Voice Magazine, Spring 2015

Voices magazine Spring 2015

25 Years of

Ministry Partners Arcus Foundation Grant Celebration of our supporters

Dear Alliance Friends: It is a joy and great honor to share with you the journey of faith as Alliance of Baptists. Our covenant and mission remain for us a firm foundation on which to stand and minister in the messy here and now as well as a compelling and creative guide toward a Spirit-inspired, hope-filled, promise-rich future we keep envisioning together.

Our prophetic witness to God’s call to love and justice is bold, vibrant and life-giving to so many. Through the years, the Alliance of Baptists has gone on record through “statements” affirmed at our annual gatherings, speaking truth to power and raising a clear voice for justice for the oppressed and marginalized.

Our progressive Christian values, lived out by congregations, pastors, chaplains and counselors, community organizers and lay leaders, stands out as a hopeful, thoughtful and imaginative alternative to the fear-filled practices so prevalent among so many Christians in our country and all around the globe.

Gathering remains the primary event of the year. But, other gatherings across the country stretch us and enlarge us and call us together as well.

Our Alliance of Baptists’ staff is just incredible. They have so much energy and creativity and we are truly blessed by their unique gifts and skills, their passion for the Gospel, and their love of our Alliance.

Our finances continue to grow. In fact, we were able to exceed our budget goal by $50,000 this past year. We are so grateful for, and strengthened by, those generous gifts that come from so many individuals and churches.

The Alliance of Baptists is a shining light for a more progressive Christianity and remains a clear voice for Baptist principles, freedoms and traditions. For this and so much more we say, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Our ecumenical and interfaith spirit serves as a sign and testimony to our commitment to spiritual friendships and extravagant hospitality in Jesus’ name. And our mission partnerships, for which we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary in 2015, continue to teach us so much about the extent and power of the Gospel that enlivens us and binds us all together.

With abounding joy and deep gratitude,

Our gatherings remain a valuable time of connection, inspiration and relationship building. The Annual

Michael D. Castle, president

Alliance President Mike Castle speaking at the Alliance press conference for religious liberty at Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, N.C., June 2014.

contents 1 3 4 5 9 13 14 Alliance Leadership Team: Carole Collins, director of operations & finance Paula Clayton Dempsey, director of partnership relations Alliance Staff: Sandra Blackwell, administrative support Leah Grundset Davis, communications specialist Leah Lonsbury, clergy care specialist Cathy McGaughey, operations support Kenneth J. Meyers, faith formation specialist Kristy Pullen, AllianceConnect technical specialist Jason Smith, congregational engagement specialist

Alliance Officers: Michael Castle, president (‘16 C); April Baker, vice president (‘16 C); Steve Jolly, secretary (‘16 C); Leslie Withers, treasurer (‘16 L); Carol Blythe, past president (‘16 L) Alliance Board Members: John Ballenger (‘16 C), Julie Barnett (‘16 L), Benjamin Boswell (’17 C), Kevin Brown (UCC Representative), Lisa Darak-Druck (’17 L), Lisa Davis Brownlee (‘16 L), John E. Evans (’15 L), Anne Garner (’15 L), Paul Hayes (’16 C), Sarah Macias (’16 L), David Massengill (’16 L), Tim Moore (’15 C), Lee Nicholas-Pattillo (’15 L), Karrie Oertli (‘16 C), Amparo Palacios Lopez (’17 L), Ned Allyn Parker (’16 C), Terry-Thomas Primer (’16 C), Sheila Sholes-Ross (’15 C), Cecil White (’15 C) (C=Clergy, L=Laity)

President’s Message “Room for Hope Gathering” “Avoiding Empty and Episodic Ways” “We’ve a Story to Hear from the Nations” 2014 Financial Partners Arcus Foundation Grant A note from Carole and Paula

On the cover: A church leader in Clara Rodés Baptist Church in Piedrecitas, Cuba, reads to preschoolers from a book in the children’s library recently created in the church in a partnership with Mars Hill Baptist, Mars Hill, N.C., and One Library at a Time, a non-profit in Charlotte, N.C. Voices is a twice yearly publication of the Alliance of Baptists. allianceofbaptists.org

Room for Hope Gathering: Let us Break (Stale) Bread Together

by Dennis J. Foust

Palestinian musicians perform at the Room for Hope gathering, Charlotte, N.C., September 2014.

Bread

makers bake whole loaves. They do not set out to bake breadcrumbs. However, when bread becomes stale, bread makers break off pieces of bread and transform crumbs into croutons.

In both Arabic and Hebrew, Bethlehem literally means, “House of Bread.”

However, if you are looking for a “whole loaf” city, you will not find it in Bethlehem. The ancient city of Bethlehem has not been whole for decades. Bethlehem is a broken city.

Crumbs are plentiful.

For people living behind the walls of occupation in Bethlehem, these crumbs — these broken pieces of a “whole loaf life” — have names: suffering, victimization, prejudice, oppression, destruction, homelessness, unemployment, forced poverty, taxation without representation, dispossession, ethnic cleansing and migration. However, there are some redemptive actions taking place.

