June 2022

Exactly one year from today, on June 23, 2023, we will mark the start of the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit event at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Save the Date and plan now to join together with American Baptists in Puerto Rico in June 2023!

The “Radical. Redeemed. Ready.” conference met Wednesday-Saturday, June 15-18, 2022, at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wis.

“Radical. Redeemed. Ready.” was a celebration of women ministerial leaders through many years of ministry. The event included recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the Women in Ministry Project, now known as American Baptist Women in Ministry (ABWIM). The first gathering of women at Green Lake was held in 1980, and the Women in Ministry Project formally began in 1982.

Women, men, leaders, ministers, lay people, young and old (4 was the youngest and 90 was the oldest!), many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds joined together to celebrate and affirm women in ministry.

View photos from the event here.

Learn more here.

Join us for a Generosity Project webinar on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Register here.

Rev. Dr. Henrietta Carter is the Senior Pastor of the historic Mariners’ Temple Baptist Church in New York City. In this webinar, Dr. Carter will share the inspiring story about how her congregation has learned to embrace stewardship and to express generosity with acts of love. Learning new ways to be stewards of God’s gifts within their church and in the wider community as helped Mariners’ Temple Baptist Church thrive throughout the pandemic.

We invite you to join in this webinar to hear this powerful story and to be inspired to learn how to embrace stewardship through the lens of love in your congregation.

The American Baptist Churches Board of General Ministries met June 13-15, 2022, at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wis.

“The sacred space that is Green Lake was host to the sacred work and worship of the Board of General Ministries as we met for our June meeting. In the work of sharing reports and making decisions the board shared times of deep fellowship and commitment to Christ and the American Baptist family. We celebrated our rich diversity and anticipate God’s awesome vision for our future,” said ABCUSA President Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe.

General Secretary Jeff Woods gave a report highlighting the focus of the American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary on gathering the denomination; supporting congregations, regions and national organizations; and creating space for local and global issues.

“I am grateful for the tremendous work of board members and staff to continue to advance these mission priorities. ABCUSA engages in this work with persons from the entire American Baptists family for all American Baptists,” said Woods.

Learn more.

In August and September 2022, Transition Ministries will host its next opportunity for pastors and other church 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. Bill 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.

More information and registration details to come soon - Save the Date!

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.

(Registration and more information to come soon.)

Learn more at:

www.abc-usa.org/how-we-serve/events/everyday-abc-conversations

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering

Continues in June

One Great Hour of Sharing (“OGHS”) is one of four annual offerings received by American Baptist churches. OGHS makes the love of Christ real for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, poverty or severe economic hardship, and for those who find themselves refugees or displaced within their home country.

Learn more.

Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations:

Free Webinar on June 27

Join Hartford International University for Religion and Peace for a Free Webinar on June 27 from 7pm to 8:30pm EDT.

The webinar will explore new findings from "Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations" surveys conducted in August 2021, December 2021 and March 2022 of a total of 5,000 churches about how congregations and their clergy are faring, as well as the challenges and possibilities facing faith communities.

The webinar will provide an overview of the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations: Innovation Amidst and Beyond Covid-19 study (a collaborative, five-year research project funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and led by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace), historical context on how the current pandemic relates to the experience of U.S. churches during the 1918 pandemic, creative innovations taking place in social outreach and Religious Education, and some of the possible implications for religious leaders.

As a study designed to track what the next five years will look like for faith communities, their leaders, and members, this event will offer a particular emphasis on changes in attendance, the pastoral role and member engagement. Presentations by the project team will be followed by reflections from two clergy members and a dedicated time for Q&A.

Register Now for the World Mission Conference

Join American Baptist International Ministries for the World Mission Conference, meeting July 4-9, 2022 at Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Experience international music and worship, engage in mission-related activities, and connect with global servants and international partners.

• Learn first-hand what is happening among Christians in different situations around the world.
• Get to know global servants and international partners in a deeper way.
• Become part of what the Holy Spirit is doing through world mission!

Learn more or register here.

Register Now for Space for Grace 2022

American Baptist Home Mission Societies' flagship event presents a week of unparalleled learning, fellowship and renewal. September 19-23 in Kansas City, Missouri. Early bird pricing ends soon!

Learn more.

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.

In Celebration of Juneteenth

July 15 is Deadline for 2022 Chestnut Street Baptist Church Endowment Fund Grant Applications

Do You Need a Security Grant? Information from Church Mutual Insurance

On the Shooting in Laguna Woods, California

General Secretary Releases Statement Following Recent Shootings

On the Mass Shooting in Buffalo, New York

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.