Capital Baptist Newsletter-April/May 2023 Edition

DCBC SPOTLIGHT

District of Columbia 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

Adrien Ngudiankama

Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator

Jevon Billups

Capital Baptist Editor

Sonia Myrick

Office of Administration and Stewardship

Chief Operations Officer

Lashanor Doolittle, Ext. 203

Building Maintenance

Saul Garcia, Ext. 212

Accounting and Administrative Specialist

Fam SaeChao Chock, Ext. 206

JBCC Building Coordinator

Robin Foulk, Ext. 215

ERT Coordinator

James Barbour

Acquiring and Seeking Knowledge

An Intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

— Proverbs 18:15

The journey through the Lenten season leads us to the cross and an empty tomb. The core of our faith rests securely in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Bible assures us that the promise of the resurrected Christ is our salvation. The vacant cross and empty tomb are symbols of new life. My prayer for each of us is that we will confidently follow Jesus, perfecting our leadership skills as we journey in our new life However, it is challenging to be a good leader if you are not a good follower. Since each of us is called to lead people to a Christ-infused life, it is critical that we follow the example given to us by Jesus How are you living out the example of Christ’s leadership in your church, community, or family? Does your walk reflect the God we serve? It may be time to revisit some leadership models of the past to see if they can hold up in our new environment. Are they reflecting a life of justice, compassion, wisdom, prudence, and love? Or, are we just doing what we’ve always done, hoping for a better outcome?

As the convention refocuses, we will continue to bring the most relevant opportunities to you and your church so that together we can lead more people to Christ. As always, I encourage you to engage with us in programs, prayers, or training. Your input is valuable, and we want to hear it. Journey with us and experience the endless possibilities of a new life in Christ.

Be blessed. Be God’s.

Rev. Patricia H. Fears President of the DCBC Board of Directors

Holding the Hope of Resurrection for Each Other

Lent will soon become a memory as Holy Week and Easter approach. Our journey together has included celebrations of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, as well as forums, trainings, retreats, prayers, celebrations, Sister Circles, and so much more! Life is often in flux, and Lent helps to acknowledge the journey. I hope you have seen the weekly reflections on FaceBook and that clergy have received a weekly video of encouragement. We need to help hold up the hope of resurrection for one another.

DCBC is looking forward to the days of Resurrection Celebration! What will you do to celebrate? How will you declare Christ is risen? Will it be quietly or bombastically? Share your stories and pictures with us at cb@dcbaptist.org so we can share them with others! How will you celebrate Mother’s Day — or maybe you will not? That’s ok. Leadership requires asking how, why, what, et cetera!

One of the areas the Ministry Roundtable has been working on is training and equipping leaders. We know that many leaders need to know how to do specific jobs in the church and community, but there also are skills and tools they need to be most effective. On April 29, we hope all leaders within your congregation and community will join us for a Leadership Training Forum. You will have the opportunity to add to your leadership toolbox as we gather to learn some new things!

Hope, Resurrection, Leadership…these three are all on my mind and heart these days. I would love to visit with you and learn what’s on your heart. Email me at Trisha.Manarin@dcbaptist.org so we can set a date!

Let’s hold the hope of resurrection for each other!

Joy and Grace, Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin Executive Director/Minister

Research- Based Guidelines f or Leading t he Church in a New Era of Ministry

By Eileen R. Campbell-Reed

In March 2020, the U.S. and most of the world went into lockdown. I’ve studied pastors, chaplains, ministers and priests for nearly two decades, so I was positioned to focus immediately on churches and their leaders. From the outset of the crisis, I felt an urgent need to understand the impact of COVID-19 — and the multiple chronic pandemics it revealed — on ministers and congregations.

Photo 236660331 © Nandovidal81 | Dreams�me.com

After three years of studying ministers and churches as they’ve navigated the challenges, I’m convinced that we’re living in a new era of ministry. My research, which is available at the #PandemicPastoring Report, includes interviews and surveys with more than 100 clergy and church volunteers from 20 states and 20-plus denominations. It’s clear that COVID-19 and the multiple chronic pandemics such as health care disparities, racial inequality, gender inequity and climate emergency have affected every aspect of church life and leadership.

How can Christian leaders adapt to these changes? The following 10 recommendations, based on my findings and other research, highlight ways that pastoral leaders can help people live into a new era of ministry. Following each recommendation is a question designed to help congregations and other faith groups reflect on how to move forward.

Recognize that things have changed. In 2020, pastors and congregations needed to find new ways to practice ministryimmediately. Church leaders responded, improvised and innovated; faith communities reluctantly embraced hybrid worship and gatherings, cared for widespread loss and grief, changed staffing models, and became aware of urgent social needs. Other COVID19 pandemic research projects are confirming these enduring changes.

How will we take the paradigm shift seriously and adjust our vision and practice toward being the church in a new era of ministry?

Embrace hybrid options. Hybrid is here to stay. Worship streaming, video meetings and social media became permanent tools of church infrastructure. With time, churches embraced technology, not as a barrier to the faith community, but as a connector. Yet people continue to worry that virtual and digital formats are inferior. But I’d say they’re not lesser as much as they’re newer. Church leaders are still climbing a steep learning curve to understand how virtual connections can be increasingly practical, beneficial and holy.

How can we make our virtual connections vital and life-giving as extensions and enhancements of in-person gatherings?

Listen to women. Churches and medical chaplaincy have lost women’s leadership in the last three years. Globally, 54 million women stepped out of the workforce in 2020 alone. Stories from my research point out how churches continue to harbor unfair expectations for parents, especially mothers. During the lockdown, untold millions of mothers juggled home-schooling, elder care, and meal and household management — and still did their paying jobs, including ministry. Churches need to reengage women’s leadership, listen to the reasons they departed, and envision ways to make ministry more sustainable

How shall we listen to women and make work more sustainable and less exhausting for all parents?

