Capital Baptist Newsletter April - May 2021 Edition

IN THIS ISSUE DCBC Stands with the People of Myanmar Faith in the Vaccine

April/May 2021 Capital Baptist Newsletter

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Pastor Ella Redfield’s New Creation

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES

District of Columbia

Pastor Ella Redfield’s New Creation

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Faith in the Vaccine

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DCBC Stands with the People of Myanmar

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DCBC SPOTLIGHT DCBC’s Grant Writing Workshop

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Sister Circle: Celebrating Women In Ministry

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Spring 2021 Book Roundtable

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In Memoriam

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IN EVERY ISSUE From the Desk of the DCBC President

Baptist Convention

1628 16th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 202.265.1526 (office)

www.dcbaptist.org info@dcbaptist.org Office of Executive Director/Minister Executive Director/Minister Trisha Miller Manarin, Ext. 214 Ministry Assistant Loretta Polite-Shipman, Ext. 213 Campus Ministries LeeAnn Carrera Mental Health Coordinator Jevon Billups

Capital Baptist Editor Sonia Myrick Office of Administration and Stewardship Chief Operations Officer Lashanor Doolittle, Ext. 203 Ministry Assistant Wilbur Willis, Ext. 204 Building Maintenance Saul Garcia, Ext. 212

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A Message From the 4 Executive Director/Minister 23 Calendar

Accounting and Administrative Specialist Fam SaeChao Chock, Ext. 206 JBCC Building Coordinator Robin Foulk, Ext. 215

Office of Public Relations and Outreach Minister of Public Relations and Outreach Kimberly A. Palmore-Ferguson, Ext. 208

FOLLOW US

ERT Coordinator James Baubour

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From the Desk of the DCBC President The night before Christ went to the cross, He prayed not only for His immediate disciples, but also for the disciples in all generations to come.

Jesus prayed for the unity of Christ followers ― that we would make a major impact in the world for His mission. We are together because we have come to a common center: Christ.

We are to walk together in the spirit of unity because when we do, we are able to affect our nation, our cities and our communities for the common good.

In Ephesians 4:3–6 (New Living Translation), God says, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that “We are all in this together.” It’s also shown us the importance of being able to do the simple things in life ― like visiting with and hugging loved ones or sharing a meal with friends and neighbors. God created us to be in community with each other. So, as we begin to turn the corner on this pandemic, let’s not forget what’s important and from whence cometh our strength.

Yours In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Donald Kelly DCBC President

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A Message From the Executive Director/Minister

NEW LIFE Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Alleluia!

As we journey on in this Easter season, recent laments still hover close. We know there is no Easter without Good Friday — we know there is no life without death. While the litany of struggle is real, the hope of the Resurrection is what carries us and gives us joy to run like the first preachers — the women who, according to Matthew 28:8, “…left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.”

New life is all around us — the cherry blossoms took their bow during Holy Week, the greening of the trees and blooming of the flowers add a new skip to our steps. As you read through this issue of Capital Baptist (CB), I hope you will find evidence of new life within our own Convention — DCBC’s glocal (global and local) mission with Burma/Myanmar, joining with our siblings of the diaspora here and those facing the atrocities there; our trailblazing vice-president; the equipping taking place through training offered by DCBC; and so much more! This is just a glimpse of who we are.

With this issue, we welcome Mrs. Sonia Myrick as the editor of CB. Sonia is a woman of prayer and great faith and has several years of experience as a magazine editor. In each issue, we want to share about your triumphs, challenges and innovative ideas and hope you consider sharing your stories with us. Contact Mrs. Loretta Polite-Shipman, Ministry Assistant, at loretta.polite-shipman@dcbaptist.org for submission guidelines.

Joy and Grace,

Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin Executive Director/Minister

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the 2021 ANNUAL GATHERING

OCTOBER 21-22!

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Pastor Ella Redfield’s New Creation

By Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin

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n 1994, while working for the Department of the Treasury, Rev. Dr. Ella Redfield felt the call to ministry. No one seemed interested in calling Dr. Redfield to a senior pastor

position; however, convinced God had called her, she decided to start a church in her hometown of Silver Spring/ Wheaton, Maryland.

