Search Committee Updates
November 4, 2023
On November 4, the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA announced that it had affirmed the call of the Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain to be the next General Secretary of the denomination. Dr. Jacobs-Strain’s term of service will begin on February 1, 2024.
August 15, 2023
ABCUSA President and Chair of the Committee, Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe shares, “The General Secretary Search Committee continues regular meetings as we discern the person God is calling to be our next General Secretary. We are grateful for the prayers and patience of the ABC family.”
March 24, 2023
American Baptist Churches USA President and Chair of the General Secretary Search Committee Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe shares an update about the work of the Search Committee:
The General Secretary Search Committee met and began the process of reviewing candidate materials. The committee will continue its confidential work.
We are grateful for your prayers as we discern God’s direction in this process.
January 17, 2023
Information about the American Baptist Churches USA General Secretary Search is now available on the American Baptist Churches USA website. Please visit the General Secretary Search page for more information about American Baptist Churches USA and the General Secretary Search Process, to view a position profile, and to learn more about making a nomination or applying.
The position profile and required application materials will be available for six weeks, from January 17 – February 24, 2023.
January 10, 2023
After a year of research and extensive analysis of survey results, in-person meetings, and focus groups the General Secretary Search Committee is pleased to announce that the Position Description for a new General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA will be available on the ABCUSA website beginning January 17, 2023. The position description and required application materials will be available for six weeks, from January 17 – February 24.
As we enter into this time of decision and discernment the committee requests the prayers of the denominational family to lead us to the person that God is preparing to assume this vital role in our denominational life.
Please remember these dates: January 17 – February 24, 2023.
November 10, 2022
American Baptist Churches USA President Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe, in his role as chair of the General Secretary Search Committee, gave a report of the Search Committee at the November 4-6, 2022 Board of General Ministries meeting. He noted that the committee has continued to meet and hopes to have a position description for the General Secretary role available early in 2023, when the nomination and application process will open for the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA.
September 21, 2022
American Baptist Churches USA President and Chair of the General Secretary Search Committee Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe shares a report of the work of the Search Committee to date:
The General Secretary Search Committee began its work with an in-person meeting in Tampa, Florida, January 27-29, 2022. In preparation for the meeting, committee members read the book “Sacred Decisions” by Marcia Patton and Nora Percival. Marcia Patton consulted at this first meeting and led the committee to determine a process of consensus that has guided the committee in its work.
The committee decided to retain an outside consultant to lead the consensus process. Accordingly, in March 2022 the Rev. Julie Boleyn, Director of Kaleidoscope Institute, was retained to facilitate the group process. Boleyn has continued in that role, meeting with the committee in each of its meetings.
The search committee has met monthly since January. Subsequent meetings have been conducted via Zoom. During six months of Zoom meetings, the committee has been actively engaged in reviewing the results of the Board of General Ministries survey that was made available online in February 2022. The committee was encouraged in that each of the American Baptist regions was represented in the survey.
In an effort to engage the wider denominational family in receiving input, the committee made a presentation to the National Leadership Council (NLC). Among those participating in the NLC are regional executive ministers, executive directors and representatives from our partners, and the executive directors of the American Baptist Historical Society, the American Baptist Foundation, the American Baptist Extension Corporation, American Baptist Women’s Ministries, American Baptist Men, the American Baptist Assembly and the Ministers Council. Through table discussions members of the search committee were pleased to answer questions and receive feedback on the hopes and expectations for our next General Secretary.
In June, the Board of General Ministries was presented with a report of the committee’s work. Table conversations were held during the meeting and input solicited from board directors regarding hopes and expectations for the next General Secretary.
In late July and early August, the search committee invited American Baptists from all our regions to participate in online Focus Groups. In addition to the regions American Baptist Caucuses were encouraged to share their thoughts and opinions.
The Search Committee met for the second time in person August 17-19 to review all of the valuable data and information shared with the committee through the listening sessions and survey results.
A subcommittee has been tasked with the work of drafting a position description, which will be reviewed by the entire Search Committee in upcoming meetings.
July 29, 2022
The General Secretary Search Committee has added four new Focus Group sessions. In addition, connection information for two previously scheduled Focus Group sessions has changed. Please adhere to the connection information in this announcement for Focus Group sessions moving forward. Changes are noted at the bottom of the document.
Newly added, a number of American Baptist Caucuses will be hosting Focus Group sessions, including the Alliance of Asian American Baptist Churches, National Black Caucus of the American Baptist Churches USA, American Baptist Hispanic Caucus, American Baptist Women’s Caucus, and a focus group for American Baptist Young Adults. All persons who are active members of these caucuses, or who identify with these groups, are invited to attend the Focus Group sessions.
Please join us via Zoom at one of the scheduled Focus Group times to share your thoughts as we seek the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. (NOTE: If possible, join a call with others from your American Baptist region. All times listed are Eastern Time Zone.)
Each Zoom Focus Group will be hosted by a member of the Search Committee and should last for approximately one hour. Several general questions will be asked about the role and the necessary attributes of the next General Secretary. The Search Committee looks forward to hearing from American Baptists who feel called to participate in a focus group and to have a voice in the selection of the denomination’s next General Secretary.
The General Secretary Search Committee
American Baptist Churches USA
July 20, 2022
The Search Committee for the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA seeks your input!
In late July and early August, the Search Committee will be holding a number of Zoom focus groups scheduled by region, and would like to invite all American Baptists who feel called to participate in a focus group and to have a voice in the selection of the denomination’s next General Secretary.
Please join us via Zoom at one of the scheduled focus group times to share your thoughts as we seek the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA. (NOTE: If possible, join a call with others from your American Baptist region. All times listed are Eastern Time Zone.)
Each Zoom focus group will be hosted by a member of the Search Committee and should last for approximately one hour. Several general questions will be asked about the role and the necessary attributes of the next General Secretary.
Thank you in advance for your participation in this important task on behalf of our denomination.
The General Secretary Search Committee
American Baptist Churches USA
May 5, 2022
The General Secretary Search Committee began its work on January 27, 2022, with an in-person meeting held in Tampa, Florida. At that initial meeting the committee determined to use the consensus model of decision-making for all subsequent deliberations and decisions. An outside consultant was subsequently hired to facilitate this process.
Since the first meeting in January the committee has conducted three meetings via Zoom. Central in these meetings has been a focus on the results of the survey that was distributed through the ABCUSA website concerning the role and expectation of the General Secretary. The committee is very grateful to everyone who participated in the survey process. The comments and concerns raised by the survey will be instrumental in constructing a job description and expectations for the next General Secretary.
The search committee is grateful for your prayers and patience as we discern God’s will in selecting our next General Secretary.
February 2, 2022
The Board of General Ministries, the American Baptist Churches USA governing board, is currently in the process of seeking information regarding the priorities for the next General Secretary, whose term will begin in 2024.
The board released a survey which remained open through March 5, 2022. All feedback received by this deadline will help the current General Secretary search committee develop a profile of a desired candidate.
The committee tasked with the search for the next General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA met in Tampa, Fla., January 27-29, 2022. At the initial meeting of the committee, decisions were made concerning the process the committee will follow in its search for the next General Secretary.
Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe, president of American Baptist Churches USA, said, “One of the most important components of the committee’s process is a survey which is being released to the denominational family today. It is very important that everyone involved take the time to complete the survey. Thank you for your cooperation, prayers, and support.”