Care for loss and grief. Both concrete and ambiguous losses continue to define the emotional landscape of church and many

other social institutions — more than 1 million Americans have died of the virus. People need deliberate space and time to help them process their losses. Churches can draw from a deep well of practical wisdom, meaningful rituals and traditions to help with healing.

What rituals and faith practices can we offer to help people navigate pandemic losses and grief?

Recalibrate habits and rituals. Our embodied and relational ways of gathering changed in the wake of COVID-19. The habits and rituals of being together were at once reduced and expanded. Now we have an opportunity to invite and include more people with a wider variety of needs, abilities and gifts, using both digital/virtual and physical/in-person gatherings.

What new embodied and relational habits are needed to create meaningful and faith communities?

Re-imagine the use of resources. Planetary resources are increasingly stressed as the climate crisis escalates. Notably, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, global daily carbon dioxide output was reduced by 17%, demonstrating promise and potential for adopting energy sabbaths. The new era of ministry invites explorations of recycling, repurposing and reusing resources — including buildings — for the global good.

How can we manage our resources in ways that reduce our impact on the earth and respond to the climate emergency?

Try new forms of collaboration. Leadership models changed in 2020, and not always for the better — or in ways we can sustain. How? Clergy tried to protect lay leaders from the virus. Subsequently, volunteers fell out of decades long habits. As a result, some paid staff took on too much, increasing clergy burnout. We need collaborations that honor the different experiences of clergy and volunteer leaders and prevent the overwhelming of either group.

How can we re-imagine staffing to explore more-sustainable configurations of leadership?

Prioritize mental well-being. Kids are not OK. Three years of multiple pandemics are taking a huge toll on the mental health of children and youth, and female, LGBTQ and Black teens are thinking about and attempting suicide more often. Churches are among the few remaining communities in U.S. culture to give attention to the full life cycle of humans from cradle to grave, including family belonging and intergenerational care. Churches should focus on the mental well-being of all members, especially youth.

How can we attend to the anxiety, depression and suffering of young people in our faith communities and beyond?

Confront racial injustice. Racism and injustice became a major focus in 2020 when the horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery enraged many Americans and thousands of protesters filled the streets. Many white churches and

denominations declared their commitment to becoming anti-racist and working for social justice. But the changes did not all last. View it as a marathon, not a sprint. Anti-racism work is vitally important, particularly considering the backlash of white Christian nationalists over the last three years.

How can we maintain the momentum, inspiration and commitment required to become anti-racist and work for social justice?

Craft new future stories. As many churches focused on survival, they lost capacity to pay attention to the big picture. Now is the time to dream with your congregation about how you can be the church in this new era of ministry. We need

future stories — rooted in the faith and practices of the past — that acknowledge the losses and grief of the pandemic and expand the imagination for what comes next. How can we tell future stories that honor the past while imagining communities that are renewed with meaning and purpose?

Eileen Campbell-Reed is a visiting associate professor of pastoral theology and care at Union Theological Seminary (New York), co-director of the Learning Pastoral Imagination Project, and the author of “Pastoral Imagination” (2021). Research for the #PandemicPastoring Report was funded by the Louisville Institute, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Helping Pastors Thrive initiative.

Resurrection Hope

By Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin

Holding resurrection hope for one another is a radical act of leadership. While the resurrection is considered a fairytale to some, the leader is challenged to frame and reframe the life-giving, audacious notion of life amid despair — the hope of resurrection. Unfortunately, the limitation of our English language often misrepresents the hope of which I write. We offhandedly hope the weather will be nice for the ball game, hope the restaurant has our favorite entrée, hope there is still milk in the fridge or hope for things that bring us pleasure. “Hope springs eternal!” is declared when the outcome is most likely not that which is hoped for.

Hope — resurrection hope — is vastly different from these flippant desires. I’m all for hoping for a good meal, but I wish our language was a bit more nuanced so I could speak of resurrection hope and you would grasp the gravitas from which I speak or the desire from which I declare.

Resurrection hope declares God’s faithfulness in the presence of death, for God is always doing a new thing. God is not a once-and-done creator who forgets about His creation. From Genesis to the Book of Revelation, we read how God desires to come and be with us, as the British New Testament scholar N.T. Wright reflects so frequently. This is a hope that’s always at work. Leaders, along with all followers of Christ, must strive to carry this hope wherever they go. Leadership that demonstrated this kind of hope is not “large and in charge” or commanding and strategizing in a vacuum. It is open and honest in the struggles of life while simultaneously looking

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

to the future as a result of the life that comes through death. In A Gospel of Hope, author Walter Brueggmann defines it this way: Resurrection of the dead is God’s capacity to take a circumstance of complete shutdown and hopelessness and make something new from it.

Easter is the parade example of God’s readiness for newness that the world knows as inexplicable miracle.

Resurrection hope shatters the finality of death while acknowledging the necessity of dying for new life to burst forth. It is not a pie-in-the-sky notion that comes from a sappy song or an Easter basket. It is a daily act of surrender and receiving that involves the despair of the Via Dolorosa, the pain of Calvary and the anxious waiting of Holy Saturday. Glossing over the trials and struggles of the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) leads to a cheap resurrection and undermines the power of living into the newness of life.

“Struggle forces us to confront our illusions both about the world and ourselves,” writes Joan D. Chittister in Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope. “It requires us not simply to seek hope but to become hope ourselves.”

The embodiment of hope sustains not only the person but those in whom they invest. It requires engaging in life honestly — living truthfully into one’s identity as God has called and shaped each person. Leaders must not only work out their salvation in solitude, but must also engage in this process in solidarity with others. It also requires a

level of vulnerability that’s foreign to many leadership approaches and can be dangerous if not handled with the utmost sacred trust and mutuality.

We are created to live life together. From the very beginning of creation, God created the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea in pairs. Scripture is filled with stories of togetherness, including Aaron and Hur literally helping to hold Moses’s worn-out arms, Deborah and Barak going together into battle, Mary and Elizabeth shared pregnancy tips, and the man without mobility being lowered through the roof by his friends to be healed by Jesus.

