October 2015
ABCUSA NEWS UPDATE
A monthly newsletter to keep you informed about ABCUSA
Medley Represents Baptist World Alliance at Synod of Bishops on the Family
American Baptist Churches General Secretary A. Roy Medley is representing the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) as the BWA fraternal delegate at the Synod of Bishops on the Family, October 4-21, 2015, in Rome. Medley serves as chair of both the BWA Commission on Interfaith Relations and the Membership Committee, a member of the BWA General Council and Executive Committee.

The BWA is one of several global Christian organizations represented at the second Synod of Bishops on the Family.

2016-2017 ABC Directory/Planning Calendar Now Available!

NEW! The American Baptist Churches 2016-2017 Directory/Planning Calendar is now available for download. The Directory/Planning Calendar helps to connect American Baptist local churches with the larger denominational family, and provides churches with dates important to American Baptist Churches from October 2015 through April 2017. Click here to Download.

 

 

This Fall: ABC Ministry Stories Highlighted Online
This spring's Ministry Story Opportunity, which came out of the Transformed by the Spirit initiative, invited churches to share their ministry stories with the larger American Baptist family. These stories were posted on the ABCUSA website, and also highlighted at the 2015 Biennial Mission Summit in Overland Park, Kansas, June 26-28, 2015. The winning submissions were shared online in September - these are included below.

Videos: 

Written Stories:


This fall, we are highlighting ministry story submissions online. Watch our website for additional stories to learn what American Baptist local churches are doing across the country.
Transformed in the Journey: Dr. Medley's Biennial Address
General Secretary A. Roy Medley's message preached at the American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit in Overland Park, Kansas, June 27, 2015, is available online. The message will be Medley's last address as General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, as he will retire on December 31, 2015.


Stewardship Sunday 2015

In the month of November, many American Baptist churches recognize Stewardship Sunday. Some highlight stewardship on more than one Sunday in the fall, while others focus on stewardship and generosity at different times throughout the year. 

 

To help churches with their preparation for Stewardship Sunday, the office of Mission Resource Development, ABCUSA, highlights its Stewardship Sunday bulletin insert, available for download in DOC and PDF formats.

 
Additionally, Stewardship materials for 2015, with the theme "Live Free," are also available through the Judson Press website. Click here to learn more.
Next Week: Generosity & Stewardship Trends Webinar
Join us for a webinar on Oct 20, 2015, at 1:00 PM EDT.

Join us for a one-hour webinar and conversation with Marcia Shetler, Executive Director and CEO of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center (ESC).


In this webinar, Marcia will talk about current stewardship trends, year round stewardship programs, generosity, as well as share information about the resources available from ESC. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and engage in dialogue around congregational stewardship ministry. American Baptist Churches USA is a denominational partner with ESC and we are excited to share this webinar with you!
Prayer Highlight - ABC Mission Table
Please keep this upcoming event in your prayers:

The American Baptist Churches Mission Table, November 9-11, 2015, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, will bring together American Baptist leaders and local church representatives in one place to discuss topics and priorities important to American Baptists. This will be the second ABC Mission Table, following the first Mission Table which took place in Green Lake, Wisconsin, in November 2013.

The Mission Table is comprised of executive ministers and an additional representative from every region, along with national officers, executives and staff members, representatives from our ABC colleges, seminaries, caucuses, and Associated Ministry Organizations (AMOs), as outlined in the ABC Bylaws. The overall goal of the Mission Table is to transform a manageable number of Mission Summit topics into ABC Mission Table priorities that we can champion over the next two years.

Please keep the Mission Table and participants in your prayers in the weeks leading up to the event.
Space for Grace - November 4-7, 2015
Coming November 4-7, 2015, the American Baptist Home Mission Societies national "Space for Grace" gathering to be held at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport hotel. The event will foster healing conversations about the great divides-race, religion, culture and class-that separate individuals, neighborhoods and communities today, too often resulting in violence and loss of life.
 
Registration for the Space for Grace gathering closes Oct. 30. Click here to register.

Where in the World is General Secretary Medley?
General Secretary A. Roy Medley travels and represents American Baptist Churches USA wherever he goes. 

As noted above, General Secretary Medley is currently in Rome representing the Baptist  World Alliance (BWA) as the BWA fraternal delegate at the Synod of Bishops on the Family. Prior to this trip, Medley spent time in the Chiapas region of Mexico visiting and traveling with Chuck and Ramona Shawver (Learn more here). In late September, Medley also attended a Journey Team meeting, working with the team on the denominational focus, Transformed by the Spirit.

Please continue to hold Dr. Medley in your prayers as he travels nationally and internationally, representing American Baptists wherever he goes.  
More Recent Highlights from the ABCUSA Website
ABHS Announces Winner of 2015 Torbet Prize