ABCUSA Enewsletter - October 2023

October 2023 ABCUSA NEWS UPDATE A newsletter to keep you informed about ABCUSA A Message from the General Secretary Amid Violence in Middle East ABCUSA General Secretary Dr. C. Jeff Woods wrote in a statement this week, "We ask all persons to be in prayer for people in the Middle East following a weekend of senseless violence and deplorable acts of terrorism. We pray for the families of all victims who have died. We pray for the short- and long-term safety of the people who are now hostages. We pray for all people threatened by war. It has always seemed inhumane to me to consider human lives “collateral damage.” While immensely complicated, I also pray for short- and long-term peace in the Middle East. One of our seven Mission Table priorities, adopted earlier this year is, “Peacemaking in a culture of violence.” Perhaps nowhere else in the world is peace more complicated than in the territory of the Middle East. Yet, as Christians, we are called to be peacemakers in all circumstances. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9)." Read the full statement here. View a new Prayer Resource from the Baptist World Alliance here. You’re Invited to an Everyday ABC Conversation: Post-Pandemic Impact on Ministry and Stewardship You’re invited to the next American Baptist Churches Everyday ABC Conversation event, “Post-Pandemic Impact on Ministry and Stewardship,” on Tuesday, December 5 at 3:00pm ET. Register today and plan to join presenters Dr. Campbell B. Singleton III and Rev. Stacy Emerson for presentations and discussion around this topic. We recognize that even before the pandemic began in 2020, churches were already feeling overwhelmed by the state of things—in the church, in our country, and in the call to serve God faithfully in an ever-changing world. The pandemic has had a tremendous toll on persons, marriages, families and the church. In this ABC Everyday Conversation, we will talk about specific ways lives were impacted and the church’s response, reflecting on how ministry has changed due to the pandemic and how times of struggle impact how we view stewardship, mission, and ministry. The question is, what is working, and not working, as we navigate the overwhelmed-ness of these days? American Baptist Churches USA is happy to create space for the “Everyday ABC Conversations,” a series of dialogues around topics of interest. Each Everyday ABC Conversation begins with a brief introduction of the topic by one or two leaders associated with the subject area, followed by 30-40 minutes of small group conversation in randomly assigned breakout rooms of up to 10 persons each. Register today! Watch a recording of the presentations from our latest Everyday ABC Conversation - AI (Artificial Intelligence) with presenters Joshua King and Rev. Meriah Tigner on October 3, here. Learn more about Everyday ABC Conversations. Register Now 2025 Biennial Mission Summit to Meet in Omaha, Neb., July 4-6, 2025 The Executive Committee of the Board of General Ministries is excited to announce that the 2025 Biennial Mission Summit will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, July 4-6, 2025 at the Hilton Hotel and Convention Center in Omaha. “We’re excited to be coming to a location that is convenient for travelling and centrally located in the United States,” said American Baptist Churches USA President Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe III. “We hope that you save these dates now and look for information coming early next year, and plan ahead to attend this wonderful family event featuring inspiring worship, workshops, and fellowship with our sisters and brothers in Christ.” Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula, transitional executive minister for Churches Helping Churches, the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska, first shared the news that the region will host the 2025 event at the region’s Convention on Saturday morning, October 7. Mamula shared, “The American Baptist Churches of Nebraska are excited to welcome our American Baptist Churches USA siblings to the 2025 Biennial Mission Summit in Omaha, Nebraska for the first time. Vibrant Baptist mission and ministry has been actively present in Nebraska since Moses and Eliza Merrill first crossed the Missouri River in 1833 and our Nebraska Baptist State Convention was founded in 1867. Our spirited and ethnically diverse congregations look forward to extending Midwest hospitality by celebrating our mutual Baptist identity as we gather to revel in what the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit continues to do in and through his American Baptist people. We are honored for this opportunity to host our ABCUSA family in this way,” said Mamula. We've Got Some Exciting News! We are introducing a quarterly enewsletter called "United Mission Matters," centered around Stewardship, Discipleship, giving and United Mission. Sign Up Here October 30 is Deadline for 2023 Chestnut Street Baptist Church Endowment Fund Grant Applications The American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary welcomes applications for the Chestnut Street Baptist Church Endowment Fund Grant awards by Monday, October 30, 2023. Grants are available for: maintaining a house of worship for Pennsylvania American Baptist churches’ congregants, teaching and preaching the Gospel through ministry to refugees, immigrants and persons of Asian descent; funding seminary and other educational training for congregants of Pennsylvania American Baptist churches or those engaged in ministry to or with such churches; and/or hosting national and regional gatherings of Asian American Baptists; and/or encouraging and supporting Asian church planting; and/or participating in Asian refugee and immigrant work and resettlement as may be sponsored by such churches. A grant application and more information can be found here. Check out our 2022 Mission Impact Summary Our 2022 Mission Impact Summary is available online - learn more about the American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary. View the 2022 Mission Impact Summary here. We are United in Christ, Together in Mission View the above video in Spanish, here. World Mission Offering 2023 Through International Ministries’ World Mission Offering (WMO), every fall thousands across the country celebrate and give financial support to ministries that God is using to transform the world. Download resources for the 2023 World Mission Offering here. Clergy Taxes: Getting it Right, Saving Money on Thursday, October 19 MMBB's webinar, Clergy Taxes: Getting it Right, Saving Money, is coming up on Thursday, October 19 at 2:00 pm ET. You don’t want to miss this informative webinar for both ministers and their employers. We understand that clergy taxes can be complicated and getting it right can save you money. MMBB Financial Planning Specialist James R. Cook covers the ins and outs of clergy taxes. Register today. MMBB News & Notes spotlights Rev. Kathryn Choy-Wong, 2023 recipient of the Cora and John Sparrowk President’s Award The Rev. Kathryn Choy-Wong’s road to becoming a pastor wasn’t as clear as some others may have been, but what was clear is that God had a plan. Read the full interview here. Recent Highlights from the ABCUSA Website A Message from the General Secretary Amid Violence in Middle East ABHMS Hosts Palmer Grant Recipients at Conference on Faith Among Youth and Young Adults American Baptist Women's Ministries Presents Be Strong, Be Courageous 2023 Fall Webinar Series American Baptist Women's Ministries, Shalom Retreat from October 6-8 in Euclid, Ohio ABHMS Receives Generous Donation from Christian Community Credit Union for Maui Wildfire Relief Visit the websites below for happenings around the American Baptist denomination. To view a full list of ABC ministry partners, click here. Visit our Website