The best leaders do not lead from a pedestal (dare I say from a pulpit) alone or solo. They join with others so that collectively they may see more clearly, increase their strength and prepare more fully. The gifts of each person (leader and follower) are necessary for the development of the whole.

Chittister points out that an individual’s “limitations make space for the gifts of other people.” As leaders, we must reinvent and reshape structures that once were sustained by society but simply are no longer viable in the church. We must do all of this while telling and living out the old, old story of “Jesus and his love” — the hope of resurrection insists on both.

Marjory Bankson in The Call of the Soul shares the story of a widow from Iowa who “gardens to tend her soul ‘because it reminds me that I belong to forever.’” As we hold the hope of resurrection, we remind people of

their belonging to all that has been and all that will be. Through the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection, we are intrinsically connected to our ancestors and to those who have yet to be born.

Every Sunday, we gather for worship in a mini-Easter celebration, declaring the resurrection. Every time we celebrate the risen Christ, we are radically embracing the hope of resurrection. It is not simply a wish for some time to come, but the hope — sacred and holy, binding us to one another throughout all time considering God’s story into which we are woven.

Leadership is holding this hope of resurrection for others and inviting them to hold it for us. While holding the hope, we acknowledge life’s challenges, struggles, pain, and our eventual death. Never offering pat answers or trite saying that are not even in the Bible, like “God needed another angel,” leaders are called to hold the sorrow amid the resurrection. Perhaps that is what makes a leader radical: on a day as horrific as Good Friday, the leader mourns and weeps, but knows, as Pastor S. M. Lockridge preached, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!”

Leadership can be isolating, and the leader can feel disconnected from others while living into the call of Christ. In the loneliness, the weight of sacredly holding others’ burdens and pain, along with our own, can be discouraging. Henri Nouwen put it this way in the Daily Meditation on March 18, 2023:

I really want to encourage you not to despair, not to lose faith, not to let go of God in your life, but stand in your suffering as a person who believes that she is deeply loved by God. When you look inside yourself, you might sometimes be overwhelmed by all the brokenness and confusion, but when you look outside toward him who died on the cross for you, you might suddenly realize that your brokenness has been lived through for you long before you touched it yourself.

Suffering is a period in your life in which true faith can emerge, a naked faith, a faith that comes to life in the midst of great pain. The grain, indeed, has to die in order to bear fruit and when you dare to stand in your suffering, your life will bear fruit in ways that are far beyond your own predications or understanding. Leadership simultaneously holds the pain of crucifixion and the joy of resurrection, acknowledging one’s own sins and shortcomings while living the call of God’s beloved child and experiencing the fruit as it forms and grows. We must develop rhythms in our lives where we live out truth, where we are able to be vulnerable and where we allow the exposure of pain to encounter the healing power of resurrection hope. In doing this, we are strengthened as disciples of Christ and as bearers of the Good News — we are leaders. As a Convention, DCBC seeks to equip, engage and empower our churches, leaders

and communities. We do this through the work of the board and committees, as well as the Ministry Roundtable that discerns and executes what we believe God is calling us to do. The Roundtable serves in some ways as a larger staff might. This group is committed to holding the hope of resurrection for you and invites you to collaborate and share your expertise as we prepare and offer programs and experiences. We call this “making honey.” We all need to do our part in building the comb for DCBC to be all we are called to be.

Come join us on April 29 for the Leadership Forum, designed for all leaders within and outside the church — deacons, trustees, teachers, prayer leaders, PTA leaders, community activists – everyone — as we explore ways to hold the hope of resurrection in meaningful, spiritual and practical ways. Together, may we find ways to hold the hope of resurrection for each other, not just on Easter but every day of the year! As Chittister says, “Hope sends us dancing around dark corners trusting in a tomorrow we cannot see….” Let’s dance as we hold the hope of resurrection, DCBC!

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Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin isthe ExecutiveDirector/MinisterofDCBC

Bless Your Heart for Producing Professionals and Satisfied Saints When Radical Prophets Are Needed

By Rev. Justin Cox

Arecent webinar with my alma mater made me realize theological schools and the church face the same challenge today: How to be risk-takers in a world that only values stability.

Let me say upfront, I’m not someone you’re likely to catch at an alumni weekend. I didn’t even show up for my own graduation. Yet the task and the outcomes matter to me.

Zoom call with coffee. Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash.

And so I sat, floating faceless in the purgatory that is Zoom, listening for the neatly packaged future of Wake Forest University School of Divinity.

To say the last several years at Wake Divinity have been tumultuous would be an understatement. The loss of Dean Gail O’Day in 2018 (may she rest in peace) left many in mourning. There was hope and excitement around the hiring of Dean Jonathan Walton.

However, his involvement and vision were hindered by a global pandemic. Walton recently departed to become president of Princeton Theological Seminary.

Now despite my contrarian ways, I’m proud of my education, even though I realize post-graduation I haven’t come close to mastering a damn bit of divinity. If anything, it mastered me I know how fortunate I was to have studied under professors I’d stack up against anyone in their respective fields. Yet, I know institutions are institutions. Big, demanding, self-serving.

All this brings to the surface some of the insecurities I’m still trying to sort out. Maybe it’s because a person with my upbringing never felt at home in a place covered in ivy. Goes to show one can earn a cap and gown and still have difficulties wearing them.

There needs to be an element of danger to religious education if it’s to be deemed worth a damn.

As the meeting progressed, words and phrases flowed forth from transitional leadership, bumping into and skipping over one another, reminding me of the Sony Discman I had velcroed to the dashboard of my first car:

skip - “Sustainable”“Community”“Opportunities. ”

I know the standard drill in an interim period. The point is to stay afloat, reassure donors and redirect worry and concerns for a date found later on the calendar. I’ve heard this familiar message coming from pulpits, too, because I’ve been guilty of the same I’ve preached over the heads of my congregations with just the right amount of empty padding. In those moments, I’ve witnessed their faces when I’ve lost them — eyes glazing over like they’ve come off the conveyor belt at a Krispy Kreme

I had that look on my face during this webinar. Feeling an uneasy sensation in the pit of my stomach, I began to understand the challenges of being on the other side of the conversation.

