ABCUSA Enewsletter - Summer 2023

ABCUSA NEWS UPDATE

A newsletter to keep you informed about ABCUSA

Thank You for your support of the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit! All event registrants may view recordings from the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit on the Attendee Hub. You may also login and view these in your local church setting! The following recordings are available to registrants for viewing through September 22, 2023:

Welcome Session Spotlight on Puerto Rico Worshipful Work - International Ministries Report Friday Evening Worship with Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes III  Worshipful Work - American Baptist Home Mission Societies Report: Testify!

Saturday Evening Worship with Rev. Miriam Méndez Sunday Morning Worship with Rev. Laura I. Ayala-Álvarez Business Session Worshipful Work - American Baptist Churches USA  Sunday Evening Worship with Rev. Joy Martinez-Marshall

Access the Attendee Hub

Learn More about the Biennial Mission Summit

ABCUSA Releases New Tools for Churches, Regions and Partners

American Baptist Churches USA is excited to release two new ways for churches, regions, and partners to get up to date information about United Mission. A new promotional video is now available in English (included below) and Spanish, highlighting the way American Baptists faithfully give to the heart of American Baptist mission. A new section on the ABCUSA website highlights all the resources available for promoting generosity, stewardship, and the United Mission offering. Access the United Mission Toolkit at www.abc-usa.org/united-mission-toolkit. Churches and regions can quickly and easily access all the materials needed to give their congregations information explaining how United Mission is funded and distributed. Resources will be added periodically as they become available to continue the sacrificial giving by ABCUSA congregations.

Join us on October 3 for an Everyday ABC Conversation on AI (Artificial Intelligence)

You’re invited to our next Everyday ABC Conversation event, “AI (Artificial Intelligence)” on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET, with presenters Rev. Meriah Tigner and Joshua King. To live is to experience change. Each day technology evolves and we are invited to respond with curiosity or fear. Join us for a conversation at the intersection of faith and artificial intelligence. Josh King possesses 16 years combined in IT as a Systems Architect, 7 of those at Cisco. As an AI/ML champion, his passion is empowering public servants and educators with responsibly aligned networking/generative AI solutions. Rev. Meriah Tigner is an ABC pastor in rural Indiana. Her experiences with change, navigating transitions, and growth in her personal life has informed her ministry. She sees the changes in technology as opportunities to engage with our community rather than something to avoid. Register today! Learn more about Everyday ABC Conversations.

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Officers Elected for 2024-2025 Biennium

During the Business Session at the 2023 American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday, June 25, 2023, the nominated officers were elected and the election slate was passed for 2024-2025 biennium of American Baptist Churches USA. The following officers were elected to serve for the term running from January 1, 2024-December 31, 2025:

Rev. Nikita McCalister ABCUSA President

Thomas C. Ross., Jr. ABCUSA Vice President

Paul Higgins ABCUSA Budget Review Officer

Learn more about the incoming officers.

American Baptist Churches USA Affirms and Celebrates Women in Ministry at 2023 Biennial in San Juan

The American Baptist Churches 2023 Biennial Mission Summit met June 23-25, 2023 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Throughout the event, women in pastoral ministry were strongly affirmed in their call and practice of ministry. Three of the four worship services at the event featured keynote speakers who serve as American Baptist women in ministry: Rev. Miriam Méndez, executive minister and senior regional pastor of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey region; Rev. Laura I. Ayala-Álvarez, coordinator of Global Missions for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and until 2023 served as general pastor of the First Baptist Church of Río Piedras, Puerto Rico; and Rev. Joy Martinez-Marshall, pastor at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln, Neb. Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Tex. brought the message on Friday evening. “We heard powerful and prophetic messages from all of our keynote speakers, three of whom we celebrate as women in ministry. The presence of women in ministry was evident throughout the event,” said Rev. Dr. C. Jeff Woods, general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. “‘For such a time as this’ – these words from the book of Esther provided the theme and framework for the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit of American Baptist Churches USA in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico. Powerful preaching challenged participants to incarnate God’s justice in our treatment of all people without prejudice to race, gender, or other external characteristics,” said Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe III, president of American Baptist Churches USA. Read the full release.

We Asked: What did you like most about the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

“What a wonderful time we have had together with our American Baptist Churches family! For us it was a beautiful blessing to be your host. Seeing the smiles and hearing expressions of gratitude from the attendees is our best reward. It was a time of hard work but we did it with joy to honor the Lord and make you feel at home. Thank you for trusting IBPR to be the host for the 2023 ABC Mission Summit. I reaffirm the commitment of our region with our denomination and with God’s mission.”  Rev. Edgardo M. Caraballo Ministro Ejecutivo Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico Read what respondents had to say!

American Baptist Mission Table Meets in San Juan, Puerto Rico

On June 26, 2023, seventy-five persons gathered for the American Baptist Mission Table event in Puerto Rico. The event immediately followed the American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit. Invitees included local church representatives, regional executive ministers, national staff and national board presidents, college and seminary leaders, the president of ABCUSA and Office of the General Secretary staff. General Secretary Dr. C. Jeff Woods facilitated the meeting. An “Act of Discernment” produced the following priorities: Empowering Young Adults and Youth Peacemaking in a Culture of Violence Mental Health Creation Care Building the Beloved Community through Collaboration Discipleship and Disciple-Making Claim, Distinguish, and Proclaim the Markers of American Baptists Read more about the Mission Table

Continued Prayer Invited During General Secretary Search Process ABCUSA President and Chair of the Search Committee, Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe, shares, "The General Secretary Search Committee continues regular meetings as we discern the person God is calling to be our next General Secretary. We are grateful for the prayers and patience of the ABC family." Learn more about the General Secretary Search here.

Telling the Stewardship Story - A Generosity Project Reflection 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. This month, Rev. Stacy Emerson provides a reflection on "Telling the Stewardship Story": Storytelling should be at the heart of our stewardship ministry. Stories have a unique way of reaching the heart in a manner mere facts cannot. When congregations focus on numbers—the status of the budget, the cost of “keeping the lights on”, or the lack of volunteers—they are missing the point of what stewardship and generosity are all about. Generosity is not about a budget, but about the capacity we have to change lives and to make a difference in the world. Read the full reflection here.

Rev. Dr. Michael P. L. Friday Called as Executive Minister of American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis

At a specially called Board of Directors meeting of the American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis in June, Rev. Dr. Michael P.L. Friday was unanimously called as the next Executive Minister for the region. He will begin his service on August 24. Rev. Soozi Whitten Ford, interim associate general secretary for Regional Ministries, said, “Dr. Michael Friday has cross-cultural experience as a pastor, transitional pastor, and church consultant, and has pursued graduate education in the areas of theology and organizational leadership. The experience, skills, and knowledge gained have uniquely prepared him to lead the American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis in the next chapter of their ministry and mission together.” Read more.

Recent Highlights from the ABCUSA Website

ABHMS Mobilizes in Response to Devastating Wildfires Ravaging Maui ABHMS Board of Directors Gathers for Facilitated Communications Workshop and Regular Meeting American Baptists Come Together in San Juan “For Such a Time as This” Statement of the Board of Directors of American Baptist Home Mission Societies Affirming Women Pastors  American Baptist Churches USA Offers Support to Women in Ministerial Roles ABHMS Announces 2023 Recipient of Distinguished Daniel E. Weiss Scholarship The Generosity Project Presents: A Live Zoom Event with Tod Bolsinger” Webinar Recording Now Available

Visit the websites below for happenings around the American Baptist denomination.

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

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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 10th of the month to communications@abc-usa.org.