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From the Executive Director
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
For ten years, Dr. H. Darrell Lance has nurtured, instructed and
inspired our movement through his excellent editorials in AWAB’s
quarterly newsletter, The InSpiriter (TIS). Darrell, who has been
the editor of TIS since its inception, will be retiring from this
position at the end of June, 2006.
AWAB will offer Darrell tribute and love gifts at the Southern Welcoming
& Affirming Baptists Luncheon at Southside Church, Birmingham, AL,
Sunday, April 23, 12:30 pm. Please submit written tributes and financial
gifts on Darrell's behalf by April 19th, 2006, to AWAB, P.O. Box 259257,
Madison, WI 53725. Written tributes may also be emailed to ken@wabaptists.org.
With love,
Rev. Ken Pennings
Executive Director, The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
ken@wabaptists.org,
(608) 255-2155
Earlybird Discount for Tapestry Ends April 30th
Register today!
A Joint Gathering of AWAB, GLAD Alliance of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) and UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Affirming Christians
Tapestry 2006
Live, Love, Laugh and Lead
June 26-29
Indianapolis, IN
Each day of the gathering will lift up
the empowering aspects of what it is to be a person of faith in in an
affirming Christian community through keynote speakers, worship,
workshops, and opportunities for group discussion and meditation. The
sponsoring organizations are The Association of Welcoming & Affirming
Baptists (AWAB), Gay Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance (GLAD),
and The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns (Coalition).
Register today at
www.tapestry2006.org
Southern AWAB Gatherings of W&A Baptists (April 23-26)
“Turning Brokeback Mountain into an Open Range”
April 23:
Calling all kissin’ cousins from the Alliance of Baptists and the ABC-USA to
attend a Luncheon for Welcoming and Affirming Baptists on April 23rd,
12:30-3:00 pm,
at Southside Baptist Church, 1016 19th Street South, Birmingham,
AL, 35205-4804,
(205)
933-8381,
$5 at door.
April 24:
At
6:30 pm,
Prescott Memorial Baptist Church [961 Getwell Rd.,
Memphis, TN, 38111,
(901)
327-8479]
will host an informal discussion with W&A Baptists and AWAB Director Ken
Pennings.
April 25:
At
6 pm,
Glendale Baptist Church [1021 Glendale Lane,
Nashville, TN, 37204,
(615)
269-0926]
will host a light supper and informal discussion with W&A Baptists and AWAB
Director Ken Pennings.
April 26:
At
6:30 pm,
Oakhurst Baptist Church [222 E. Lake Dr.,
Decatur, GA, 30030,
(404)
376-3677]
will host an informal discussion with W&A Baptists and AWAB Director Ken
Pennings.
For more information about the Southern AWAB Gatherings, contact Ken
Pennings (608-255-2155,
ken@wabaptists.org)
Churches Seeking Pastors
Granville, OH:
First Baptist Church, Granville, Ohio, a small, active Welcoming &
Affirming congregation, seeks a full-time pastor steeped in social justice.
We welcome applicants from any denomination who value substance over style
and questions over answers. For more information, see our Website:
www.firstbaptistgranville.org. Contact: Reverend Alan
Newton, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of the
Rochester-Genesee Region, 1100 S. Goodman St., Rochester, NY
14620. Phone: (585)340-9520. Email:
anewton@crcds.edu.
Memphis,
TN:
Prescott Memorial Baptist Church, Memphis, TN (ABC/Alliance of Baptists/BPFNA),
is beginning its search for a senior pastor. Rev. Martha Brahm will be
leaving in mid-January. Tom Walsh is a member of the search committee, and
will be receiving resumes and profiles at
pastorsearch@prescottchurch.org
. Write to
Prescott
Memorial
Baptist
Church,
961 Getwell Rd., Memphis, TN 38111, 901-327-8479.
Ithaca,
NY:
First Baptist Church, Ithaca, NY, is seeking an interim pastor, and
eventually a full-time senior pastor. Contact (607)
273-5800.
Or write FBC, Dewitt Park Mall, Ithaca, NY 14950.
Madison,
WI:
first Baptist Church, Madison, WI, is seeking a Minister of Discipleship.
Contact (608)
233-1880. Or
write FBC, 518 N. Franklin Ave., Madison, WI 53705.
Palmer, AK:
Church of the Covenant is looking for a staff person. “We’re looking for a
seminary graduate, who is committed to social ministries. While Church of
the Covenant cannot afford a full-time pastor, our related ministries
certainly can. A gay person, male or female, would be welcomed. A partnered
person would be welcome. The idea is to find someone who ultimately would
replace me. After all, I am 78. Palmer is a great place for someone who
wants a little adventure and who loves a variety of people.” – Rev. Howard
Bess, pastor of Church of the Covenant.
Long Beach,
CA:
1st Congregational in Long Beach, CA is looking for a director of youth and
family ministries. This is a large, liberal, urban, open & affirming, just
peace, social justice church. Visit:
www.firstchurchlb.org
Kent,
WA:
Panther Lake Community Church, a member of Evergreen Association, will be
looking for a new pastor. Marilyn Marston has left. They may have an
interim. They are not W&A but may be open to a gay pastor. Panther Lake
Community Church, 10630 SE 204th, Kent, WA 98031-1512, 253/854-4540.