What was it that was missing here? What has been missing from my own sermons when congregants’ eyes glaze over?

I looked around my desk, grabbed a pencil with the eraser bitten off and scribbled in a notebook: “Nothing about this seems dangerous, so does any of it matter?”

A message for theology schools and churches alike. Where’s the gamble? Where’s the danger?

Woe to institutions and churches alike for attempting to play it safe when dangerous spaces are what the world needs.

There needs to be an element of danger to religious education if it’s to be deemed worth a damn. A type of danger capable of inflicting change, challenging established ideas and perceptions. Could we offer enough scrappiness to make the principalities and powers take notice and feel threatened? Is this

what’s missing from seminaries and churches alike?

Yes, we can be comfy and nonabrasive, like a morning drive with coffee and K-Love pumping on the radio, but this makes any talk of resurrection suspect.

With more compassion than I knew I had, I breathed out three words in an empty room while shaking my head at the folly of it all: “Woe to you. ” An old-school indictment with the same double entendre as “Bless your heart. ”

Woe to institutions and churches alike for attempting to play it safe when dangerous spaces are what the world needs. Bless your heart for producing professionals and satisfied saints when radical prophets are needed.

Wake Forest isn’t alone in navigating these waters. Divinity schools aren’t the only institutions struggling with these issues. Far from it. Many face the same indictment, whether their enrollment numbers reflect it or not. Churches and search committees will have to give an answer for desiring clean-cut, no-wavemaking mascots and be made aware they flirt with the disaster of running out of people before their endowments dry up.

With this in mind, I was reminded of the words of Wendell Berry in Jayber Crow describing an institution as a floating island: “It was preparing people from the world of the past for the world of the future, and what was missing was the world of the present, where everybody was living its small short, surprising, miserable, wonderful, blessed, damaged, only life. ”

What do I hope for my alma mater? The same thing I hope for the church: A recognition of the fragility of it all. This would show trust, vulnerability, and the realization we all need a whisper of audaciousness in the face of avarice — something to cause the suits in the establishment to furrow their brows in worry.

Rev. Justin Cox received his theological education from Campbell University and Wake Forest University School of Divinity. He is an ordained minister affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and enrolled in the doctor of ministry program at McAfee School of Theology. Besides reading, spending time in the kitchen and amateur gardening, Justin spends time with his spouse, Lauren, and their two daughters. He began his tenure as senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Suffield, Ct. in August. Find his ramblingsatblacksheepbaptist.com.

Reprinted with permission from Baptist News Global © 2023 Baptist News Global. All Rights Reserved. Article can also be accessed here

DEACONS USHERS PTA OFFICERS

SUNDAY

SCHOOL TEACHERS PRAY-ERS GROUP LEADERS MISSION LEADERS COMMUNITY

ORGANIZERS TRUSTEES COUNCIL MEMBERS

Your church is called to the DCBC Leadership Training Forum on April 29, 2023, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at Montgomery Hills Baptist Church. Workshops will cover:

• How to have hard conversations with difficult people

• The church’s responsibility for the well-being of children and vulnerable people (legally, morally, and ethically)

• How to use technology beyond worship to communicate throughout the week

• How to live excellently – continually growing in the faith while leading others

• How everyone (lay people and clergy) might be better equipped to sit with people in grief

• How to encourage, equip, evaluate and covenant build with your pastor (this is for clergy and lay leaders)

• How to strengthen your prayer life

• How to lead across cultures and traditions

Register here: http://bit.ly/3KjAAeh

American Baptist Churches USA’s New Covenant and Code of Ethics for Ministerial Leaders

The Ministers Council of ABC USA recently approved a new Covenant and Code of Ethics for Ministerial Leaders of American Baptist Churches, USA. All ordained American Baptist Clergy are highly encouraged to sign it, send it to Trisha.Manarin@dcbaptist.org and follow the new covenant (reprinted on the following pages) to be in good standing. A learning guide will be published by the end of June.

We acknowledge that not all DCBC clergy’s ordination is recognized and/or endorsed by ABC-USA; therefore, we do not insist on this covenant for all DCBC clergy. However, DCBC does take seriously the responsibility of ordained clergy to live a life reflective of the Gospel. If you are interested in participating in the creation of a covenant for DCBC clergy, please email Trisha.Manarin@dcbaptist.org to join a group exploring clergy wellness and wholeness.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Photo 182285885 / Israel Palestine © Ryszard Parys | Dreamstime.com

Exploring God’s Justice: A

Wrap-Up of the February 25 DCBC Justice Forum

DCBC hosted its first Justice Forum on February 25 at the Baptist Building. Thirty eager and energized participants, ready to deeply engage with each other and to encounter God afresh, filled the ballroom. Thanks to the work of the Ministry Roundtable and a subgroup, led by Rev. Michelle Nickens, this event allowed those gathered to explore God’s justice. Through scriptural reflection, small group engagement, and large group participation, everyone was drawn into the experience. The group comprised young adults in their twenties and older adults in their eighties representing a variety of DCBC churches from the District, Maryland and Virginia Mission Roundtable member, Rev. Roi Ji Marip, and her niece and fellow church member, drove from Harrisonburg, Virginia — a little more than two hours — to attend. When everyone was sharing, Rev. Ji Marip shared her concern for her homeland of Myanmar/Burma and the lack of concern for justice from churches here in the United States.