Dr. Redfield wanted to form a church that was open to new things — one that did not conform to the “same old way” of many “black Baptist churches.” She called an ecclesiastical council of pastors in DC and Maryland, along with another church, that was pastored by a woman to endorse/bless the formation of the church. The churches — Walker Memorial Rev. Dr. Ella Redfield

Baptist in DC, Paramount Baptist, First Baptist N Brentwood, Mt. Calvary Rockville, Covenant Baptist in DC, and the female-

led New Genesis Baptist Church — represented truly diverse perspectives and theological foundations.

Interestingly, the pastors, not their representatives, came to the council. All were men — there were no women pastors at the time, and they all blessed Dr. Redfield’s new creation.

Dr. Redfield spent $2,000 of her own money to create a brochure, which aimed to spark curiosity. The cover featured only the words “New Creation,” and the inside invited those interested in a “new thing” to an October 29, 1994, meeting at the Holiday Inn. Then, Dr. Redfield gathered family and friends to pass out the pamphlet.

Forty people came to the gathering, which included a message, music and refreshments, and 14 of them said, “We will step out with Pastor Ella.” Three additional organizational meetings, also held at the Holiday Inn, followed that initial meeting. Dr. Redfield wanted to name the church “New Creation,” but being a good Baptist, she did not want to tell the group: She wanted the Spirit to lead. During a brainstorming session for the name, one man said, “The name is right here: New Creation.” Everyone agreed!

New Creation Baptist Church first met with another congregation in a church building that later closed.

Eventually, New Creation purchased its own facility: a former African Methodist Episcopal Church that was built in 1871. The property was originally purchased by ex-slaves for $100.

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Richard Allen, also a former slave, was the

are also older graves of former slaves whose loved

founder of what would be called the Allen Chapel

ones simply did not have the means to purchase

A.M.E. Church. In 1953/54, a major church renovation

headstones. In those cases, they merely placed a

was undertaken and remnants of the original log

rock as a marker.

cabin building, which had been constructed by

Zion Baptist Church North may be small, but its ministry is mighty. Today, Dr. Redfield is the

“Jacks of all trades,” could still be found.

In August 2000, Allen Chapel AME sold its

Executive Minister on the site where she attended

Church.

Allen AME Church with her grandparents. Daily,

to

the

her ancestors call out to her as she serves in this

building, the congregation, which had grown,

corner of Silver Spring/Wheaton — her great

moved in on the first Sunday of October. New

grandfather, great grandmother, as well as an aunt

Creation was only the second owner of the

and uncle are all buried in the cemetery in front of

property.

the church building.

property

to

New

After making

Creation

some

Baptist

improvements

Doing ministry in the District

of

Columbia was a tremendous challenge, and for a

Our ancestral connections are powerful. They

woman whose home church had opposed her even

call out and sometimes even set straight the call of

going to seminary, the challenges for Dr. Redfield

God on our lives. Perhaps, they even call forth new

were plentiful! The District of Columbia Baptist

creation as we are marching to Zion! Thanks be to

Convention

New

God for the faithful witness of these three

Church with the American

congregations and the faithful following of our sister,

Baptist Churches, USA (ABC). Rev. Dr. Robert

Rev. Dr. Ella Redfield — an African American

Cochran, then DCBC’s associate director, and

female Baptist pastor for such a time as this! 

Creation

the

(DCBC)

Baptist

interim

before

helped

him,

connect

helped

this

new

congregation. The ABC offered New Creation a new church start grant, providing $15,000 over five years.

In late 2020, New Creation merged with Zion Baptist Church to become Zion Baptist Church North. The congregation is housed in an old white church building tucked behind large trees with what may simply be thought of as a utilitarian grassy patch out front. On closer inspection, that patch is actually a cemetery whose hallowed grounds have

Rev. Dr. Ella Redfield (center, back) enjoys a moment with some of the children of Zion Baptist Church - North.

stories to be told. Linger there a little while and names will appear. The oldest dates found on the tombstones are from 1890, but, undoubtedly, there Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin, Executive Director/Minister

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Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry, Rev. Thomas Bowen and Rev. Karen Curry help kick off The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church’s ‘Faith In The Vaccine’ event.

