American Baptist Chaplains
& Pastoral Counselors e-Connect
 
February 2016 Issue
 
A Lenten Blessing
 
The season of Lent starts with Ash Wednesday. As you minister to others during this Lenten season of 40 days (not including Sundays), the chaplaincy and pastoral counseling team thank you for manifesting the love of God to those whom you serve. We pray that your Lenten journey is a sacred one drawing you nearer to the Holy as you follow Jesus on the road to Good Friday and the cross.
Congratulations to our New Endorsees and to those selected for promotion! 
Please join me in congratulating our new endorsees:
*Rev. Janice Green, Healthcare/Institutional Chaplain, Shaker Heights, OH
*Rev. Herbert A. Lemke, Army Chaplain, Rodman, NY
*Rev. Janise Randall, Healthcare/Institutional Chaplain, 
   Wichita, KS
*Rev. Kevin Sions Correctional Facilities Chaplain, Kingwood, WV
*Rev. Sara Wiegner, Healthcare/Institutional Chaplain, Ephrata, PA
*Cassandra Fletcher, Navy Chaplain Candidate, Henderson, NV
Congratulations to CH (LTC-P) Wayne Santos who serves in the Vermont National Guard for his promotion to Colonel. Wayne will pin on the rank of Colonel on March 6, 2016!
Thank you to our endorsement committee for your critical support and ministry!
 
A New Book from Judson Press
Still A Mother by Chaplains Joy Freeman and Tabatha D. Johnson

Journeys Through Perinatal Bereavement: Joy and Tabatha share their own experiences and collect the stories of others who have sustained such loss, ending the silence and helping to equip pastors, congregations, family and friends in ministering more compassionately to mothers who grieve.
Great news for chaplains and pastoral counselors! Order your own copy in FEBRUARY and receive a 10% discount! Use code SAM1016. Call 1.800.4JUDSON today to take advantage of this special offer!
Invitation to Join the Minister's Council
Consider joining the Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors Minister's Council Chapter!
 
Since our formation in 1991 at the ABC Biennial in Charleston, West Virginia, all endorsed American Baptist chaplains and pastoral counselors have been invited to become formal members of our chapter of the ABC Ministers Council. Unlike our clergy colleagues who serve as pastors of local churches, we serve in medical and mental institutions, prisons, schools, businesses, race tracks, and the military, not just in this country but around the world. Through these experiences, we have with much to offer each other and our denomination but too often, we remain invisible, unknown, and outside typical denominational channels of interaction and support. This year, our goal is to see our chaplains and pastoral counselors increasing our influence and sharing talents locally and regionally, serving and raising our visibility within the denomination. Please help us move forward with this by joining the Chaplains and Pastoral Counselor's Minister's Council Chapter. Contact Sarah Fogg, Secretary-Treasurer at sarahfogg4@rgmail.com for your membership application; or call Elizabeth Ritzman, President, at 708-692-8275.
  
Connecting With your Regional Executive
and Colleagues
Chaplains please consider connecting with your American Baptist chaplains, pastors and regional executive by attending your regional event! The American Baptist Churches, USA website will share upcoming regional events. Go to www.abc-usa.org, click on Ministries, Regional Ministries, highlight your state and/or locate your region. Under your region, click on view more information. Once on your region's page, go to your region's website for your annual meeting! 
The Annual Report-Past Due for 2015
2015 Annual Reports were due by December 31, 2015. Access the Annual Report form. Please submit your annual report now if you haven't already. Thank you to those of you who have already done so! 

If you are retired you can update contact information (address, telephone, email) by sending your information to endorsement@abhms.org

If you need to update contact information at any time during the year, send an email message to endorsement@abhms.org

If you need a letter of endorsement for your employer, send an email message to endorsement@abhms.org Be sure to specify the name and full address of your employer.

If you are applying for a VA job or APC certification, please be sure to state so specifically, as they require separate documentation.

Virtual network exclusively for American Baptist chaplains and pastoral counselors
to communicate

American Baptist chaplains and pastoral counselors have a private and secure social network to keep us connected and in communication. We have partnered with Yammer to set up a private virtual network. Yammer collaboration software allows you to get connected to American Baptist chaplains and pastoral counselors across the United States. Our communication can go further and faster. To join.
To read or print out previous issues of the American Baptist Chaplains & Pastoral Counselors e-Connect e-newsletter, scroll down to the bottom of the ABHMS Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministries Documents and Forms web page.
      
      
  
American Baptist Chaplaincy & Pastoral Counseling Ministries
endorsement@abhms.org or 800.222.3872, x2482 
  
  
American Baptist Home Mission Societies
 
American Baptist
 Chaplaincy & Pastoral Counseling Ministries
 

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Haggray
Ecclesiastical Endorser Executive Director/CEO ABHMS 

 
 
Laura Miraz, Ph.D., SPHR
Associate Ecclesiastical Endorser 

 
 
Chaplain (Col.-Ret.)
Kristina Moeller
Liaison for Military Chaplains and Associate Endorser

 
 
Mrs. Alice Mitchell-Cross
Administrative Coordinator
  
   

 Rev. Dr. Harry E. Simmons, BCC, ACPE Supervisor
Chairperson, Endorsement Committee




Rev. Elizabeth Ritzman, LCPC
President of the Chaplains & Pastoral Counselors Chapter of the Ministers Council