Several approaches to doing justice were shared, including political protest and activism, preaching, teaching, direct service to the community and political advocacy. Participants were asked to respond to a few polls and their answers were recorded electronically to create a word cloud For example, the first question — What does your congregation look like? — generated the following word cloud:

And, the second question — What are the two most pressing justice issues to you? — generated:

Rev. Michelle Nickens led a Lectio Divina experience, inviting everyone to take some time to reflect on and hear scripture with new ears and eyes. A four-person panel

— Rev. Jevon Billups of Dominion Life Center, Rev. Dr. Adrien Ngudiankama of Salem Gospel Ministries, Rev. Ryan Phipps of Church In Bethesda and Rev. Nickens of

Washington Plaza Baptist Church — furthered the exploration of God’s justice and our role in it. They each reflected on an aspect of justice and the challenges to respond to the call of Micah 6:8: What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

Rev. Jevon Billups shared how “each of the dimensions of wellness connects with the other areas of justice…. Environmental justice, social justice, educational justice, financial or economic justice are all tied to mental health.” As an act of justice, he contends, “We must break the stigma and normalize these conversations (on and around mental health and wellness).” He challenged all of us to consider the language used in small groups, from the pulpit, on social media, in our communities and beyond, and to pay attention. There may be someone suffering in silence, and we can assist. We are all called to engage with mental health and wellness — including ourselves — as this is necessary for justice to be realized.

Rev. Dr. Adrien Ngudiankama asked everyone how many cell phones, laptops, etc., they have. He then shared that to produce these items, at least two children lose their lives per device in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Coltan, the mineral necessary for electronics, is mined in the DRC where war is ongoing. He asked us to think globally when considering God’s justice. “I own such items, and they are necessary for life today,” he confessed. However, he challenged us to think about justice for children, workers, creation and around the world. Global justice is not isolated and includes justice in our own

communities. God’s justice calls us into all the world.

Rev. Ryan Phipps began his reflection by reading Acts 2:44-45 and 4:32-35. He testified that “the church he serves doesn’t look as much like the early church as it should.” He reiterated how the ecclesia (the church, the people) of the early church had everything in common, and there were no needy people among them. He explored this notion more thoroughly through a quote describing the early days of Christianity from the Roman Emperor Julian, who vehemently rejected Christianity. “The Galileans [Christians],” Emperor Julian said, “support not only their own poor but ours as well, and all men see that our people lack aid from us.” Rev. Phipps encouraged meeting the needs of the surrounding community outside our churches but challenged us to consider the needs within the church and follow the early model, for this is God’s justice.

Rev Nickens reflected on God’s justice as it pertains to gender-based and domestic violence and cited some alarming statistics. Domestic violence is pervasive in our society and societies around the world, and it impacts issues of patriarchy, the prison-industrial complex, poverty, child well-being, childcare, sexual abuse, immigration, homelessness and much more. Most likely, we are all touched by such injustice and must seek to be bearers of God’s justice in all areas of life.

In small groups, the story of Mark 5:1-20 was analyzed. Each group was assigned an individual character in the story and reported back to the larger group, sharing how they saw justice and liberation in the gospel narrative. Good conversation ensued and

participants continued to be challenged, perhaps even convicted, before departing in prayer to go be about God’s justice in the world.

This forum is one of many steps in DCBC’s journey with justice. Most people present were moved to go deeper and look forward to future experiences. In fact, later this summer, Rev. Nickens will lead a book study stemming from this forum. More information on that to follow.

The Ministry Roundtable and subgroup invite anyone who is interested in exploring justice further to reach out to carry on the conversation. If your church is engaged in justice work, please let us know and share how other DCBC churches may join you!

This year’s Annual Gathering, October 26–28, will be exploring justice, so mark your calendars now and plan to join us!

Here are a few resources cited during the forum:

• Practicing Resurrection by Janet Wolf

• The Politics of Jesus by Obrey Hendricks

• The Poverty & Justice Bible (ABS)

• We Are Called to Be a Movement by William Barber

• “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.

• Engaging the Powers by Walter Wink

Rev. Michelle Nickens (far right) presenting at the first DCBC Justice Forum on February 25 at the Baptist Building. Photo courtesy of Patricia Hernandez.

Is Your Church Ready to Respond to an Emergency?

Whether caused by nature — tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, droughts — or people — mass shootings, protests, etc. — disastrous situations that once were unheard of or consigned to certain areas of the country and certain times of the year are occurring with regularity across the United States. Does your church have a plan of action and trained individuals who are ready to serve as emergency response team (ERT) members?

If the answer is “No,” DCBC will be offering a variety of ERT training and credentialing throughout the year to help get you on the road to being prepared. Email James Barbour, DCBC ERT Coordinator, at ERT@dcbaptist.org for information on how to apply to become ERT trained,

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

and make sure that your church not only can respond to emergencies, but also has trained individuals who are “Ready to Serve!”

What is ERT

ERT members are identified by their church as the logical point of contact in their congregation, who is knowledgeable and resourceful to direct their church members in case of a local or national emergency or natural disaster. Team members would be available to serve in time of disaster, would receive training in disaster relief, and would become familiar with area and community resources prior to disasters happening. The team members would become local resources for the community to help respond to local emergencies. Then, it is envisioned that we can help other churches become better prepared in the event of a disaster.

What will this accomplish?

The reality is that most disasters happen quickly, and disaster response efforts are needed immediately to reduce the time and cost to recover from these disasters. Also, the frequency of weather-related (windstorms and flooding) disasters and those caused by people (mass shootings, protests) are increasing. As Christians, we cannot simply look away. 1 Peter 4:10 tell us: Each has received a gift Use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s grace.

WHAT can we do?

Some of our churches already are prepared and are identified as gathering points in the case of area disasters. This type of preparatory information is necessary for proper response to local emergencies. WE need to share the “Gift” with others in the Convention.

2023 Clergy Retreat: A Time of Reflection, Renewal and Refreshment

On a chilly Monday, 14 clergy from across DCBC and beyond gathered at Hallowood Retreat Center in Dickerson, Maryland, for a time of deep reflection, renewal and refreshment. Two members of the Ministry Roundtable, Rev. Dr. Ella Redfield and Rev. Skye Hallman McQuillan, facilitated the time together. Participants were skillfully guided through the practice of the Lectio Divina, where they listened for the voice of God as they explored several scripture passages, drawing deeper connections to the text leading to a deep encounter with God.