The Alliance of Baptists is partnering with Bright Stars of Bethlehem, a

ministry offering new life to and growing hope among residents of this broken city by the Lutheran congregations located there. And, on the weekend of Sep. 25-28, 2014 members of the Alliance of Baptists gathered with hundreds of others in Charlotte, N.C., to learn about the plight of the Palestinian people and the importance of our partnership with Bright Stars of Bethlehem.

During those days, we enjoyed meals prepared by chefs studying at Dar Al-Kalima College. We listened to delightful music performed by students who had never been beyond the wall prior to this trip. We heard Palestinian Christians share personal stories. We learned about the United States’ support of Israel’s military. We learned from Alice Rothchild, an American Jewish physician, author, activist and filmmaker whose goal is to create a better future for that part of the world based on mutual respect and knowledge about the Palestinian experience of loss, occupation and statelessness. We watched both her widely acclaimed documentary, Voices across the Divide, and Omar, which was directed by directed by Hany AbuAssad and nominated by the Palestinian

Ministry of Culture for a 2014 Academy Award as the best foreign film.

Bethlehem, this ancient House of Bread, is stale and crumbling. Yet, this is not the last word. Some of God’s people have heard a Voice saying, ‘Bake it again.’ So, the Alliance of Baptists and Bright Stars are serving the people of Bethlehem by breaking stale bread together for a purpose. And, like broken crumbs being transformed into useful croutons, lives are being redeemed Fellow followers of Jesus, through our support of Bright Stars of Bethlehem, we are investing in God’s Realm of Shalom.

Let us break stale bread together on our knees. Amen and Amen.

Dennis Foust is the pastor at St. John’s Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C., which hosted the Room for Hope gathering.

Avoiding Empty and Episodic Ways:

Empowering a Faith Community to Change the World

by Kenneth J. Meyers faith formation specialist

Sometimes

it’s about the latest religious video someone viewed. At other times it can be about someone’s partisan agenda.

And, there are always those populist book suggestions. Recommendations can come from many directions for church study in many of our partner congregations.

Micah Bucey and Valerie Holly, ministers at partner congregation Judson Memorial Church, New York City visit with faith formation specialist Ken Meyers.

Too many times the congregational approach to theological education is left to such episodic and empty ways. How does theological education best shape critical thinking and spiritual formation in your congregation? Is the educational plan generating personal transformation that propels justice-making in our world?

A mindful and measured map to theological education is possible for congregations. The hoped-for outcome is a transformative and informative knowing of the sacred Story that finds root not only in head, but also heart and hand.

Such a template can form around nine goals for a holistic and balanced approach to theological education in the church. The indigenous character of a congregation will nuance each component. Here are the nine goals:

·hospitality/welcoming ·biblical story/our story ·spirituality/disciplines ·church community/life together ·theology/doctrine ·ethics/justice ·ministry/mission ·church history/eschatology ·worship/adoration Join in the discussion. Even better, know this approach firsthand by your invitation to me, the Alliance faith formation specialist. I am available for consultation, workshops, and preaching. I will show up if you will put me up!

We’ve a Story to Hear from the Nations: Celebrating 25 Years of Ministry Parnership

The beginnings of partnership This year the Alliance celebrates 25 years of supporting its Bridges of Hope Ministry Partners. How fitting it is that this year’s upcoming annual gathering April 17-19 in Atlanta focuses on the Alliance’s ministry partners.

We’ve a story to hear from the nations, indeed.

In 1989, the Southern Baptist Alliance’s Board of Directors formally approved the creation of a Global Missions Offering to be collected the following year. By the Convocation gathering in 1990, the Alliance had raised nearly $25,000.

Eventually, the Global Missions Offering became known as the Frontiers of Hope Missions Offering and finally, what we know today as the Alliance’s Bridges of Hope Ministry Partners.

by Andrew Gardner

Partnership. Rather than sending missionaries from one place to another the Alliance partners with congregations, ministries, and organizations already performing God’s work in the world.

Even prior to the formalized offerings, the Alliance was partnering with churches like Shalom Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., to provide a salary supplement to the congregation’s minister. This partnership marked the Alliance’s first.

As the Alliance became more and more proficient and formalized in connecting with other congregations and ministries, partnerships emerged all across the United States and around the world.

The partnership model of ministry developed both with regard to the Alliance’s pragmatism that recognized the organization’s financial limitations as well as with regard to Raising money for missions is not all that distinctive for Baptists. Unique to the Alliance, however, is the way in which the Alliance’s conscious commitment to do God’s work with others rather than for others. the organization uses the money raised by these offerings:

award various partnerships. Once the money was given, however, the Alliance relinquished control of that money to the partner organization. The Alliance trusted their partners to best utilize their financial support.

Although money was given with no strings attached, the Alliance vetted ministry partners on a number of criteria.

Perhaps the most important criteria were the Alliance’s desire to “encourage visionary risk taking” and to support organizations that “dare to dream new dreams.”

[Above: An interfaith group meets for discussion in the Republic of Georgia with ministry partners from the Evangelical Baptist Church.

Left: Miriam, Sonja, Alejandro, Nati and David, students at the Baptist Seminary of Mexico in Mexico City sing with joy at graduation in 2014.]

