VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/12/21)—On November 6, 2021 the Board of Managers of the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin enthusiastically approved the Reverend Mindi Welton-Mitchell as their new Executive Minister.

Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell comes to Wisconsin from Seattle, Washington where she has served as Pastor of Queen Anne Baptist Church since June of 2017. As part of a church restart there, she created and implemented a visioning process for the unique nature of the congregation and changing neighborhood.

Dr. C. Jeff Woods, Interim General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA said, “Rev. Welton-Mitchell is a person with great energy and broad experience. Her understanding of pastoral ministry and her regional board involvement provide a great platform. She has brought new ideas and innovative practices to every environment. I believe that God has great things in store for ABC of Wisconsin with this call.”

ABC of Wisconsin Board President Rev. Brandle Morrow noted, “Rev. Mindi has the requisite experience, theological intellect, and infectious spirit to lead our region effectively. I am convinced she is providentially positioned for immense ministerial success as our new Regional Executive Minister.”

Rev. Welton-Mitchell received her M.Div from Andover Newton Theological School in 2002 and was ordained in 2003 at the First Baptist Church in Newton, MA. She had served churches in Massachusetts and Washington prior to her call to Queen Anne. Additionally, since February of 2016, she has served in regional ministry as Ministry Associate for Social Media for the Evergreen Association of ABCUSA. Recently she was the Evergreen representative to the ABCUSA Ministers Council. She has written pieces published in the American Baptist Quarterly, The Christian Century, and Judson Press’s Journeys and a chapter for the Chalice Press publication When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-filled Responses for Tough Topics (2019). She also writes science fiction and fantasy under the name Melinda Mitchell.

Rev. Mindi is passionate about inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of church life, as this is part of her family’s story. She is active in pursuing cross-cultural relationships and partnerships, anti-racism education and practice, and multi-faith conversations and action. She attended the Baptist-Muslim Dialogue in Green Lake in 2019 and hosted events with Muslim and Jewish neighbors in Seattle.

Rev. Mindi is married to Rev. J.C. Mitchell and they have a thirteen-year-old son, A.J. Mindi was raised in Alaska where her family of origin still resides.  She is a fifth generation ordained American Baptist minister.

Welton-Mitchell will begin as Regional Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin on March 1, 2022.

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.