VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/18/20)—American Baptist Churches USA announces that Rev. Judy Fackenthal and Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque will serve as co-coordinators for the next Orientation to American Baptist Life event, which will take place June 25-27, 2021 in coordination with the American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Orientation to American Baptist Life (OTABL) welcomes and orients seminarians and ministers new to the American Baptist Churches USA. The purpose of the event is to build relationships, establish a sense of ABC identity, offer resources for ministry and share ABC history and on-going mission. Attendees of the orientation event include new ministers to American Baptist Churches who are recommended by their regional Executive Ministers, and seminarians who are self-identified through communications with their seminaries.
Acting General Secretary Dr. C. Jeff Woods said, “Given their plethora of intersections with the American Baptist family, their well-executed and respected leadership on ABC boards and committees, and their passion for the mission and ministry of American Baptists, I believe that the OTABL attendees will have a delightful experience at the next gathering of persons at this event.”
Rev. Judy Fackenthal and her husband, Fred, live in the heart of Indianapolis where she has served as pastor of Garfield Park Baptist Church since 1999. She has served American Baptists in many ways over the years, most recently as Vice President, President, and Past President of the ABCUSA Board of General Ministries from 2014-2019. From 1999-2016, she served as a Field Education Supervisor for Christian Theological Seminary where she enjoyed nurturing students as they prepared for ministry. In 2013, Fackenthal completed Spiritual Direction training at the Benedictine Center in Indianapolis. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary. She defines her roles as wife, mother (and in-law), pastor, spiritual director, mentor, daughter, sister, and friend. She enjoys being in nature, playing piano and embracing the arts, meals with friends, laughter with family, and time to savor the gifts of life.
Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque is the Lead Pastor at the Community Church of Barrington, Ill. She has served on the staff of multicultural, urban, and suburban churches and has done extensive work in the areas of education, counseling, and support programs. Jacque most recently served as the Executive Director and founder of the Pastoral Counseling Center of Trinity Church (Episcopal) in Boston. Previously she was the Interim Director of Christian Education at the Melrose Church in Massachusetts. Prior to entering ministry, Rev. Jacque completed a 20+ year career in higher education serving in senior positions at Northwestern, the University of Chicago, Mills College (Oakland, CA), and the University of California (both Santa Cruz and the Office of the President).
As facilitators of the Orientation to American Baptist Life, Fackenthal and Jacque hope participation in the event will deepen each participant’s connection to ABCUSA and will broaden their understanding of the scope of resources available to them.
“Participants will have the opportunity to engage with an extraordinary community of colleagues. We look forward to welcoming all participants and celebrating their unique gifts that will benefit American Baptists for years to come! We hope to extend God’s gracious hospitality and welcome them, as together, we experience the Biennial Mission Summit.”
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.