The Alliance looked to the margins for ministry partners — those organizations that pushed the boundaries of service to the very edge of society. If God resides on the margins with those who are disenfranchised and rejected, should not strong ministries be found there also?

Through partnership, ministry becomes a two-way street and we remember that while we have a story to tell, we also have a story to hear. A story of God working on the margins. A story of visionary risk-taking. A story of daring new dreams.

Ministry partners develop Two of the three proclaimers for the Annual Gathering this year are Paco Rodés from the Fraternity of Baptists in Cuba and Rusudan Gotsiridze from the Evangelical Baptist Church of the Republic of Georgia.

No two figures better helped develop the Alliance’s commitment to partnership ministry more than Anne Thomas Neil and Alan Neely. Both Neil and Neely were former missionaries for the Southern Baptist Convention and both believed the traditional model of sending missionaries needed revising. The ideas of “mission” and “missionaries” were riddled with colonialist implications about one, perceived, better group of people imparting their knowledge on a, perceived, lesser group of people.

Since 1991, the Alliance has been in partnership with its first international ministry partner — the Fraternidad de Iglesias Bautistas de Cuba. A delegation from the Fraternity of Baptists attended the 1999 Alliance Convocation that met in Richmond, Va.

Instead, Neil and Neely believed the Alliance should partner with and empower indigenous ministries.

Local religious communities were teaching, preaching and ministering throughout the world, so the Alliance sought to partner with these pre-existing ministries rather than, as the saying goes, “reinvent the wheel.”

The development of this model of partnership required a great deal of trust. The Alliance reviewed ministry grants on a yearly basis in order to decide how much to

[Henry Mugabe, a representative from Zimbabwe Theological Seminary greets Zach Bay, pastor at Middlesboro Baptist Church, Middlesboro, Ky., on a trip to the United States in 2014.]

The initial concept of partnership spread from Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C. Pullen members — especially Alan Neely and Roger and Mary Ruth Crook — developed a relationship with members of the Fraternity of Baptists, and connected these Cuban Baptists with the Alliance of Baptists.

As the partnership grew on an organizational level, other Alliance congregations partnered with Fraternidad churches in Cuba. Despite difficult travel restrictions, visits to provide mutual support and shared fellowship often took place.

So fruitful were these trips that the Alliance’s relationship with the Fraternity

of Baptists eventually became the litmus test through which all other proposed international partnerships were measured.

In 1997, the Alliance expanded its international partnerships to include supporting the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe — a relationship that continues into the present through the support of Zimbabwe Theological Seminary, which was formed in 2011 after changes in governing documents for the original seminary required adherence to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.

In the same year, the Alliance began supporting the work of Karen Smith as a chaplain for Al Akhawayn University in Morocco.

[Members from the Fraternity of Baptist Churches and Jason Smith at the Fraternity’s Annual Meeting, February 2015.]

[Kim Christman, spending a year in Cuba learning and serving with Fraternity of Baptist Churches with Manolo Delgado, former executive director of the Fraternity and pastor of Emanuel Baptist church, Mayabeque, Cuba.]

Although the relationship with Sri Lanka ended over differences in theological outlook in 2007, the relationship with Brazil continues to grow and thrive.

Concurrently with formation of the partnership with Brazil, the Alliance began a partnership with the Evangelical Through the Baptist Churches of the Republic of leadership of Shanta Georgia through funding a ministry Premawardhana, a former Alliance board called the School of Elijah. Housed at member, and his son, the Beteli Center, the School facilitates dialogue and learning between Christian Devaka, the Alliance from eastern and western traditions in created partnerships such practices as contemplative prayer with the Sri Lankan Baptist Sangamaya and and iconography.

Aliança de Baptistas do So many stories that we need to hear.

Brasil.

The international partnerships of the Alliance provide an opportunity for us to encourage Christians abroad as well as for us to be encouraged by these same Christians.

In partnership we realize the work of God is not our own. We realize that we are not alone. No one is alone.

We listen As we hear the stories from friends living abroad during our annual gathering in Atlanta, we will have an obligation to listen. Listening, however, is a skill that can be both difficult and dangerous.

American actor, director, screenwriter, and author Alan Alda once wrote of listening: “The difference between listening and pretending to listen, I discovered, is enormous. One is fluid, the other is rigid. One is alive, the other is stuffed.

Eventually, I found a radical way of thinking about listening. Real listening

is a willingness to let the other person change you. When I’m willing to let them change me, something happens between us that’s more interesting than a pair of dueling monologues.”

[While on a partnership trip to the Republic of Georgia, members from Pullen Memorial Church dance with students from a Muslim girls’ school in Khulo.}

How might the stories of Baptists and Christians from Cuba, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Brazil, the Republic of Georgia, and elsewhere transform our ministries within the Alliance of Baptists?

However, not only do our international partners have stories, our national partnerships do also. From the Oakhurst Recovery Program in Decatur, Ga., to the Hope Center in Raleigh, N.C.; from Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries in New York City to the Samaritan Neighborhood Center in Oakland, Calif. — we have stories to hear.

And how might these stories change us? How might they tune our ears?