FAITH IN THE VACCINE

C

By Rev. Karen Curry OVID-19 has been hitting black and brown communities in the United States particularly hard, and many people have been literally praying for relief. While the expedited production of vaccines has been unsettling for some, others view it as an answer to prayer.

District of Columbia (DC) residents who desired to take the vaccines eagerly anticipated being able to do so in their own communities. However, residents in underserved areas of the city found that appointments were immediately and repeatedly filled by persons outside of their communities who were better able to navigate online portals, physically able to wait in long lines in-person or simply were bold enough to strategize ways to get appointments despite residency or other eligibility requirements. DC residents did appointments despite residency or other eligibility requirements.

DC residents did not take those interceptions lightly, and loudly voiced their displeasure to

their local council members, to the mayor and their pastor.

Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry, pastor of The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church (PABC) in SE, Washington, D.C., had been serving on DC Health’s Scientific Advisory Committee and heard from his congregants members, loud and clear, that something needed to be done to remedy the injustice. In his discussions with the leadership of DC Health, Dr. Curry suggested that the city engage churches to serve as vaccine clinics to more effectively reach DC residents and seniors, especially those in the city’s underserved areas of Wards 5, 7 and 8. Other city officials also heard

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from their local pastors who offered the same pastors who took the vaccines as means of solution. In response, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC encouraging interested congregants to follow their Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt launched lead, were vaccinated. Faith in the Vaccine has “Faith in the Vaccine,” a partnership featuring continued to build on this initial success, and clinics churches, trusted community leaders and are now being offered at churches throughout the messengers, to make the vaccine accessible to city — part of Dr. Curry’s original vision. the city’s most vulnerable Through Faith in the residents.

Vaccine, DC seniors are PABC was in a great contacted directly and position to hold vaccine offered appointments or clinics not only because of its directed to a special physical space and location, registration portal where but also because it had they can register themselves already been on the front or an eligible family lines throughout the member. Some seniors pandemic, conducting regular simply want to have online webinars with doctors someone on the phone with and researchers regarding them as they navigate the COVID-19 and other topics; online registration process. partnering with a neighboring Others need more assistance ministry, the DC Dream and receive one-on-one Center, to provide large-scale support with all aspects of food distributions of farmregistration. Faithful church fresh produce; and partnering volunteers and specially with medical providers, such of trained members Rev. Dr. Curry receives his vaccination. as Howard University LCHC’s Virtual Health Hospital, CORE Response and Ministry provide a level of personalized support that Five Medicine to provide COVID-19 testing at the is not feasible at traditional vaccine sites. In addition church. to vaccine registration, Virtual Health Ministry The pilot clinic took place at PABC on February representatives are trained to provide seniors with 11, 2021, through the collective effort of several resources and support as other needs are revealed. partners: Five Medicine, the clinicians who The Faith in the Vaccine initiative has administer the vaccine and were already on-site helped turn the fight against COVID-19 into an conducting COVID-19 testing; Mary’s Center, a opportunity for DC seniors to have their voices federally qualified health center and vaccine heard and for vulnerable persons to be connected supplier; the Leadership Council for Healthy with the care and support that many had gone Communities (LCHC) which conducted outreach without for much of the pandemic. Isn’t that just and registration assistance; Rev. Thomas Bowen, like God to make ALL things work together for the mayor’s Director of Religious Affairs, who good!  assisted with site selection; and Learning Undefeated and PEI, two providers of mobile vaccine labs.

Rev. Karen W. Curry, owner of " Say T hat!"

The PABC clinic exceeded the city’s goals: 321 Communications LLC, is a Consultant, Writer, eager and appreciative DC seniors, along with area Editor, Instructor and Poet.

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COVER STORY

Members of the Myanmar community gather for a prayer vigil outside the Embassy of Myanmar in support of truth and democracy.

DCBC Stands With The People of Myanmar

By Rev. Dr. Rollin Van Bik

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mmigrants from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) comprise about seven percent of the membership of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC). They represent various ethnic groups, such as the

Chin, Kachin, and Karen, and offer a glimpse of an already diverse faith community that chose to become part of the most diverse Baptist Convention in the United States. They also have a long history of connection with the American Baptists through the American Baptist missionaries in their native land; a good reason for them to immediately feel at home with the DCBC as they settled in the Washington, D.C. metro region.