Individual and group activities allowed the cross section of ages and ministry experiences present to STOP and take a break from the busyness and never-ending list of things to get done and simply listen for God. Walks in the woods, conversations around the table, walking the prayer labyrinth, visiting by the fire, creating hand crosses, making s’mores, breaking bread, laughing, pondering and even watching the short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” all made for a truly delightful time together. A huge thank you to our sisters who only met in person for the first time at the retreat

Clergy from across DCBC and beyond recently retreated to the tranquility of Hallowood Retreat Center in Dickerson, Maryland, to reflect and be renewed and refreshed. Photos courtesy of Rev. Skye Hallman McQuillan.

and guided the process with grace, wisdom and love. Thanks be to God for this wonderful opportunity where individuals arrived as strangers and departed as friends. Mark your calendars now for next year’s retreat March 11–13 (participants requested two nights instead of just one!)

Above: The stages of the Lectio Divina or Holy Listening. Below: Clergy who participated in the retreat. Somearrivedasstrangersanddepartedasfriends.

Clergy engaged in making the hand crosses shown below.

2023 Goals of the Burma Work Group

By Rev. Dr. Robert D. Cochran

The Baptist Work Group (BWG) exists “…to raise the awareness and interest of congregations in the D.C. Baptist Convention and within the U.S. government in the Baptist work among the varied ethnic peoples (specifically the Chins, the Kachins and the Karens) within the country of Myanmar (Burma), resulting in both increasing spiritual and physical resources focused on that country, its people, and its government and strengthening the spiritual growth of congregations in the D.C. Baptist Convention.” During the past three years of operation, the COVID-12 pandemic and a government coup that began in February 2021 has limited the work of the BWG in Myanmar. Currently, 19 people participate in the BWG, which was established in 2018.

For 2023, the BWG plans to continue development of several of projects. One such project is the development of a Sunday School curriculum for children. This is under development with one year of the curriculum now in service with churches and their children, while other lessons are to be written.

Another project this year is to provide teachers to the Chin Christian Institute of Theology, located in Falam, Chin State, Myanmar. This assistance was planned for early February, but pressure from the government of Myanmar has affected the academic year there. We hope to provide two courses before the end of 2023 through

digital connection in coordination with the professors at the Chin Christian Institute. Our third project is to develop among the Baptist congregations a digital system of education for children and youth under the age of 19. A grant proposal is under review for this project, and similar grant proposals are under development. The effort to develop this tool for education will be implemented through the Baptist Conventions of the Chin, the Kachin and the Karens.

In pursuing God’s call to involvement, believers often discover unintended, positive results. For example, several pastors involved with the BWG have become leaders across the United States and within the American Baptist Churches USA. These leaders help coordinate the efforts of congregations of immigrants from Myanmar and other congregations dismayed by the tragedy experienced in Myanmar. DCBC, through these leaders, has assisted American Baptists and Baptists throughout the United States to address these concerns.

The BWG continues its work on these projects as well as to provide prayer support and civic concern for Myanmar and its people. Congregations or individuals within the DCBC interested in the work of the BWG may request additional information. Please coordinate any such requests through the offices of the DCBC (202-265-1526).

Rev. Dr. Robert D. Cochran, former Executive Director/Minister of the D.C. Baptist Convention.

Introductory Coaching Class: May

31 – June 2

By Rev. Ken Kessler

• What helps a person follow through with their commitment and find accountability for their decision?

• What does a coaching conversation look like?

• How do you get started in a coaching relationship with someone?

• How is coaching different from other disciplines, such as mentoring and counseling?

Have you ever thought about becoming a coach? Here’s an opportunity not only to explore this possibility, but also to start the journey with “Christian Coaching!”

Begin your exploration May 3, 2023, at 2 p.m., with Rev. Dr. Ken Kessler, who will lead the training, for a free Zoom conversation about “Why Coach Training and What’s Involved?” Then, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning, May 31 – June 2, also in a virtual format, learn how to use these ministry skills to impact your relationships with neighbors, colleagues, church members, and strangers.

In this introductory, 16-hour class, “Foundations of Christian Coaching,” Rev. Dr. Kessler will discuss:

• How do you listen constructively to others?

• What powerful questions do you use in the conversation to move the person to think beyond their present situation?

• How do you help someone make a decision and act on it?

The cost for this class is regularly $575, but you may register at the rate of $300 through your DCBC connection.

Register for the free “Why Coach Training and What’s Involved?” session at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/W N_7hokCPemRoeeIffwpRTwmQ. You will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the webinar after registering.

Register for the “Foundations of Christian Coaching, May 31 – June 2, at https://vbmb.wufoo.com/forms/foundationsfor-coaching-may-31june-2-2023/ You will receive course details and the Zoom link about one week before the class begins.

Rev. Ken Kessler, Empower Coaching Network Director, Baptist General Association of Virginia

The Leland Seminary and DCBC Celebrate Women in Ministry

While some were celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, the John Leland Center for Theological Studies was hosting a Celebration of Women in Ministry with DCBC at the Baptist Building. Leland President, Rev. Dr. Ken Pruitt, welcomed seminary graduates, current students, and friends and members of DCBC and, following a blessing over a lovely buffet supper, rich fellowship ensued around the tables in the ballroom. The ambiance was simply lovely thanks to Leland alum, Mindy Stewart

Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin, DCBC’s Executive Director/Minister, signaled the beginning of the evening’s presentations by

singing “Children of God, We Are Marching to Zion.” She then reflected on the influence of those who have gone before, offering a litany of the women who have shaped and formed her life and ministry. Some of these women she knew personally while others were only known in heart, but all helped deepen her relationship with God.

Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin then introduced the first of the women being celebrated. This woman, she explained, made it possible for us to read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Mrs. Willie Pearl Mackey King, deacon and leader with Montgomery Hills Baptist Church (a DCBC church), elicited a laugh when she said, “My

Pictured with DCBC Executive Director/Minister Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin (2nd from left) are the three Women in Ministry being celebrated by the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Mrs. Willie Pearl Mackey King (far left), Rev. Dr. Ella V. Redfield (3rd from left) and Rev. Lisa Cole Smith. Photos courtesy of Abbie Tolbert.

name is ‘Willie Pearl’ because, in the South, everyone needs two names!”

