Saturday Learning Opportunities
3:45pm – 4:45pm
- Innovative Models of Pastoral Ministry – The POST and The Circuit: Raising Leaders for Region-wide Ministries
Led by Rev. Marie Onwubuariri
In this learning opportunity, Rev. Marie will share the vision and implementation process for and early learning from two current ABC Wisconsin initiatives that seek to meet the discipleship needs of various populations of under-served Christians while also fostering gift-based service to regional stakeholders and their communities. These initiatives can briefly be described as 1.) a hybrid in-person/online faith community with a mission of service and 2.) a collaborative approach toward interim ministries with struggling traditional churches. - Women in Ministry
American Baptist churches have been licensing and ordaining women to Christian ministry for over 100 years. But this has not been without controversy. Come learn how and why churches and regions have made the decision to include women as full partners with men in ministry. Join this informative discussion. Co-led by Rev. Laura Ayala, Chair of the American Baptist Women in Ministry Advisory Team and Senior Minister of Primera Iglesias Bautista de Rio Piedraw, the first ABC church established in Puerto Rico, and Rev. Dr. Al Fletcher, Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Maine and Acting Associate General Secretary for Mission Resource Development. - Anti-Violence
This learning opportunity will discuss the impact of violence in our society and its impact of individuals, communities and congregations. It will also actively engage participants in developing creative ways for followers of Jesus to address and counter violence through faith and action! Led by G. Travis Norvell and Justin Thornburgh, sponsored by the ABC Task Force on Race and Race-based Violence. - Discipleship – On Earth as in Heaven: Discipleship in Action
Led by Judson Press author Rev. Dr. Alice Burnette Greene, sponsored by ABHMS.
For clergy and laity alike, this learning experience will explore the Lord’s Prayer as a resource for spiritual formation and community transformation. Accept the challenge to be part of the answer to the needs expressed in the words of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, past and present, to pray.- ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:
Alice Burnette Greene, MDiv, DMin, has most recently served in interim pastorates and other ministerial roles for churches in Washington, DC. She has also served on the boards of the National Ministers Council of American Baptist Churches USA and American Baptist Women in Ministry. Previously, she pastored Irving Park Baptist Church in Chicago, and served in various roles at Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Her blog Moving Mountains can be found at aliceburnettegreene.com, and she is also author of the new book, The Revolutionary Power of the Lord’s Prayer (Judson Press, 2017).
- ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:
- Gospel in a Rapidly Changing Society - Jesus & Justice in a Rapidly Changing Society
Led by Judson Press authors Rev. Dr. Reginald W. Williams Jr. and Rev. Danielle Ayers, sponsored by ABHMS.
Explore and discuss ways to engage communities and congregations in the current era, especially in the area of social justice. Specifically, what are the theological and sociological considerations for leaders? What are the practical challenges and desired real-world outcomes? And what ministry practices might incarnate Jesus’ teachings about justice in today’s society?- ABOUT THE FACILITATORS:
Reginald W. Williams Jr., MDiv, DMin, is pastor of First Baptist Church in University Park, Illinois, outside of Chicago. He is coauthor of To Serve This Present Age: Social Justice Ministries in the Black Church (Judson Press, 2013), and a contributor to the book, Church on Purpose: Reinventing Discipleship, Community, & Justice (Judson Press, 2015). Rev. Dr. Williams’ passion is for social justice through a spiritually centered and culturally relevant praxis that brings liberation to all of God’s children.
Danielle Ayers serves as Minister of Justice at Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, where Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III is pastor. She uses her gifts and talents to mobilize and organize around justice issues and movements. While pursuing her Master of Divinity at Brite Divinity School, Min. Ayers also serves as co-convener of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. She is coauthor of To Serve This Present Age: Social Justice Ministries in the Black Church (Judson Press, 2013).
- ABOUT THE FACILITATORS:
- Next Generation of Leaders – ABC to XYZ: A Multigenerational Conversation with Today’s Church Leaders
Led by Rev. Sarah Strosahl-Kagi, ABHMS, director, Emerging Leaders & Scholarships, sponsored by ABHMS.
You don’t want to miss this panel conversation with a diverse array of leaders from Generations XYZ. Listen in as they discuss what “church” means to them and what they perceive the world needs from the “now generations” in terms of spiritual formation, activism, and community service. - Storytelling Workshop “Telling Our Faith Story”
Led by Sally Perkins
We give meaning to our lives by the way we tell our stories, and here is an opportunity for you to dig through your memories to uncover and shape stories of key moments in your faith journey. In this workshop, led by professional storyteller Sally Perkins, you will learn why telling our life stories is so important to faith development and spiritual growth, what constitutes a true story (rather than a testimony or a life timeline), and how to structure a story so you and others can benefit. Our aim? Not to create stories to perform and perfect, but to engage in a guided process of reflection and thoughtful expression of who we are on this earthly journey. Sponsored by ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary - Journeying to Racial Reconciliation: Action. Reconciliation. Transformation
Building Communities of Reconciliation In A World of Divisions
Leaders from the New Baptist Covenant will teach about their Covenant of Action Program. Covenants of Action are intentional relationships of two or more churches or organizations working for racial justice. They will share how through this program churches can find a model for building a community of reconciliation in our divided world.
- MMBB Financial Wellness: Personal Financial Planning
Quality advice is hard to find. Now, more than ever, planning is an essential step towards financial well-being. A good financial plan along with sound advice can help make your financial future more manageable and more secure. Join us for an overview of the planning process and an understanding of what financial planning can do for you. The Facilitator is Mr. Colin E. Nass, CFP*, RICP*, Senior Wealth Manager.
Return to the Schedule at a Glance