VALLEY FORGE, PA (1/19/17)—The 2017 Biennial Mission Summit will feature Learning Opportunities in the afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday during the event, June 30-July 2, 2017, in Portland, Ore., at the Oregon Convention Center. The theme of the Biennial Mission Summit is “Connect!” The event will give delegates and participants many opportunities to explore their interests and connect with other American Baptists from local churches, as well as many regional and national leaders and staff of American Baptist Churches USA.
The Saturday afternoon session will include the following Learning Opportunities:
- Innovative Models of Pastoral Ministry – The POST and The Circuit: Raising Leaders for Region-wide Ministries
Led by Rev. Marie Onwubuariri
In this learning opportunity, Rev. Marie will share the vision and implementation process for and early learning from two current ABC Wisconsin initiatives that seek to meet the discipleship needs of various populations of under-served Christians while also fostering gift-based service to regional stakeholders and their communities. These initiatives can briefly be described as 1.) a hybrid in-person/online faith community with a mission of service and 2.) a collaborative approach toward interim ministries with struggling traditional churches. - Women in Ministry
Sponsored by ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary
American Baptist churches have been licensing and ordaining women to Christian ministry for over 100 years. But this has not been without controversy. Come learn how and why churches and regions have made the decision to include women as full partners with men in ministry. Join this informative discussion. Organized by Women In Ministry, ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary - Anti-Violence
Members of the ABC Task Force on Race and Race-based Violence will share their work and gather input from participants on church and individual responses to violence. - Discipleship – On Earth as in Heaven: Discipleship in Action
For clergy and laity alike, this learning experience will explore the Lord’s Prayer as a resource for spiritual formation and community transformation. Accept the challenge to be part of the answer to the needs expressed in the words of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, past and present, to pray. Sponsored by American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) - Gospel in a Rapidly Changing Society – Good News in a Changing Society
An interactive exploration of the felt needs in today’s congregations, from selected contributors of Church on Purpose: Reinventing Discipleship, Community, & Justice (JP 2015). Topics may include faith formation, worship, leadership, evangelism, and more. Sponsored by ABHMS - Next Generation of Leaders – ABC to XYZ: A Multigenerational Conversation with Today’s Church Leaders
Led by Jolene Erlacher
You don’t want to miss this panel conversation with a diverse array of leaders from Generations XYZ. Listen in as they discuss what “church” means to them and what they perceive the world needs from the “now generations” in terms of spiritual formation, activism, and community service. Sponsored by ABHMS - Storytelling Workshop “Telling Our Faith Story”
Led by Sally Perkins
We give meaning to our lives by the way we tell our stories, and here is an opportunity for you to dig through your memories to uncover and shape stories of key moments in your faith journey. In this workshop, led by professional storyteller Sally Perkins, you will learn why telling our life stories is so important to faith development and spiritual growth, what constitutes a true story (rather than a testimony or a life timeline), and how to structure a story so you and others can benefit. Our aim? Not to create stories to perform and perfect, but to engage in a guided process of reflection and thoughtful expression of who we are on this earthly journey. Sponsored by ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary - Journeying to Racial Reconciliation: Action. Reconciliation. Transformation
An opportunity to learn about the New Baptist Covenant engagement in racial reconciliation in the wider Baptist family. - MMBB Financial Wellness: Personal Financial Planning
Quality advice is hard to find. Now, more than ever, planning is an essential step towards financial well-being. A good financial plan along with sound advice can help make your financial future more manageable and more secure. Join us for an overview of the planning process and an understanding of what financial planning can do for you.
The Sunday afternoon session will include the following Learning Opportunities:
- Innovative Models of Pastoral Ministry
International Ministries missionaries will share their experiences with innovative leadership from around the world. Sponsored by International Ministries - Women in Ministry
American Baptist churches have been licensing and ordaining women to Christian ministry for over 100 years. But this has not been without controversy. Come learn how and why churches and regions have made the decision to include women as full partners with men in ministry. Join this informative discussion. Organized by Women In Ministry, ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary - Anti-Violence – What Happens in This House, Stays in This House
Led by Laura Landgraf
Sexual, verbal, emotional, physical and spiritual violence exist in households across all social, economic and educational strata in America today. 42 million of us suffered these forms of abuse. It’s at epidemic levels and needs voice. Let’s talk. - Discipleship – discipleSHIFT
Led by Dr. Jeffrey Johnson
Consider an attitude adjustment … a shift in our discipleship perspective … discipleSHIFT! Discover how discipleship and living out our faith can be encouraged to achieve as great an impact today as the believers of the early church achieved centuries ago—truly fulfilling the Great Commission, to make disciples who are fully developed and devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Sponsored by ABHMS - Ending Poverty – God’s People Ending Poverty
Discover how to exercise your prophetic voice and engage in collective action to help end the scandal of poverty in the United States. An inspirational and informational learning experience for all God’s people. Sponsored by ABHMS - Gospel in a Rapidly Changing Society – Being the Hands and Feet of Christ to your Muslim Neighbors
Led by Dan and Sharon Buttry, Sponsored by International Ministries - Next Generation of Leaders – Intergenerational Ministry: The Whole Body Living, Learning, and Serving Together
Led by Dr. Elizabeth Clewett and Pastor Reed Webster
We live in a fragmented society where people are often siloed into homogenous groups – we are divided by race, economics, politics, and age. Often times our churches mirror our society. We believe that God is calling us to a more wholistic way to be the church where we live, learn, and serve together. Join us to learn about how the church got to this place, some important principles for helping facilitate the change, and most importantly walk through the process of casting a vision for intergenerational ministries. - Stories of Who We Are
Led by JoAnn Sims and Lynn Fuchigami Longfellow
A presentation of “Act of Faith-the Rev. Emery Andrews Story” about the church and pastor who took a stand for the interned Japanese during WW II. - Baptist Talk
We recognize that it is not easy to discuss matters of importance in our churches or in our culture, but an important question to ask is, “What does our Baptist heritage teach us about the way that we ought to have dialogue?” If you would like to not only ponder that question, but engage in conversation that leads to understanding and mutual appreciation of our differences, then come and learn with us. All persons are welcome to attend this event
Attendees must preregister for Learning Opportunities when they register as individuals for the Biennial Mission Summit. Individual registration will open at the end of January 2017. Registration for Church Sponsorship is open now, and more information is available here.
In addition to the Learning Opportunities, speakers for the Biennial Mission Summit were recently announced: new leadership will be featured, including the Rev. Sharon T. Koh, executive director/CEO of American Baptist International Ministries, Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, executive director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and an invitation to the incoming General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. Read the full news release here.
For more information about the Biennial Mission Summit, visit www.americanbaptists2017.com.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.