Might we begin to hear the grumblings of hungry stomachs in our communities? Might we begin to hear the chattering teeth of the homeless individuals sleeping in the cold? Might we begin to hear the cries of the oppressed and marginalized in the dead of night?

There is much for us to hear in this world, and the experience of our ministry partners both abroad and nationally are valuable resources to help tune our ears aright, to help change what we are listening for.

For as we listen to the stories of our partners perhaps we will hear that still small voice uniting us in common ministry — that pleasant song floating upon the breeze, enveloping us in love so divine. Oh, may it be so.

Andrew Gardner is a third-year divinity student at Wake Forest School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, N.C. His work Reimagining Zion: A History of the Alliance of Baptists, will be published later this year.

Alliance 2015 Ministry Partners

African Baptist Churches in Zimbabwe Aliança de Batistas do Brasil AMOS Health+Hope, Nicaragua Andrew P. Stewart Center, Atlanta, Ga. Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America Baptist Seminary of Mexico Bright Stars of Bethlehem Calvary Latino Ministry, Washington, D.C. Shekinah, El Salvador Emmaus House, Raleigh, N.C. Fraternity of Baptist Churches, Cuba Hope Center at Pullen, Raleigh, N.C. Jitokese Wamama Wafrica JourneyPartners, Franklinton, N.C. Mayan Intercultural Seminary, Chiapas, Mexico Oakhurst Recovery Program, Decatur, Ga. QC Family Tree, Charlotte, N.C. Rauschenbush Metro Ministries, New York City Samaritan Neighborhood Center, Oakland, Calif.

School of Elijah, Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia Seeds of Hope Publishers, Waco, Texas Shalom Children’s Center, Ghana Strive, Chicago, Ill. University Chaplaincy, Protestant Church of Morocco Zimbabwe Theological Seminary, Zimbabwe

Ecumenical and Advocacy Partners Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty Church World Service Churches for Middle East Peace Latin American Working Group National Council of Churches of Christ National Farm Worker Ministry

2014 Alliance

Partner Congregations $1 - $999

Broadview Baptist Church, Temple Hills, Md. Calvary Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va. Christ Congregation, Princeton, N.J. College Park Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C. Crossroads Church of Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo. Emmanuel Baptist Church, Albany, N.Y. Englewood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. Fellowship Baptist Church, Edison, Ga. First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, Jamaica Plain, Mass.

First Baptist Church of Asheville, Asheville, N.C. First Baptist Church of Berkeley, Berkeley, Calif.

First Baptist Church of Clemson, Clemson, S.C. First Baptist Church of Columbia, Columbia, Mo. First Baptist Church of Front Royal, Front Royal, Va. First Baptist Church of Madison, Madison, Wis. First Baptist Church of Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C. First Baptist Church of Worcester, Worcester, Mass.

Freemason Street Baptist Church, Norfolk, Va. Glade Church, Blacksburg, Va. Grace Covenant Church of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Jefferson Street Baptist Community at Liberty, Louisville, Ky. Lake Street Church of Evanston, Evanston, Ill. Long Branch Baptist Church, The Plains, Va. Madison Baptist Fellowship, Madison, Miss.

Mars Hill Baptist Church, Mars Hill, N.C. New Heights Baptist Church, Gaffney, S.C. Old Cambridge Baptist Church, Cambridge, Mass.

Peace Community Church, Oberlin, Ohio Peakland Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va. Prescott Memorial Baptist Church, Germantown, Tenn.

Shell Ridge Community Church, Walnut Creek, Calif.

The United Church of Granville, Granville, Ohio University Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio University Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minn.

Virginia-Highland Church, Atlanta, Ga. Williamsburg Baptist Church, Williamsburg, Va. Woodland Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas

$1000 - $2499

Church of the Savior, Cedar Park, Texas Circle of Mercy, Asheville, N.C. First Baptist Church in Beverly, Beverly, Mass.

First Baptist Church in Newton, Newton Centre, Mass.

First Baptist Church of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio First Baptist Church of Pittsfield, Pittsfield, Mass.

First Baptist Church of Savannah, Savannah, Ga. First Baptist Church of Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Md. Grace Baptist Church, Statesville, N.C. Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, Cary, N.C. Harmony Creek Church, Dayton, Ohio Highland Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. Highland Park Baptist Church, Austin, Texas Judson Memorial Church, New York, N.Y. Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Oakland, Calif.

Metro Baptist Church, New York, N.Y. Northside Baptist Church, Clinton, Miss.

Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C. Park Road Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. Riverside Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. Royal Lane Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas Southside Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, La. Starling Avenue Baptist Church, Martinsville, Va. Twinbrook Baptist Church, Rockville, Md. University Baptist Church, Austin, Texas Vienna Baptist Church, Vienna, Va. Village Baptist Church, Bowie, Md. Williston Immanuel United Church, Portland, Maine

$2500 - $4999

Austin Heights Baptist Church, Nacagdoches, Texas Broadneck Baptist Church, Annapolis, Md. Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. Covenant Church, Houston, Texas Cumberland First Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Ind. First Baptist Church Greensboro, Greensboro, N.C. Ginter Park Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. Grace Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. Heritage Baptist Church, Cartersville, Ga. Knollwood Baptist Church, Winston Salem, N.C. Lake Shore Baptist Church of Waco, Waco, Texas Millbrook Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. Myers Park Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. Sardis Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. St. John’s Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C.

