Short Notices

Editor's Trips

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Issue 2009.20, September 21, 2009

Registration Deadline for Equipping Event/Annual Gathering is October 1

Renew energy

The ABC-MI Equipping Event and Annual Gathering is October 16 and 17 at Covenant Baptist Church, West Bloomfield. Deadling for registration is October 1. Complete information and registration forms are available at http://www.abc-mi.org/pdfs/REGISTRATION%20FORM%202009.pdf.

Comings, Goings, Celebrations, Concerns

§  The Rev. William Sutterlin passed away on September 7 in Los Gatos, CA. He and his wife Ruth were ABC missionaries to China (1946-48). Bill served as Minister of Education at the First Baptist Church of Birmingham from 1959-1974. Dr. J. Wesley Babian, current pastor at Birmingham, wrote, "It was my privilege to have met [Sutterlin] in my younger days. He led a group of youth from FBCB to one of the Christian Citizenship Seminars to Washington D.C. and NYC in the mid 1960's that the ABC sponsored for youth. That was an important time in my life and probably shaped much of what I have done in ministry." Condolences may be sent to his wife, Ruth in care of Phillip Sutterlin, 13237 Via Arriba Dr., Saratoga, CA  95070.

Missionaries to Speak at Ypsi Church

Vital and Ketly Pierre, ABC missionaries in Nicaragua, will speak at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1565 E. Forest Avenue, 734-483-4107, on Thursday, October 1, 12 noon - 2 pm.  Lunch will be served. Everyone is welcome, and lunch is free.

Campus Foundation at MSU Closes Down

The American Baptist Student Foundation at Michigan State University, faced with declining support and and having exhausted its financial resources, will not resume its campus ministry program this fall. All operations will cease by the end of December 2009, closing the book on 50 years of ministering to and with students on the MSU campus.

A letter sent to supporting churches acknowledges "faithful and kind" undergirding from the ABC of Michigan, local congregations, and individuals over the years, but says that "support has continued to drop over the last few years," such that "we cannot in good faith open this year knowing that we do not have commitments to fund the ministry so it can be effective and dynamic."

The letter also asks for "continued prayer support as we close down the ministry, turn over files for historical preservation, and notify our supporters." University Baptist Church and Peoples Church in East Lansing both engage in student ministry outreach at MSU and are commended as worthy of support from the ABC-MI family. >>> Read the full letter.

Led by many outstanding campus ministers over half a century, including Jim Didier, Roger Palms, Jack Bailey, Vivan Martindale, John Piipo, Bill Wolfe, Patti Kenney, Sharon McAuley, and Jeff and Katie Rector, ABSF at MSU has served well and faithfully, touched countless students, and sent many of them into ministry vocations.

"Friends of Judson" Campaign Provides Books to Seminarians

Judson Press is celebrating its 185th year of Christian publishing by launching the “Friends of Judson” campaign that seeks to raise $185,000 for an ongoing program to give a Baptist personal resource library to graduating American Baptist seminarians. Further details are given in this news release.

Second Webinar for ABC-MI Pastors

Our Region, in cooperation with The Columbia Partnership, is offering pastors and interested lay leaders the opportunity to engage in the second of two one-hour web seminars (webinars) on congregational transformation/revitalization. This webinar includes a downloadable PowerPoint live presentation by Bill McConnell, author of Renew Your Church: Healing the Sick, Raising the Dead, and pastor of the Legacy Christian Church in Harrison, OH, and provides opportunity for a few interactive questions during the presentation.

DATEWEBINAREMPHASISDESCRIPTION
Wednesday October 28
Noon-1:00pm		Pastoral Leadership For TransformationLeadership DevelopmentLeading a church in transformation is different from pastoring a church. New skills, concepts and approaches must be learned and applied to lead the church into new life.

