Alliance of Baptists

February 2009

Park Road Baptist Church in Charlotte

April 17-19

Join us at the loom

Whatever thread of curiosity you might bring to the 2009 Convocation, you will find invitations to weave that into our common quest as we weave with the spirit. At the Alliance loom, we will celebrate and anticipate our lives together. There are many threads: the passion of our birth; the joy of our leadership past and present; the audacity of our hopes; the continuing education for congregational life; the shared worship and so much more. Come. Weave. Discover. Be at the loom with us in Charlotte.

—Ken Meyers

Convocation Chair

Read more, and register now. The registration fee increases after March 15. More than 200 people have already registered as of Feb. 1.

View the complete schedule.

Worship at Commonwealth Baptist Church Newest Alliance congregation: Commonwealth Baptist Church

Once known as Baptist Temple Church, Commonwealth Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA, has just affiliated with the Alliance. Led by pastor Ben Boswell, the church discovered that its values match perfectly with those of the Alliance. Learn more about our newest affiliated congregation.

Looking back, looking foward

By Brooks Wicker, Alliance president

After a Herculean effort on the part of many who made appeals on our behalf, we ended 2008 having spent $91,390 more than we took in. You will be surprised to know that I am breathing a sigh of relief in reviewing this number. No, I am not on drugs. It's just that this number is so much better than the $150,000 income deficit I was losing sleep over last November. Read more on the Alliance blog...

2008 Finances
Ministry Budget Expenses: $501,756 | Receipts: $413,321

Mission Offering Goal: $131,000 | Receipts: $105,211

Zimbabwe

2009 Bridges of Hope Offering

We will be supporting 29 mission partners through the 2009 offering, including the Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe and the Baptist Seminary of Zimbabwe. Torn by internal strife and an economy in turmoil, our friends in Zimbabwe churches and the seminary rely not only on our modest financial support but also on our spiritual solidarity.

The 2009 Bridges of Hope brochure is available. Please contact the Alliance office if your church would like a supply to promote the offering.

Perspectives....Alliance takes lead in Baptist/Muslim dialogue

By Stan Hastey, minister for mission and ecumenism

I was privleged to be one of 80 participants in the first public event sponsored by the Baptist/Muslim Dialogue Task Force. I'd like to remind you of what the Alliance's involvement in Christian-Muslim relations has been.....

Read more on the Alliance blog...

Did you know?

—That the Alliance has endorsed more than 150 chaplains and pastoral counselors to ministries in specialized settings?

—That the first statement adopted by the Alliance of Baptists (then known as the Southern Baptist Alliance) was at the Annual Meeting in 1990 in St. Louis? The subject: Racism and Repentance.

—That the statement was revisited in 2006 and updated at the Annual Meeting in Birmingham?

All statements of concern that have been adopted by the Alliance are posted on our web site.

Why I support the Alliance

Stephen Sprinkle found his way to the Alliance through his teaching assistant at Brite Divinity School. Stephen was and is particularly interested in LGBT issues and was glad to learn the Alliance supports the same causes as he. "I have not been disappointed," he said. Read more about Stephen.

Nominating Committee appreciates suggestions

Thank you, members of the Alliance, for sending us so many outstanding recommendations to be considered as new additions to the Alliance's board of directors. The nominating committee is working to be able to present nominees who bring both excellence and diversity to the board. Your recommendations have simplified our task while also challenging our abiity to discern a limited number of nominees from such a large group of really good possibilites. We look forward to presenting these nominees to you in April in Charlotte. Thank you as well for your continued support through your prayers.

--Jack Price

Nominating Committee Chair

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Convocation 2009: Michael-Ray Mathews to lead gathering worship

Michael-Ray was introduced to the Alliance of Baptists when the board held a mini-convocation in Oakland, CA, in 2002. Michael-Ray Mathews At the time, Michael-Ray was pastor of a local church in San Jose. For the past year, he has been director of outreach and recruitment for PICO in San Jose, a national network that brings people of faith together to strengthen families and revitalize communities. Learn more about Michael-Ray and why you will not want to miss the Friday night worship service that he will lead at this year's convocation.

Search and call

Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth is looking for a pastor and Highland Park Baptist Church in Austin, TX, is searching for an associate pastor for youth and student ministry. Details about these and other open church-related positions are on our web site.

Calendar

February 1-4: Spiritual Care Collaborative,Orlando, FL. Chris will represent the Alliance at this meeting.

Feb. 11: Stan at National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program dinner, Washington, DC

March 4: Chris at Virginia Highland Church, Atlanta, GA

March 5: Stan at Baptist Joint Committee Executive Committee, Washington, DC

March 6-7: Stan at E. Glenn Hinson Day of Recognition and Annual Lecture, Lexington, KY

March 14-15: Stan at Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annandale, VA (50th anniversary celebration)

March 29: Chris at Immanuel Baptist Church, Portland, ME.

April 14-15: Lectures on Religious Libery and Separation of Church and State and State. Mercer University. Lecturer: Randall Balmer.

April 17-29: Alliance Convocation. Charlotte.

April 24-25: Wake Forest University School of Divinity will host the Southeast regional gathering of the New Baptist Covenant. Speakers: President Jimmy Carter and Maya Angelou.

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Christianity for the Rest of Us

From clothes to computers, buy it through the Alliance Store

Buy everything from your clothes to your computers at amazon.com and the Alliance benefits, if you enter through the Alliance Store.

Not only does our store highlight resources of interest to our members, but we also receive a percentage of ANYTHING that you buy on amazon.com if you enter through our portal.

Christianity for the Rest of Us by convocation leader Diana Butler Bass is just one resource that is available.

Alliance contacts

Carole Collins, finance committee chair

Chris Copeland, minister for leadership and congregational life

Stan Hastey, minister for mission and ecumenism

Susan Burgess Parrish, development consultant

Sue Poss, communications consultant

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Founded in 1987, the Alliance of Baptists is a movement of progressive Christians - individuals and congregations - seeking to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world.