$5000 - $9999

Central Baptist Church, Lexington, Ky. Crescent Hill Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. Lakeside Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, N.C. Noank Baptist Church, Noank, Conn.

Northminster Baptist Church, Jackson, Miss.

Northminster Church, Monroe, La. Northside Drive Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annandale, Va. University Baptist Church, College Park, Md. Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, N.C.

$10,000 and Above

Baptist Church of the Covenant, Birmingham, Ala. Central Baptist Church, Wayne, Pa. First Baptist Church of Greenville, Greenville, S.C. Glendale Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn.

Kirkwood Baptist Church, Kirkwood, Mo. Oakhurst Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga. Woodbrook Baptist Church, Baltimore, Md.

Financial Partners Individuals/Families

$1 - $99

D.W. Aaron Lu Shan and Daniel Alcazar-Roman Susan and Joe Aldrich Courtney Allen Jere Allen Mary Little Apicella Mark Ashworth Jim and Fran Avera Dan and Janet Bagby Bob Ballance Peter Barclay Raimundo Barreto Jr. Debbie Bates Susan Blythe-Goodman Alvin Bowen Anita Bradshaw Annette Brister Jackie Brooks Dalon Brown and David Odom Molly Brummett Wudel Nellen K. Hughens Brunson Micah Bucey Paula Buford John Burns Bethany and Ryan Busby Amy Butler Chris Caldwell Patrick Cardwell Marty Carney Emily and Bob Cato Glen and Greer Clayton Richard Bruxvoort Colligan George and Shirley Cowden Bill Crouch Dorothy Cunningham Lisa Darak and Jani Druck Clayton Davis Patrick DeVane Becky Drysdale R. Sutton Edmondson, III David Farmer Lynn Farmer Velma Ferrell Stephanie Ford Jay Foster and Alice Bullock Suzanne Franklin Steven T. Fuller Tripp Fuller Anne Garner Darrell and Sammie Garner James Garrick Marsha Garrison Melba George Brian Graves and Beth Honeycutt

Janice Green Ross and Betty Griffith Jeane Hackle Shirley Hall Vickie Hall Joyce Hamilton Flynn and Anne Harrell Alma Hassell Doris Hayes Penelope S. Hazen Tiffany Triplett Henkel Hilda and Larry Highfill Allen and Gail Hinand Steve Hoffman Robbie Holland Charliene Hooker and Bill Hamilton J. Hayden Howell William Ingram Elizabeth F. Jarrard Barbara Jernigan Sarah Jobe David Johnson and Scarlett Swan Edward Johnson Mark Johnson Helen Jones Margie Kelbel Rodney Kennedy Darrell Lance Kathleen and Paul Lansing Judith Lide Patricia Long Corina Lopez Pamela Magee Marshall Marks Maurice and Eugene Hinson Hugh and Rebecca McKinley Keith Menhinick Martha Morse Richard Myers Betty Nable Erin Newton and Randall Lathan Lee Nicholas-Pattillo Nancy Osborne Glenn Page Amparo Palacios Lopez Ellen Parkhurst Phillip Charles Patrick Lorena Pereira-Decorado Kate Perry Jim and Susan Pike Erich and Rita Rakestraw Jason Ranke George and Susan Reed Rachel Revelle Eugenia and Roberto Reyes Zachary Ritchie

Mayra Rivas Larry Robert Lourie Russell April Sams Bob and Sue Sanders Susan Sevier Kathy Sharp and Mark Stone Lenita J. Shumaker Jane Williams and George Singleton Michael Smith Susan Smith Tim Son Emily Stewart Jon and Patti Stratton Joe Thomas Stephanie True Victor Tupitza Ben and Dorothy Wagener Teri Walker Rebecca and James Wallace Yin Watson Kirk Weaver Fred and Patricia Werhan Elmer and Betsy West Kristin Whitesides Ashlee Wiest-Laird and Lance Laird Kenneth Williams Nancy Williams Robert Witham Donald W. Wolford

$100- $249

Brent Adams Robert E. Adrian Matthew and Sunny Alexander Bill Allen and Rebecca Wall Sarah and Carl Almblad Nancy and Jack Ammerman

Brian Ammons Doyce Amos David and Kristen Anderson Jenny Arthur Barbara Atchley Christine and Darrel Baker Bonita and Michael Barnes Elizabeth Barnes Kelly Belcher Kristin Belcher Clinton Bennett Jennie Plott Betton John and Sharleen Johnson Birkimer Tracy L. Blagec Margaret Blevins John D. Blythe Robin Booth Mary Bradley Nancy A. Bradley Rosemary Brevard Jerene Broadway and Jim Lowder Cindy Brown Curtis Brown, III Wanda Burton-Crutchfield Nancy Byard Claude and Mary Caldwell Amy Canosa Holmes Carlisle Jeremiah L. Carlton David Carnish Dina Carroll Michael Castle

Kenneth Cauthen Martin Chang Bob and Rachel Chapman Ann Charlescraft Katherine Cheves Keith Church David M. and Jann Aldredge-Clanton Troy Clayton Reba Cobb