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Welcoming Diversity Rev. Dr. Robert D. Cochran initiated the Burma Work Group (BWG) while serving as the DCBC’s Executive Director/Minister.

In 2016, BWG, which has served as a distinct extension of welcome to such diversity, was formed “to raise the awareness and interest of congregations in the DCBC about Baptist work among the varied ethnic peoples (specifically the Chins, the Kachins, and the Karens) within Myanmar (Burma), resulting in increasing spiritual and physical resources focused on that country and its people and the spiritual growth of congregations in the DCBC.” Rev. Dr. Cochran continues to lead the BWG. Through a Palmer Grant from the From left to right - Rev. Dr. Cochran (in black coat), a Myanmar American Baptist Foundation, BWG’s supporter, Rev. Dr. Hernandez, Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin and Rev. Price mission work has extended to the area of participate in a February 12 prayer vigil at the Embassy of Myanmar. theological education, both in Kachin State and Chin State, and a water project in the New illegitimately claimed voter fraud when the certified Hakha Division, Chin State. The theological results gave a landslide victory to the National education project engaged several people from League for Democracy party, led by Aung San Suu the DCBC. Rev. Stephen Price, Rev. Dr. Pat Kyi. Because of the military coup, BWG's endeavors in Hernandez, Rev. Dr. Robert Cochran, his wife, Burma may be halted for some time. Nevertheless, Rev. Deborah Cochran, and I have been involved DCBC’s outreach to the most recent immigrant in teaching at Kachin Theological College in Kachin State and Chin Christian University groups through the BWG will always be remembered. in Hakha, Chin State. We made several trips to the Chin State and the Kachin State in late 2019 and January 2020 before COVID-19 hit.

Rev. Price sent me a text early in the morning of However, after the pandemic made travel February 1, expressing how sorry he was to hear about impossible, teaching at the Chin Christian the military coup in Myanmar. After I shared my fears University in Hakha went virtual, and the current and anxiety about Myanmar becoming a military DCBC President, Rev. Dr. Donald Kelly, and dictatorship with him and other colleagues, several BWG the former president, now Vice President, Rev. conversations followed, and a plan was put forward to be Dr. Ella Redfield, were added to the teaching executed by the current DCBC Executive Director/ group.

Minister, Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin. The former General To an immigrant like me, the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot was uniquely troubling Secretary of the ABCUSA, Rev. Dr. Roy Medley, because it showed a country like Myanmar, also shared his thoughts, “The best way is through where democracy is in its infancy, how our government. They will pay no attention to us democracy could create a chaotic situation, thus as moral discourse means little to them, and we are justifying the military's seizure of power and but another group in Chin State itself which has use of force to control the country. In fact, in growing restrictions placed on them.” So, a written less than a month's time, the military coup in resolution was favored to be sent to the White House, Myanmar started on February 1. The coup the Vice President's office, and members of Congress.

An Action Plan

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Even before the letter was sent, I started sharing with Chin pastors in several states about BWG’s efforts, encouraging these pastors to incorporate with their regional associations or conventions. Like me, many of them were mortified and at a loss for words for their congregations, who were also deeply grieved by the military coup. “I felt like my heart stopped beating,” said one Chin pastor in Wisconsin.

“But now that I heard from you that the DCBC is writing a letter to the president on behalf of their Chin brothers and sisters and for the whole Burma, I can feel my heartbeat again,” he continued.

The letter, signed by both Rev. Dr. Kelly and Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin, was sent to the White House on February 2, 2021, and its receipt was acknowledged a few days later. I sent copies of the letter to the Chin pastors, and some of them indeed followed suit, sending similar letters to their senators and representatives in Congress. DCBC’s willingness to walk with us in times of trials and tribulations is so uplifting and comforting to those of us who have families and friends in Myanmar.

As part of the action plan, and in the follow up of the letter, DCBC participated with members of BWG and of the Myanmar/Burma clergy and

community on February 12, 2021, in a prayer vigil in front of the Embassy of Myanmar, located at 2300 S Street NW in DC. As the Chinese saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and the presence in this valley of white faces — Rev. Dr. Manarin, Rev. Dr. Cochran, Rev. Stephen Price and Rev. Dr. Pat Hernandez, representing the ABCUSA — walking with us means a lot more than several million words.

