Mission Summit Conversations FAQ
Q1: What is a Mission Summit Conversation?
Answer:
A Mission Summit Conversation is an open opportunity for anyone attending the Biennial Mission Summit to engage in meaningful dialogue about a topic of interest by self-selecting into a small group. The Mission Summit Conversations are the heart of the Biennial Mission Summit.
Q2: How were the topics chosen?
Answer:
At the last round of Mission Summit Conversations at the 2015 Biennial Mission Summit, participants engaged in dialogue around twenty-one topics. These topics surfaced from local churches, regional events, national agencies and seminaries, as well as feedback from previous Mission Summit Conversations. An online survey narrowed the wide range of topics to twenty-one and then the Mission Table turned the topics into ABC priorities.
Q3: Who is invited to the Mission Table?
Answer:
The Mission Table will include persons from every region, seminary, and national agency.
Q4: What happens at the Mission Table?
Answer:
Attendees engage in similar conversations, “Seeking to further advance God’s work among our ABC congregations and Mission Summit participants.”
Q5: Has work already started on the priorities?
Answer:
Definitely. Our two national program boards, American Baptist Home Mission Societies and International Ministries are heavily involved in the ABC priorities. Local churches and regions are also actively pursuing the priorities.
Q6: How can we hear about what is being done?
Answer:
The first thirty minutes of each Mission Summit Conversation is dedicated to telling mission and ministry stories related to the topics.
Q7: Are all of the conversations in the same room?
Answer:
No, we don’t think that there will be room for that. Each conversation will have its own room with its own host who is responsible for designing the first 30 minutes of showcasing activity.
Q8: Then what happens?
Answer:
Participants, sitting at round tables, will talk about what they have just heard, what they hope for, and what is being done in their corner of the world.
Q9: Is there anything that I can do to better prepare for these conversations?
Answer:
That sounds like a great Baptist question to me. The only thing that we Baptists love more than good honest dialogue, is informed dialogue. At the last Mission Table event, Mission Table attendees not only prioritized the topics, they also developed case statements for each of the priorities.
Q10: What is a case statement?
Answer:
While each case statement differs according to the topic being addressed, each contains common elements such as “What is the history of this topic?” “What has been accomplished previously?” “What are our current challenges?” and “Who is already involved or needs to be involved?”
Q11: I also have heard these conversations referred to as “sacred conversations,” is that true?
Answer:
Absolutely. We gather for these conversations not just as individuals, but as ministers seeking God’s guidance in matters relevant to us and to the world.
Q12: What else makes them sacred?
Answer:
The manner in which they are conducted. During the past couple of Biennial Mission Summits, we have learned how to engage in respectful, heartfelt, dialogue around these key topics.
Q13: What if I want to talk about a topic other than the seven Mission Table priorities?
Answer:
We are trying something new connected to this year’s Mission Summit Conversations called, “Baptist Talk.” A task force is still working on the format for these conversations, but the hope is to be able to surface new topics at this event while still maintaining our sacred conversation feel.
Q14: When will Baptist Talk take place?
Answer:
On Sunday afternoon at the Biennial Mission Summit. And yes, everyone is invited!
Q15: Where do I sign up?
Answer:
I thought you’d never ask! Sign up for Mission Summit Conversation that you would like to attend when you register for the Biennial Mission Summit.
Q16: What if think of other questions, who can I ask?
Answer:
Go to this link and pose your question: Contact Us
Answer:
A Mission Summit Conversation is an open opportunity for anyone attending the Biennial Mission Summit to engage in meaningful dialogue about a topic of interest by self-selecting into a small group. The Mission Summit Conversations are the heart of the Biennial Mission Summit.
Q2: How were the topics chosen?
Answer:
At the last round of Mission Summit Conversations at the 2015 Biennial Mission Summit, participants engaged in dialogue around twenty-one topics. These topics surfaced from local churches, regional events, national agencies and seminaries, as well as feedback from previous Mission Summit Conversations. An online survey narrowed the wide range of topics to twenty-one and then the Mission Table turned the topics into ABC priorities.
Q3: Who is invited to the Mission Table?
Answer:
The Mission Table will include persons from every region, seminary, and national agency.
Q4: What happens at the Mission Table?
Answer:
Attendees engage in similar conversations, “Seeking to further advance God’s work among our ABC congregations and Mission Summit participants.”
Q5: Has work already started on the priorities?
Answer:
Definitely. Our two national program boards, American Baptist Home Mission Societies and International Ministries are heavily involved in the ABC priorities. Local churches and regions are also actively pursuing the priorities.
Q6: How can we hear about what is being done?
Answer:
The first thirty minutes of each Mission Summit Conversation is dedicated to telling mission and ministry stories related to the topics.
Q7: Are all of the conversations in the same room?
Answer:
No, we don’t think that there will be room for that. Each conversation will have its own room with its own host who is responsible for designing the first 30 minutes of showcasing activity.
Q8: Then what happens?
Answer:
Participants, sitting at round tables, will talk about what they have just heard, what they hope for, and what is being done in their corner of the world.
Q9: Is there anything that I can do to better prepare for these conversations?
Answer:
That sounds like a great Baptist question to me. The only thing that we Baptists love more than good honest dialogue, is informed dialogue. At the last Mission Table event, Mission Table attendees not only prioritized the topics, they also developed case statements for each of the priorities.
Q10: What is a case statement?
Answer:
While each case statement differs according to the topic being addressed, each contains common elements such as “What is the history of this topic?” “What has been accomplished previously?” “What are our current challenges?” and “Who is already involved or needs to be involved?”
Q11: I also have heard these conversations referred to as “sacred conversations,” is that true?
Answer:
Absolutely. We gather for these conversations not just as individuals, but as ministers seeking God’s guidance in matters relevant to us and to the world.
Q12: What else makes them sacred?
Answer:
The manner in which they are conducted. During the past couple of Biennial Mission Summits, we have learned how to engage in respectful, heartfelt, dialogue around these key topics.
Q13: What if I want to talk about a topic other than the seven Mission Table priorities?
Answer:
We are trying something new connected to this year’s Mission Summit Conversations called, “Baptist Talk.” A task force is still working on the format for these conversations, but the hope is to be able to surface new topics at this event while still maintaining our sacred conversation feel.
Q14: When will Baptist Talk take place?
Answer:
On Sunday afternoon at the Biennial Mission Summit. And yes, everyone is invited!
Q15: Where do I sign up?
Answer:
I thought you’d never ask! Sign up for Mission Summit Conversation that you would like to attend when you register for the Biennial Mission Summit.
Q16: What if think of other questions, who can I ask?
Answer:
Go to this link and pose your question: Contact Us