This is an excellent opportunity to engage in continuing education without leaving the comfort of your office or home. The cost is $10.00 for Ministry Leadership Group (MLG) participants and $20.00 for all others. It requires internet access and possibly a telephone conference call. Set-up details will be provided once you register with the Region office.

Register today by accessing the registration form at http://tinyurl.com/o9yl7h in PDF format. Fill it out and email it to dreetz@abc-mi.org OR fax it to 517.332.3186 OR mail it to American Baptist Churches of Michigan to the address on the registration form. Registration deadline is Monday, October 26. If you previously registered for the October webinar, you do not need to register again. For more information contact Debbie Reetz in the Region office (dreetz@abc-mi.org) or Ron Cary (rcary@abc-mi.org).

Generous Study Opportunity for Pastors of Small Congregations -- All Expenses Paid

Applications are now available for the Summer Collegium, a project in support of small congregations at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. Clergy (and their spouses or partners) from 25 small churches of all Christian denominations are invited to spend nine days at Virginia Seminary for encouragement, education, rest and renewal. All expenses, including travel, books, meals, lodging, child care at home and pulpit supply, are paid by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.

The theme of the Summer Collegium this year is Leadership in the Small Congregation. Our keynote speaker will be Alice Mann, a prolific writer on congregational ministry, and John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland will join our worship team for the conference.

The Summer Collegium will be held June 23 - July 1, 2010. Application forms are on our website, www.vts.edu/education/collegium, or will be sent in the mail by emailing SummerCollegium@vts.edu or by calling 703-461-1760. Applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2009, to be considered.

 

SEE Logo The Good, the Bad, and the Blessings of Transitions
Understanding Change with the Help of Systems Thinking
October 15, 2009
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Presenter: Rev. Jannel Glennie

How we approach changes/transitions contributes to our health and to the health of our congregations.  In this workshop, participants will have opportunities to reflect on their own style, as well as to learn more about how Family Emotional Systems thinking could provide new tools to address future transitions.  This workshop will also assist the pastor in helping others through changes in their lives.

  Power Connection

2009 ABCUSA Black Church Conference November 3-7

The 2009 Black Churches Conference will take place November 3-7, 2009 in the suburb of Matteson, Illinois which is just outside of Chicago. The theme for the conference is Power Connection: A Call to Greater Works (John 14:12).

The conference will offer opportunities for inspiring and uplifting worship, networking, and dialogue. The seminars and workshops will offer times to explore theology for a relevant ministry, while gathering tips and tools.

The ABC-MI is represented in leadership by the Rev. Ronald Burks, pastor of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church, Detroit. He will present a workshop entitled “Bigger is Not Always Better: Small Church Ministry.” In this workshop he will “offer ingredients for an effective ministry and guide participants through the process of revitalizing or building a mission outreach that makes a real difference in the lives of the people it touches.”

For more information or to register for the conference, go to: http://www.nationalministries.org/ABCPowerConnections/index.cfm.

80th Anniversary at Friendship House

The 80th Anniversary Celebration at Friendship House will be held on Friday, October 16, 2009, at Covenant Baptist Church, W. Bloomfield. Click here for the announcement and dinner reservation form.

Friendship House Golf Outing September 26

Golfers: This is a reminder that the 4th Annual Friendship House golf outing is coming September 26, 2009, at Fox Creek. Reservations are being taken now. Call 313-871-7443. We are also looking for sponsors and door prizes. Please do your best to support friendship house. Click here for poster (pdf) and here for sponsor solicitation letter (doc). -- Dennis Trezona

Short Notices

Editor's Trips

Every edition of E-Link Online features links to articles the Editor has tripped over while wasting time surfing the Web. Posting of these links does not necessarily mean that either he or the American Baptist Churches of Michigan agrees with, endorses, or otherwise promotes the views expressed in them. Their value, if any, consists of whatever further thought, discussion, inquiry, discernment, fury, or occasional laugh they may provoke. Readers are welcome to send their own suggestions to the Editor.

The Editor