Carole and Greg Cochran James R. Coffman Mary Catherine Cole Walter Coleman David T. Connelly Christopher Copeland Richard and Carolyn Copeland Jeanetta Cotman Gail and Dutch Coulter Diane Cox Jan Cox-Gedmark Ruth Cramer Cheryl Crawford David Crum Jonathan Crutchfield Melissa Culbreth Bob and Linda Cyrus Tammerie Day Teresa Dilday Brian Dixon Isabel Docampo Ken and Sally Dodgson Amy Dodson-Watts Tillie Duncan Raye Nell Dyer Preston and Faye Edwards Steve Edwards Lauris M. Eek, Jr. Millard Eiland Mitzi Ellington Juanita Elmquist Donald Erickson

Richard Groves Sally and Marcus Gulley Elizabeth Hagan Anna Hall Ryan and Lynn Casteel Harper Missy Harris Shannon and Mark Hart Greg Hathaway Nancy and Roy Hauser Chad Hawkins Mel and Kim Hawkins Paige Heard Norman Hedrick, Jr. Lanie and Joe Henry Alice and Edgar Herrington Michael Hester Dick and Beverly Hester Kristen and Jan Hibbetts James Hicks Paul Higgins Diane Hill Lee and Christie Hill Jeffrey Hood Dawn and Paul Hood-Patterson Edward T. Hooper Bill and Molly Hornbuckle Jennifer Hornbuckle Gene and Brenda Huffstutler John Hunt David LaPorte Hunter Heather Hurd James A. Hutchby

Angie and David Flack Laura Nell Ford John Foster Brett Fox Kyndra Frazier Rebecca Fuller Martha Gale Andrew Gardner Jerry Gentry Buddy Gill Katherine Godby and David Grebel John Goetsch Joy Gooch and Paul Wheeler Alan and Jessie Gragg Doug Graham Travis Greene Krista Gregory

David Hutchinson and Jessica Smith Beverly Isley-Landreth Jacki Belile Allison Jackson Aija Jansone Andrew and Megan Jarrell Elmer and Phyllis Johnson Gerald and Nadine Johnson Megan Joyner Robert Kerr Gerald Kersey Leah Knox Melissa Lamm John Laney and Joan Yarborough Margie Latham Beth Laxton

Elaine and Dennis Lehr Gayle F. Lewis Leah Lonsbury Ralph Lowrance Carol Majors and Judith Dean Basil Manly, IV Margo Mark Grace E. Marquez Marie Mason Michael-Ray Mathews Tessa McBrayer Mike and Julie McClanahan Rod and Michelle McClendon Deborah Medearis Elizabeth Clay Mein Daniel and Sharon Miles Brian Miller Robert G. Moore, III Willis Moore Stacey Morgan Trey Morrison David Morton Beth Mosier Linda Mulford Debra Mumford Robbin Mundy Franklin and Marjorie Murdock M. Susan Nance Terry Newell Matt Norvell Ida Mae Nutt Marie Onwubuariri Allen Page Lisa Page Michael Palmer Dana Patrick Ronald Peterson Peggy and Morgan Ponder Rebecca Gurney Powe Mary Ann and Ron Poythress Ross Prater Mary Price Bill and Linda Puckett Bart Purdy Charles Queen Virgil Quisenberry Susan Rhymer Robert and Sandra Richardson Mark and Robin Riddle David and Madonna Roberts Cody Sanders Willard Sapp Tina Schilling Larry and Elaine Seberg Ken and Nancy Sehested Robert E. Seymour Don and Susan Shelley Mark Siler Carolyn Sisk Avery Sledge Layne and Dianne Smith Sharon Snow Chester E. Snyder, Jr.

Laura Stephens-Reed Bob Stillerman Valerie Storms Clarissa Strickland Elizabeth Stroop and Lu Stella Carol Taff Cathy Tamsberg and Felicia Roper Margaret and John Tarpley Benjamin Thomason John Thomson Phyllis Tickle Bob and Elaine Tiller Loren Townsend Ken and Diana Veazey Joshua and Briget Villines Ryan Wagers Janice Wakefield Brent Walker Kevin Walker Melissa Walker-Luckett Pamela Washburn Lorelei Watts Rebecca Waugh Timothy and Susan Wegner Virginia and John Weisz Anita and Jan Westmoreland Jennifer Wilder June Wilder Alan and Blanche Williams Cathy and Kenneth Wilson Kara Windler Sue Witty Frank Woggon Wanda J. Womack Frank and Martha Wood Bill Woolf Sue Woolf Julie Wootten Dale Wratchford Baxter Wynn Stan Yancey Tyanna Yonkers

$250 - $499

Becky and Bob Albritton Paul and Donna Alley Mary Andreolli and Lindsay Andreolli-Comstock Constance G. Arthur Carolyn Ashburn April Baker and Deborah Lynn Karen Ballard Isam Ballenger Betty and Richard Barnett Zach and Kristy Bay Rosalind Bradley Jane Brake and Anna Mayne J. Dale and Linda Browne Martha Bryson Claire B. and David C. Buckle Ward Carver Mandy England Cole