Mrs. King then gave a riveting reflection about her encounters while serving with others in the Civil Rights Movement and on the Southern Christian Leadership Council. As she recounted her visit with Fannie Lou Hamer and others in jail after Hamer had been beaten, all present could feel the power of Mrs. King’s call to ministry. She testified to the presence of God in her life, especially for a young person from a small Georgia town. She celebrated the work of God in and through women and declared how exciting it has been for her to know the United States has a woman as Vice-President who also happens to be a woman of color. Earlier, Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin had observed that although Mrs. King is small in stature, she is a giant to us! Dr. Pruitt embraced Mrs. King and she was given a standing ovation.

President Pruitt shared that from the very beginning women have been embraced and encouraged by Leland Seminary and the support of women in ministry is one of its core values. On April 27, 2002, the school’s first graduating class also included the school’s first woman to graduate with a MasterofDivinity,Rev. MarthaPhillips.Just a couple of years earlier, Rev. Phillips had been featured on news services across the country speaking out against the Southern Baptists, which had declared women could no longer be ordained. As a seminarian serving as the interim pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, she became known as “Al Gore’s female pastor” throughout the United States and simply as “Martha” to her congregation. Former Vice President Al Gore and his

family were members of the church: It’s where Mrs. Gore had grown up. They supported Rev. Phillips and voted in favor of her being named Mount Vernon Baptist Church’s permanent pastor. Rev. Martha Pillips was a pioneer both as a student and as a pastor. She took a risk joining a new, notyet-accredited seminary and continues to serve God in new ways. The church joined DCBC in 2001.

Leland Seminary has named the new woman in ministry award in honor of Rev. Martha Phillips. The inaugural Martha Phillips Leadership Award for Faithfulness in Pastoral Leadership was given to another pioneering Baptist woman in ministry, Rev. Dr. Ella V. Redfield. In 1994, when no one would call Rev. Dr. Redfield, a graduate of Howard Divinity School (MDiv. and DMin.), to be their senior pastor, she faithfully gathered a group of people and planted New Creation Church. She began with her own funds, and later, DCBC connected New Creation with some funds for church planting from the American Baptist Churches USA While it was not always easy to be a pioneer, Rev. Dr. Redfield faithfully served the congregation of about 50 for decades. She and the New Creation congregation have been featured in stories by the Washington Post, local Gazette and Afro-American newspapers, as well as in American Baptist publications. She is also the co-author of The Circle of Life: Waking Up to the Ultimate Design for Our Lives

Rev. Dr. Redfield has served as Chaplain for the National Veterans Affairs Hospital in Washington, D.C.; as a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of the National Institutes of Health, Spiritual

Ministries Chaplaincy Program; an Instructor at the Howard University School of Divinity Continuing Education Program; and Adjunct Faculty and Colloquy Leader at the Wesley Theological Seminar. She has also held several leadership positions regionally and nationally with the American Baptist Churches, USA, Progressive National Baptist Convention, the former Washington Ministerium, Howard University School of Divinity National Alumni Association, and is a Past President of DCBC. She is currently serving as Chairperson of DCBC’s 150th Anniversary Committee, as a member of the DCBC Ministry Roundtable, and as 2nd Vice President of the Montgomery County Black Ministers Conference.

Rounding out the evening’s speakers was Rev. Lisa Cole Smith, a Leland graduate and leading voice in the church, today. Rev. Cole Smith is the founding pastor and artistic director of Convergence: A Creative Community of Faith in Alexandria, Virginia. She reflected on her life as she seeks a way to merge her calling as an artist and a person of

faith. Her mission is to provide training and resources for artists and culture creators who are called to be prophetic critics and imaginative visionaries in our world. Rev. Cole Smith is a guest lecturer at the Leland Seminary, Wesley Seminary and Virginia Theological Seminary in the subjects of worship, theology and arts. She centered her reflection on Mary Oliver’s Instructions for Living a Life

 Pay attention.

 Be astonished.

 Tell about it. Rev. Beth Willetts concluded the lovely evening in prayer, celebrating all that took place and eagerly looking to what is still to come.

President Pruitt offered thanks to DCBC and hopes this Celebration of Women in Ministry will be an annual event. He also gave thanks for the partnership between Leland and DCBC. If you would like to learn more about Leland, which DCBC helped to found, visit https://www.leland.edu/.

Above left: Rev. Dr. Ken Pruitt, President of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Above right: Rev. Dr. Redfield, recipient of the new woman in ministry award in honor of Rev. Martha Phillips.

Lectio Divina: Holy Listening

Lectio Divina has been mentioned several times in this edition of the Capital Baptist. This is a wonderful way to allow God to speak to you through scripture. Beginning April 19, we will gather at 12 noon via Zoom. We will meet on the third Wednesday of the month. If you have never experienced Lectio Divina, here’s an opportunity to give it a try. If you have questions, email Trisha.Manarin@dcbaptist.org.

God Is Listening ~ Theprayerofarighteouspersonis powerfulandeffective.

— James 5:16

Heard Around the Convention:

THANKS TO THE KINDNESS OF DCBC, I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN MY RELIGIOUS VISA TO SERVE AS A PASTOR HERE AT A MEMBER CHURCH.

Talk to DCBC Give Us Feedback

We want to hear from you. Send us your ideas, suggestions, church news, concerns, favorite scripture, complaints, etc. Want to volunteer with us?

If you want to say it or do it, we want to hear it.

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Tempered Resilience with Tod Bolsinger

Join us to hear from Tod Bolsinger, who will be sharing from his book Tempered Resilience. DCBC is proud to be a sponsor for this event, which will conclude with a short time of Q&A.