Regional AWAB Gatherings
2006 Expanding the Welcoming Church Movement 12-Stop Tour
Chicagoland Gathering
June 2-4
Contact Ken Pennings, (608) 255-2155,
ken@wabaptists.org
June 2
·
6 pm: Wine and Cheese Reception ($5 donation appreciated)
·
7:30 pm: Inspirational Music / Message (Ken Pennings preaching) Lake Street
Church, 607 Lake St., Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 864-2181
June 3
·
9 am – 2 pm: Community Building Event
Lake Street Church, 607; Lake St., Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 864-2181. In a
relaxed informal setting, connect with others through story-telling,
information-sharing and breaking-of-the-bread. Lunch: $8. If child-care
needed, contact Ann-Louise Haak to make arrangements -
alhaak@lakestreet.org, (847) 864-2181.
June 4
·
10:30 am: Worship – Ken Pennings preaching at The South Church, 501 S.
Emerson, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056, (847) 253-0501;
·
6 pm: Worship – Ken Pennings preaching at Grace Baptist Church; 5253 N.
Kenmore Ave, Chicago, IL, 60640, (773) 334-9003.
New England Gathering
July 21-22
Hosted by
First Churches, 129 Main St,
Northampton, MA, 01060,
(413)
584-9392.
Contact Bruce Baker at
bpenke@aol.com,
(617)
669-2974
North Carolina
Gathering
September 22-24
Hosted by
Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church, 1712 Willow Drive, Chapel Hill, NC
27514. Contact Ken Pennings, (608)
255-2155,
ken@wabaptists.org.
Upper
Midwest Gathering
September 29-October 1
(MN/WI).
Contact JoAnne Juett (715)
832-0642,
jcjuett@sbcglobal.net.
Northwest Gathering
October 13-15
Hosted by
Seattle First Baptist Church and University Baptist Church, Seattle,
Washington. Contact Craig Darling (craigdarling@companis.org) or Tim
Phillips (tim@ubcseattle.org) for more information.
Texas
AWAB/Open Circle
Retreat
October 20-22
Hosted by
University Baptist Church, 2130 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78705. Contact
Bill Cox, (512) 619-4909,
bcoxal@yahoo.com.
Philadelphia Area Gathering
November 3-5
Hosted by
Drexel Hill Baptist Church, 4400 State Rd., Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Contact
(610) 259-2356, rickardsh@msn.com
Events Sponsored by AWAB’s Partners:
April 21-23, 2006 Alliance of Baptists Convocation: We Have This
Ministry –
Reconciliation
Southside
Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama.
Speakers:
·
James
Abbington is associate professor of music and worship at Candler School of
Theology in Atlanta.
·
Chris
Hamlin is director of the HIV/AIDS African American Initiative and chaplain
at the University of Birmingham’s 1917 Clinic. He is also pastor of
Tabernacle Baptist Church in Birmingham.
·
Joyce
Hollyday is a United Church of Christ minister and co-pastor of Circle of
Mercy, Asheville, NC, an ecumenical congregation aligned with the Alliance
of Baptists and the UCC.
·
Willie
Jennings teaches systematic theology and black church and cultural studies
at Duke Divinity School.
·
Sarah
Shelton is pastor of Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham.
July 10-15, 2006 BPFNA Summer Conference: Becoming the Beloved Community,
Atlanta, GA. Keynoter: C. T. Vivian. Contact (704) 521-6051,
bpfna@bpfna.org.
July 14-15, 2006,
Whosoever Ministries, Inc. will host a conference at Virginia
Highland Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The "Reaping the Spiritual
Harvest" conference will feature many inspiring workshops and
keynote speeches from Harry Knox, director of the Human Rights Campaign's
faith and religion program and Candace Chellew-Hodge, the founder of
Whosoever Ministries, Inc. Renowned lesbian Christian singer Marsha Stevens
will give a special concert. Visit
www.whosoever.org/conference
July 27-30, 2006 Together in
Toronto: Claiming an
Open Spirit.
Joint gathering of Affirm United, the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian
Gay Bisexual Transgender Interests (BMC), and Lutherans Concerned / North
America (LC/NA). Contact Ralph Carl Wushke (416) 532-8591,
rwushke@interlog.com.
Resource
A Biblical Defense Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Those Who Love Them
(Trafford Publishing) explores the scriptures which are used to marginalize
and victimize LGBT people by fundamentalist and conservative groups. It also
shows that the Bible has been mistranslated and misquoted to promote an
anti-gay agenda. The book reinforces that God's love is for all and not just
a few. Available at www.amazon.com
Associational
is a periodic e-newsletter of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming
Baptists, a network of 59 churches and hundreds of individuals who have
joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith. Please forward
this e-newsletter to interested friends. Copy relevant information into
your organization’s bulletin and newsletter. To subscribe, send an e-mail to
subscribe@wabaptists.org
with
SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. To be removed from this list, send an e-mail
to
unsubscribe@wabaptists.org
with
REMOVE in the subject line. To read back issues of Associational, go to:
www.wabaptists.org/associational.htm.
To
learn more about the Association, go to:
www.wabaptists.org.
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