfield, MI 48075.

For more information, please visit www.abwomensministries.org/events or contact info@abwomensministries.org.

Rodney Ragwan and Jennifer Pedzinski Transition to New Ministry Roles at International Ministries

ABHS Announces 2023 George D. Younger Award Recipient

ABHMS Executive Director Selected to Join MLK Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College

An Easter Reflection from Dr. C. Jeff Woods, General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA

Call to Response for Recent Tornadoes in the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Regions

American Baptist Historical Society Announces Call for Papers for Torbet Prize

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.