Sandra Cranford Mary Jo Crawford Roger H. and Mary Ruth Crook Russell Davis Craig and Deborah Davis-Johnson Tim and Julie Dean Cheryl Dudley John Evans Steve Feldman Welton and Judy Gaddy Cristina Garcia-Alfonso Tom and Judy Ginn David Gladson Stephanie and Mike Hamilton Warren and Linda Hammonds Collyn and Michael Hawn Michael Henson Wanny and Ashley Hogewood Jeanette Holt Jim and Karen Hopkins Myra Houser and Jason Smith Mark Jensen Betsy Kammerdiener Ana Karim Debbie Kidd John King Stephen Lemons Amy Lewis Molly Marshall Victor Craig Miller Karen Moore Taylor Morgan Jim and Marianne Mullin Vikram Nambiar Orin Newberry Kathryn Palen Pat and Zelma Pattillo Dale Peterson Tim Phillips and Patrick Green Glenn and Sheila Plott Hoyt and Lora Ponder Dave and Geneva Pope Walter and Mary Lynn Porter Kristy Arnesen Pullen Mary Anne Ramsey Carson Rogerson Helen and Milton Ryder Teresa Sanders Scott and Lisa White Shirley Herb Sierk Jeff and Erin Sims Susan Sparks Jonathan Spencer Bob and Nan Spinks Louise and Dick Stanford Bill and Claydell Stone Laurie Sweigard Colleen Swingle-Titus and Paul Titus G.J. and Kay Tarazi John and Betty Torbert

Melanie Vaughn-West and Paul West Joanne VerBurg Lillian C. Wachter Lisa Webb Craig Wiester Ann Williams and Richard Ransom Nancy Williams Paula Womack Alan and Tiffany Wright Samuel and Ruth-Ann Visser Young Carol and Brett Younger

$500 - $999

Jo Ann Alley Bill Barr Benjamin Boswell James Broyles Casey Campbell Peggy Campolo Mark Chamberlin Doris Simcoe Clairborne Hardy Clemons Carole Collins and Leslie Lowe Leah Grundset and John Davis Daniel Day Amy J. Finkelberg Sue Fitzgerald Donald Fulton Lil Galphin Marjorie and Bill George Wayne Grinstead Relma Hargus James and Liz Harris-Lamkin Dennis and Betsy Herman B. J. and Robert Herring Cam Holzer David and Beth Jackson-Jordan Michael and Joan Kellett William and Crystal Leathers Pat and Mike Levi Deborah Loftis Charles and Fannie Louise Maddux Rick Mixon Phill and Lisa Nall Patricia Parish Marcus Pomeroy Donna and Robin Poynor Shanta Premawardhana Ann Quattlebaum Kenneth Ramsey Mark Reeve and Leslie Withers John and Marylynn Roberts Barry and Rosalie Rudert Mahan and Janice Siler Kathy and Bill Stayton Lila C. Stevens Eileen Stone Mary Strauss John and Nancy Thayer

Mica Togami Donald and Virginia Voyles Mark and Rebecca Wiggs

$1000 - $2499

Julie Barnett Lisa Davis Brownlee Carol Burgess Eric Cain Tere Canzoneri Don and Jean Davis Jolly and Joann Adkins Davis Paula Clayton and Paul Dempsey Claudia Dickerson Amy Greene Fred and Margaret Grissom Carolyn and Billy Hall Randy Hall and Mary Hamrick Hill and Cheryl Hammock Kevin Hampton Bettie and Stan Hastey Paul and Wendy Hayes Ted Hodge Betty and Will Hodges Sandi John Steve and Sandy Jolly Phyllis McCoy Lynn McLaughlin Ken and Adrienne Meyers Karrie Oertli and Dennis Pendleton Annette Pickard Carolyn Piper and Norman Gearhart Tom and LeDayne Polaski Terry-Thomas Primer Sally Sarratt Cherie Smith

Rachel and Steve Smith Suzanne and Mac Smith Lisa Sparkes Ken and Betty Stapp Libby Stephens and Nathan Powers Christine Tew Dick Tucker Richard and Elizabeth West Cecil White

$2500 - $4999

Eljee Bentley Carol Blythe and Rick Goodman Sylvia and Gary Campbell D.H. Clark David Gooch Mary Jane Gorman and Duncan McArthur Sarah and Rodney Macias

$5000 and above Craig Henry David Knight Fran Langstaff Anita and David Massengill Tim Moore and Magay Shepard James Pollard Paul and Susan Richardson Brooks Wicker and Pat Hielscher

Alliance Awarded Arcus Foundation Grant

by Alliance staff

The

Arcus Foundation has awarded the Alliance of Baptists a grant in the amount of $104,400 to support a new Alliance initiative directed toward work on LGBTQ inclusion and racial justice.

Through the grant-funded “Congregational Compassion and Human Difference” initiative, the Alliance intends to increase compassionate dialogue about LGBTQ persons within congregations in the U.S. South and to assist Alliance churches across the U.S in the promotion of advocacy and justice work at the intersections of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other embodiments of human difference.

“We will work toward this overarching goal through the implementation of three projects that are short-term in their focus and long-range in their sustainable impact,” said Cody Sanders, an Alliance member and editor of the second edition of Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.

