Over the next two months, reflections will be shared from Regional Executives from American Baptist regions through the 2017 season of Lent. For Ash Wednesday, a reflection is provided by the Rev. Dr. Alfred J. Fletcher, acting associate general secretary for Mission Resource Development and executive minister of Maine. I grew up Protestant. Worse, a Baptist. Ash […]
VALLEY FORGE, PA (2/24/17)—American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) and American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) endorse the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA’s (NCC) statement that denounces recent acts of anti-Semitism. The statement reads, in part: “The National Council of Churches denounces recent anti-Semitic incidents and condemns rhetoric that has fueled […]
In light of recent anti-Semitic incidents across the nation, American Baptist Churches USA lifts up the “International Ministries Resolution On Anti-Semitism,” an International Ministries Resolution adopted on September 22, 2014. Read the full resolution, including Biblical-Theological Rationale, Mission Context and Situational Analysis, here. The Resolution states: Therefore, whereas anti-Semitism is wholly contrary to Jesus’ teaching, demeans Jesus and all people […]
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/21/17)—As part of its Socially Responsible Investing ministry and in time for the 2017 proxy voting season, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) shares the “2017 Proxy Resolutions and Voting Guide” from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR). “Faith-based investors must exercise their proxy-voting rights to influence corporations to adopt […]
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/21/17)—At Tyson Food Inc.’s annual general meeting in Springdale, Ark., on Feb. 9, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) garnered growing support for a resolution that urges the food company to adopt a water-stewardship policy. As lead filer, ABHMS was joined in presenting the resolution by six other Tyson shareholders, several […]
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/21/17)—Virginia Holmstrom, executive director of American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM), has announced her planned retirement next year on March 1, 2018. ABWM President Angel Sullivan has appointed a Search Committee, which hopes to hire a new Executive Director for the organization by late 2017. Holmstrom has served in the role of […]
Interim General Secretary Susan E. Gillies and Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Central Pacific Coast Steve Bils invite all American Baptists to the 2017 Biennial Mission Summit in the video below. Watch to learn about why YOU should think about attending the upcoming Biennial Mission Summit at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, June […]
For Black History Month in February, American Baptist Churches USA is lifting up and celebrating the lives of some of the denomination’s significant leaders through history. Rev. Veronica ‘Ronny’ Lanier, a Vibrant, Effervescent African American Pioneer, Mission Leader and Educator Rev. Veronica “Ronny” Lanier (1918-2014) was a pioneering African American mission leader and educator in […]
VALLEY FORGE, PA (2/15/17)—Given the current mood in the country and the moral and ethical dilemmas the nation faces, how is the church to respond during and after the presidency of Donald J. Trump? Judge, pastor, and prophet Wendell L. Griffen offers leadership on how to deal with the challenges and opportunities of being people […]
VALLEY FORGE, PA (2/15/17)—Many of us know that Jesus asked many intentional questions in his ministry, questions intended to teach, guide, and encourage his followers. Using a similar approach, in their new release, 8 Questions Jesus Asked: Discipleship for Leaders, authors Daniel M. Cash and William H. Griffith focus on eight powerful questions from the […]