To reinforce the need for stronger measures to be taken against the military coup, DCBC sent a second letter, also signed by Rev. Dr. Kelly and Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin, to the White House and members of Congress on February 24, 2021. In a March 13, 2021, Zoom meeting with some community leaders of Hakha, Chin State, one of the leaders said, “Your voice in the U.S. is our safety.

No matter what we do, we are not safe here until this military coup is ended.”

I have cried several times watching how the Burmese military has escalated the brutal crackdown on the protesters. As of April 11, 2021, more than 700 people, most of them young men and women under the age of 25, have been killed by the police who are under the military's rule. This could get worse: During the 1988 uprising in Myanmar, thousands of young people, most of

Faculty

and students at Chin Christian University, Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar, in January 2020.

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A screen shot of some of the participants in the March 13 Myanmar Prayer Vigil and Communion service held online via the Zoom platform.

them college students, were killed in their attempt to fight for justice and democracy.

If the Biden administration does not take stronger actions than just economic sanctions against the military coup. I fear many more people will perish in the name of freedom and democracy that the USA holds so dear.

DCBC, walking in solidarity with the people of Myanmar, strengthens the bond among its ethnic brothers and sisters here in the United States and carries out the promise to spread the good news to the oppressed and poor across the globe.

A water project in Hakha, Chin State, engineered by Calvin Van Bik; rainwater harvesting through the roof of a house.

Rev. Dr. Rollin Van Bik, pastor of Lai Baptist Church in Howard County, Md., is a leader among Chin Baptists in the USA and Myanmar (Burma), a key member of the DCBC Burma Workgroup and a leader in the partnership with our sisters and brothers in Chin State. He served as a member of the DCBC Board from 2018 to 2020.

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D C B C F O U N DAT I O N

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DUE MAY 1

GRANT APPLICATION DUE JULY 15

www.dcbcfoundation.org

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DCBC’s Grant Writing Workshop

By Dianne McNary

Since 2004, I’ve served as a Cooperative Baptist field personnel among the Roma people of Slovakia and Czechia. I led a weekly English-language discussion club through American Spaces (an extension of the U.S. embassy) at the State Scientific Library in Kosice, SK, and assisted with English classes in local schools and other venues. However, like many of you, how I work and minister has significantly changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As my colleagues and I scrambled to get what would be our last short-term mission team onto a flight home to the United States last March, we had no idea we would now be marking the one-year anniversary of the first lockdown.

As the pandemic continued, I realized I should use this time for professional development. If you are going to be stuck at home, you should be productive, right? So, I kept my eyes open for training or workshops that would complement my current work/ministry activities.

I have never written a grant proposal.

However, I have often been asked to proof them for several of our local partners.

When I saw the DC Baptist Convention’s announcement of a grant writing workshop, it was the perfect opportunity to increase my skills. I quickly signed up, even though it meant I would be joining each Zoom call at midnight my time. If I don’t write my own grant proposals, I can use my new knowledge to assist other groups as they write theirs.

DCBC’s grant writing workshop did not disappoint. Stephen Broyles, the instructor, is a dynamic presenter who engages the participants and encourages interaction. He demonstrated his mastery of the subject and shared his knowledge and experience in a step-by-step approach that broke down the process into understandable portions.

Broyles provided practical examples to illustrate his points, and the handouts and course materials were useful and current. When he promised further information, it arrived in a timely fashion.

An additional benefit of this workshop was hearing how participants are serving their communities and how personal stories have shaped their Sending a big ministries. thank you to sponsoring DCBC for this workshop.

Be on the lookout, on the DCBC website and in Capital Baptist, for future offerings of this grant writing workshop starting this September. 

Dianne McNary uses community health evangelism (CHE), a community development strategy, in her work among the Roma. She has been a CHE trainer in several European countries and serves as a board member with a Serbian CHE group.