The Congregational Compassion & Human Difference initiative will assist churches in the process of dialogue and discernment on LGBTQ lives and Christian faith by training 12 to 15 Alliance members to serve as consultants capable of facilitating congregational dialogue on sexual orientation, gender identity, and faith.

During the next two years, the Alliance will also design and host two clergy/laity gatherings in the U.S. South through which a total of approximately 60 participants will be trained to re-enter their congregations with increased abilities to

[Participants at the first training gathering for the Arcus Grant, Atlanta, March 2015.]

begin and sustain dialogue on these issues.

Second, the initiative will aid congregations in developing capacity for dialogue and advocacy on concerns of racial justice through an “intersectional” framework that accounts for several important, converging markers of human difference — especially race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

With the guidance of the Racial Justice & Multiculturalism Community and Alliance staff, the grant will fund the development of a publishable congregational resource on racial justice that equips congregations to address the important convergences of markers of human difference that often become the site of oppression, injustice and violence. This resource will be the first of its kind to emerge from a group of primarily Baptist scholars, activists, ministers, and congregations aimed toward resourcing other Baptist congregations in the work of racial justice through an intersectional framework.

“We are excited about the potential this generous grant affords to provided dedicated resources and energy to addressing the concerns of LGBTQ and racial justice that are at the heart of the Alliance’s life as a community of faith,” Sanders said.

from Carole and Paula The 2014 Alliance of Baptists’ journey has been much like hiking a mountain trail. There have been a few places where we’ve gotten bogged down, some places of exhilarating vistas and some steep slopes leaving us breathless.

We’ve welcomed new companions on the journey as well as enjoyed the comfortable pace of those with us since the beginning. This joyful journey has included transition, adventure, discovery, loss, challenge, blessing, growth, and celebration.

Throughout the journey our joy has been interwoven with prophetic cries of anguish on behalf of those whose striving gives way to despair in our cities, regions, nation, and the world. We are examining our own racial bias and use of privilege and power while affirming #blacklivesmatter. Our love for our Cuban Baptist family has brought about hopedfor change in U.S./Cuba relationships. Alliance people, partners and communities are faithfully addressing justice

issues and are making incredible impact in areas such as ecology, sexuality, migration, fair wages and torture, thereby nurturing worldwide peace.

Provisions for the journey are possible because of the generous gifts of time, talent and treasure from individuals and faith communities that comprise the Alliance family— many of whose names are listed in this magazine. We are grateful for a creative and engaged staff as well as committed officers and board who work tirelessly for our mission.

Honored to be your co-directors, we know our leadership is only possible because of the strength you bring and the Spirits’ gifts of grace and wisdom.

“Joy in the journey!” Those words used by a friend as an email ending express our sentiments as we prepare to welcome the Alliance family home for our 28th Annual Gathering, celebrate 25 years of the Bridges of Hope ministry partnerships, and renew our commitments to one another and to God to be the prophets and priests we are called to be in today’s world!

Joyfully,

Carole Collins Paula Clayton Dempsey director of partnership relations

director of operations and finance

So ur

2014 Ministry Support and Expenses* so e c

f Support

Individuals Congregations Gatherings Other

48%

2012 $210,581 $278,387 $43,415 $6,631

2013 $217,498 $237,613 $39,319 $2,932

2014 $261,570 $281,446 $29,488 $11,741

45% 48% 5% 2%

$584,245 2%

45% 5%

Expenses 6% 50%

24%

14%

2012 Operating $80,624 Gatherings $42,836 Personnel (includes travel) $260,579 Outreach $29,670 Communications and Development Mission $114,711 Ministry Partners SCOS AllianceConnect

7%

2013 $53,742 $30,979 $259,911 $36,497

2014 $76,438 $35,737 $269,482 $33,159

$103,918

$127,504 24%

$27,813

$542,320 *at time of publishing, these number were unaudited

14% 7% 50% 6%

Alliance of Baptists Suite E-122, 3939 LaVista Rd Atlanta GA 30084

NON PROF ORG US POSTAGE

PAID RALEIGH NC PERMIT 1439

COVENANT

In a time when historic Baptist principles, freedoms, and traditions need a clear voice, and in our personal and corporate response to the call of God in Jesus Christ to be disciples and servants in the world, we commit ourselves to: 1. The freedom of the individual, led by God’s Spirit within the family of faith, to read and interpret the Scriptures, relying on the historical understanding by the church and on the best methods of modern biblical study; 2. The freedom of the local church under the authority of Jesus Christ to shape its own life and mission, call its own leadership, and ordain whom it perceives as gifted for ministry, male or female; 3. The larger body of Jesus Christ, expressed in various Christian traditions, and to a cooperation with believers everywhere in giving full expression to the Gospel; 4. The servant role of leadership within the church, following the model of our Servant Lord, and to full partnership of all of God’s people in mission and ministry; 5. Theological education in congregations, colleges, and seminaries characterized by reverence for biblical authority and respect for open inquiry and responsible scholarship; 6. The proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ and the calling of God to all peoples to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope, social and economic justice; 7. The principle of a free church in a free state and the opposition to any effort either by church or state to use the other for its own purposes.