I believe that both as a nation and a global society we galloped into the 21^st century unprepared for what might unfold. Certainly, as a nation, we now talk about ourselves in terms of a post-9/11 society and we all have been affected by Katrina’s destruction, still visible in the South and now accompanied by the effects of the Deep Water Horizon catastrophe. As clergy and lay-leaders of faith, we find ourselves a decade into the 21^st century unprepared for the way social networking and media are changing the way our congregations expect us to interact with them. Many expect, if not demand, instant access to information as well as interaction and communication wholly different than it was just five or six years ago. With more than 500 million people on Facebook, and more content downloaded to YouTube in 60 days than aired in the first 60 years of ABC, CBS and NBC combined, the way we think about outreach and communication is not merely shifting. Rather, we are experiencing seismic alterations that leave us uncertain and breathless.

In this new world we require dynamic leaders of faith who can traverse the delicate terrain of congregational life that has radically transformed in a relatively short period of time. We need agents of change in a changing world — leaders who have gravitas, who know how to serve, who have honorable intentions and humble hearts…  and all the while they must be able to navigate what can be the tempestuous waters of a global community. Ecumenism and interfaith dialogue have birthed inter- and multi-faith action that requires people of faith to learn to interpret and interact within the deepening context of their ministry settings — whether their ministry is in the parish or the boardroom. I believe ministry is, after all, the way that you live your life, and the importance of shared leadership, vision and mission rests with all of us in the church. We are each called to action in that love found within depths of our faith.

I currently serve on the staff of Andover Newton Theological School, which happens to be the only partnered seminary with the Alliance of Baptists and the only Welcoming and Affirming seminary in the United States. The Association of Theological Schools tells us that the total number of seminary students in the United States has been shrinking steadily since 2004. The ATS also believes that as many as 25 seminaries will close in the coming decade — these are institutions that could be training the future leaders of faith.

Now, while many of these suggestions and statistics might be alarming, I have found a beautiful beacon of hope in the relationship between Andover Newton and the Alliance of Baptists. At the Alliance Convocation at Asilomar Conference Center I found startling and poignant experiences of hope in a world that can sometimes feel hopeless.

The commitment, engagement and assurance that I witness both at Andover Newton and within the Alliance make me believe partnerships such as these really can change the world — that when we put our faith and love into action we can make all things bright and beautiful, we can engage this ever-changing world with confidence and we can impact and empower each other in ways that resonate from our mutual communities and indeed offer the blessings of a profound faith within the framework provided by our teacher/Savior.

In fact, a commonality that I see resonating between the Alliance and Andover Newton is a theme I heard during the plenary sessions with Mark Yaconelli. He encouraged us to reclaim Jesus and the basic tenets of the Christian doctrine, reminding us that Jesus himself was the instigator of a progressive movement in his first century surroundings. Jesus was a dissenting voice, a pioneer and a minister of hope.  We — all of us — are called to do likewise.

I left the convocation knowing our leaders are offered a model of community and hospitality in the unfolding bonds that tenderly hold our two identities in the oneness of our tradition. I have been blessed and enriched and know that reverberations of my excitement about my time in convocation fellowship are being felt around my Boston campus since I have returned home!