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C E L E B R AT I N G W O M E N I N M I N I S T R Y

By Rev. Dr. Cynthia Turner Wood It has been said: When women gather, the world changes. Throughout history, women’s gatherings are where wisdom is shared, stories are told and connections are made. They can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

That’s what happened for me on March 23, 2021, when I logged on to Zoom to join in on DCBC’s Sister Circle: Celebrating Women History’s Month. I had put the placeholder on my calendar but wasn’t sure if I would actually sign on. And, I almost didn’t. With so much on my to-do list, I had every reason to sit this one out. I am so glad, however, that the Spirit nudged me and guided my instincts so I did not miss it, because even though the world at-large did not change that day, my world did.

Following a heart-felt prayer by Rev. Dr. Ella Redfield, DCBC Vice President, Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin, DCBC Executive Director, becalmed us as she called the gathering to center around a poem by Anne Dutton, a 17th century British Baptist laywoman, which speaks to the four

themes of the presenters: Hoist Up Your Sails, Wait for the Wind, Attempt the Work, and Wait for the Spirit to Carry You Through.

As if the Spirit Herself weaved the presentations together, the four panelists took us on a journey of ministry highs and lows, reminding us that even when we feel most alone, we are never forsaken, but the Spirit accompanies us all the while. With soul-nourishing words, the panelists invited the close to 60 women who joined from Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts and several other states to “sister together” for a short while as they shared from their ministry experiences.

Rev. Dr. Patricia Hernandez, Associate General Secretary for American Baptist Women in Ministry and Transition Ministries with the ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary, spoke about the need for called women to hoist our sails, quoting from that poem by Anne Dutton: “Whenever you are called into any piece of service for God…Hoist up your sails.” She reminded us that disappointments come, but our assignment, regardless of the challenges, is to have the faith to still raise up our sails once more, trusting that the wind will come.

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Bringing her own fresh wind, Rev. Dr. Debora Jackson, Dean of the Robert A. Foisie School of Business at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, picked up on that theme with a mini sermon on what it means to wait for the wind. She likened our efforts in ministry to kite flying when there is no wind. The kite will only go so high and fly only so far, under our own power. As soon as we run out of wind and stop, the kite comes crashing down. She encouraged us, like Elisha, to wait on the Lord to create a great wind and the work will get done.

With sincerity of heart and transparency, Rev. Kasey Jones, Associate Coordinator of Strategic Operations and Outreach, CBF, encouraged the women to unashamedly embrace their womanhood as

company of sisters near and far. I am still grateful, and still nourished, weeks later from the nudging that would not let my sails rest, lest I miss the heavenly wind that was sent our way through this gathering.  Rev. Dr. Cynthia Turner Wood is the Pastor of Dayspring Community Church in Lanham, Maryland.

they attempt the work of ministry. “God knew who you were when God called you,” she said. It’s a challenge to not rely on traditional male models when that’s all we have seen. However, using Esther as her example, Rev. Jones reminded sisters that “God never calls you to a place that you can do [the work] in your own strength…because God wants you to lean on God’s self when you are doing God’s work.”

With humor and grace, Rev. Dr. Molly Marshall, Interim President of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, reiterated St. Augustine’s words: “The Spirit of God is closer to us than we are to ourselves.” Remember, sometimes we wait for the spirit and sometimes the Spirit is waiting for us. She admonished us to wait for the Spirit, remembering that, though waiting may feel like being in the doldrums, there’s value in waiting. “The Spirit is always sifting, discerning and moving us. We are never not accompanied, sisters!”

To think, I nearly allowed the pressure and busyness of fulfilling my daily checklist to cause me to ignore the prayer that was being prayed within me — the one that knew I needed the strengthening and

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D

THE SPRING 2021 BOOK ROUNDTABLE

CBC invites you to join us via Zoom, April 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as we kick off our Spring 2021 Book Roundtable. Each month for the next three months, we will explore some of today’s challenging issues through the lens of one of three publications. The discussion will begin with a brief presentation by the author of that month’s featured publication and will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin.

First up is #In This Together: Ministry in Times of Crisis, edited by Mr. Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, editor and author of The Christian Citizen and The Christian Citizen Weekly e-newsletter.

In this book, Ramsey-Lucas has compiled content from clergy and other leaders on the frontlines of spiritual care and social advocacy to help us navigate in a world still reeling from the pandemic and in a nation confronting the persistence of racism and systemic injustice. Contributors respond to questions about what we are learning during these crises — about God, our nation and world, ourselves; about being the church and being neighbors. The messages are richly diverse and compellingly relevant, offering biblical insights and prophetic exhortation as well as creative ministry ideas and reminders about self-care. It is an invaluable handbook for surviving the current crises and uncertain future with compassion, hope and resilience.

Next up, on May 11, is Meant for Good, written

by Rev. Dr. Debora Jackson, former Director of Lifelong Learning at Yale Divinity School and former Executive Director of the Ministers Council, ABCUSA, and Dean of the Robert A. Foisie School of Business at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, who will give a presentation followed by a discussion on the fundamentals of womanist leadership.

And, on June 8, rounding out this slate of discussions is Let the Oppressed Go Free: Exploring Theologies of Liberation by Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle, current interim pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, andpast president of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York. Discounted copies of these publications can be obtained from Judson Press at www.judsonpress.com.

Above left: Curtis RamseyLucas, author of #In This Together: Ministry in Times of Crisis.

Above right: Rev. Dr. Debora Jackson, author of Meant for Good: Fundamentals of Womanist Leadership.

At left, Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle, author of Let the Oppressed Go Free: Exploring Theologies of Liberation.

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In Memoriam

Major Louis Anderson II

M

ajor Louis Anderson II, a longtime Washingtonian and Tuskegee Airman, died on March 15, 2021, just 10 days after his 96th birthday. Mr. Anderson was born in

O

Jacksonville, Florida, and, after high school, was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Following basic training at Keesler Air Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, he continued his military education as an aircraft sheet metal worker at the Air Force Technical School at Chanute Field, Illinois, where was trained as an aircraft structural mechanic. He went on to study mechanical engineering at Howard University on the G.I. Bill and, in 1973, earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Federal City College. In June 1948, he married Lurlene Booker and they had two sons: Major III and Keith.

Mr. Anderson was employed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as a police officer and, after his retirement in 1984,

n February 15, 2021, Rev. Victor Tupitza, who had been a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. for more than 40 years, died at his home in Burke, Virginia, at the age of 94. Mr. Tupitza was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and attended Eastern College and Seminary. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Manayunk in Philadelphia, from 1960 to 1966 and then became a writer for the American Baptist Churches USA in Valley Forge. His

became very active in his community. He served as a deacon at Third Baptist Church, was elected as a D.C. Government Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and joined the East Coast Chapter of the Tuskegee Airman, Inc. later in life and became a prolific public relations speaker for the “Red Tails.”

Mr. Anderson, who was featured in last year's DCBC's Senior Saints Calendar received several honors throughout his life, including being awarded the World War II Victory Medal in 1945, and, in 2017, having the Major Anderson Tuskegee Aviation Maintenance Academy at the Baltimore/ Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport named in his honor.

assignments while there led to travels in Central America and to the pulpits of many historic churches across the United States.

In 1979, Mr. Tupitza moved to the District, where he published Report from the Capital for The Baptist Joint Committee. He was also the editor of Capital Baptist for a time and a part-time member of the DCBC staff. Rev. Dr. Robert Cochran recalled that Tupitza wrote the article that introduced him to DCBC in 1994.

April/May 2021 Capital Baptist Newsletter

Rev. Victor Tupitza

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April/May 2021 Capital Baptist Newsletter

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April/May 2021 Capital Baptist Newsletter

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19 - Gen Z & Millennial Conversation

C A L E N DA R

20 - Book Roundtable 22 - Mental Health Conversations

APRIL

27 - Alliance/AWAB Pastors Gathering 29 - MD Pastors Regional Gathering 1 - May Day 4 - VA Pastors Regional Gathering 5 - Young Pastors Gathering 9 - Mother’s Day

MAY

11 - Book Roundtable 12 - Chapel and Staff Meeting 20 - Sister Circle — Sage Wisdom 22 - Can You Dig It (VBS Training) 25 - Assoc. Pastors/Min. of Music/Youth Gathering

8 - DCBC Board Meeting 8 - Book Roundtable 9 - Chapel/Staff Meeting 19 - Juneteenth

JUNE

20 - Father’s Day April/May 2021 Capital Baptist Newsletter

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