More information: https://www.abcusa.org/2023/04/ generosity-projectwebinar-a-live-zoomevent-with-todbolsinger-announced/

Sister Circle: Stories of Growth in the Face of Disbelief

The third annual Sister Circle met online on March 29 at noon and 8 p.m. Five of the women present — Pat Hernandez (American Baptist Women in Ministry), Merritt Johnston (Baptist World Women), Valerie Carter Smith (WMU Virginia), Meredith Stone (Baptist Women in Ministry) and Abbie Tolbert (Leland Seminary) — shared their call stories as they relate to Rhoda (Acts 12) and the disbelief of those whom she ran to tell that their prayers had been answered. They told of their experiences of growing in their resilience and joy in the face of disbelief! Coincidentally, this circle took place around the time a list was published of 170 supposedly Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches that, against SBC policy, have women pastors. Several DCBC churches are on the list, but unlike some who may feel unsafe as a result of this action, many of our churches are proud to be on this list. During the circle, we celebrated the fact that DCBC has one of the highest percent of women in senior leadership in Baptist life in the United States. Join us next March for the fourth annual Sister Circle — brothers also are welcome!

DCBC shares the following notable events in the lives of its members…

We congratulate the following congregations and individuals celebrating births, ordinations, anniversaries and other accomplishments:

 Rev. Emmitt Drumgoole, Pastor of Montgomery Hills Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland and his wife Kristen's on the safe arrival of their daughter Maya Rose Drumgoole on March 15. Maya was also welcomed by her big brother Langston.

 Rev. Kendrick E. Curry, Ph.D., Pastor, Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church Washington, D.C., who became the new Interim General Secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. in February. Rev. Kendrick is a DCBC pastor and a former interim DCBC Executive Director/Minister.

 Rev. Chuck Gargan (left), Pastor of DCBC member church The American Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida and Rev.

Rafael Alcantara, Pastor of Jesus a Las Naciones (the Spanish-speaking partner

church of ABC Lakeland that is exploring joining DCBC), who are pictured here with DCBC Executive Director/Minister, Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin.

 Jimmie Hulett and Ray Hulett on their ordination by Carmody Hills Baptist church; Senior Pastor: Rev. Oscar Broadie, Jr.

 Crystal Gray and India Patrick on their ordination by CenterPoint Baptist Church; Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Orlando Jermaine Bego.

 We extend condolences to the family of Pastor Dexter Nutall and First Lady Tracy Nutall of New Bethel Baptist Church, Pastor Nutall’s sister, Ms. Fawne Lindsey, and the New Bethel Baptist Church community on the passing of Pastor Nutall and Ms. Lindsey’s mother, Deaconess Hazel Y. Nutall. Deaconess Nutall will also be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Chandler and Jaida Nutall.

Willie Pearl Mackey King Honored at Women Making History Awards Gala

By Mr Ericc Powell

Sometimes in life, you encounter someone who you don’t expect will change your life and the life of others. Sometimes, you don’t realize that God wanted you to meet a specific individual for a specific purpose. Sometimes, you recognize God’s greatness through the way someone else lives their life. Enter Willie Pearl Mackey King.

Recognized at the National Women’s History Museum’s “Women Making History Awards Gala” on Friday, March 31, 2023, at the Schuyler at the Hamilton Hotel, Willie King has exemplified God’s work throughout her life. As a civil rights activist, a leader and a Christian, Willie King has accomplished many things, probably most notable was working for the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and typing the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” As a long-time member and deacon at Montgomery Hills Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, Willie continues to let God’s light shine in, through and around her.

Several women recognized at the Gala for their achievements, successes and impact on so many people. It was a beautiful event filled with speeches from Meryl Streep and stakeholders of the National Women’s History Museum, brief comments from honorees, music and song from Shayna Steele and Laura Bell Bundy, comedy from Zarna Garg and great conversation among attendees.

Willie Pearl Mackey King is that individual who has made history, is making history and embodies God’s greatness as she changes your life for the good. She was honored along with Ashley Graham (Pioneering Supermodel, Designer, Entrepreneur), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sharon Stone (Actress and Humanitarian), and Uma Thurman (Actress and Activist). Congratulations to these amazing women, and may their stories empower, inspire and encourage more women to make History.

— Ericc Powell, Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, Silver Spring, Maryland

Willie Pearl Mackey King pictured here with Ericc Powell at the Women Making History Awards Gala, hosted by the National Women's History Museum.

Church Mission Giving

For the Two Months Ended February 28, 2023

The Convention recognizes that the giving cycles of each church are different. Some give monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Your financial contributions allow DCBC to minister to and with our member congregations and partners. Please consider making a gift today at https://www.dcbaptist.org/give

Mother’s Day Ordination Council Lectio Divina (Zoom, 12 noon)

Mental Health First Aid Training

Pentecost

Memorial Day (DCBC Closed)

Metro-DC Baptist Meetup

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Job Openings

Director of Children and Youth Ministries: Village Baptist Church (Bowie, MD), is seeking a part-time Director of Children and Youth Ministries. This is the support person for ministries with children and youth from birth through high school. The Director will seek to provide the best environment possible for young people to learn about their faith and to nurture a sense of Christian community. They will provide resources for lay volunteers, help re-engage families in church activities, and help reach out to families in the community who are looking for a church family. The position is planned as a 20-hour/week opportunity with an annual salary of $25,000 for two years, with a possible extension at end of that time. For a complete job description, please visit https://villagebaptistbowie.org/Director_PD.pdf. To apply, please send a letter of interest and a resumé to personnel_committee@villagebaptistbowie.org. The position will remain open until filled. All applications received by April 30 will be considered.

Senior Pastor: Pathways Baptist Church (Gaithersburg, MD) prayerfully seeks a full-time Senior Pastor who will serve as its primary spiritual and ministry leader. The Senior Pastor is accountable to the congregation for advancing the vision within the boundaries of the church’s mission, values, and beliefs; and functioning within its constitution, policies, and procedures. The Senior Pastor has the authority to discern, design, implement, and evaluate the most effective ministries that will achieve the strategic goals. More information

Bookkeeper: Paramount Baptist Church is looking for a Part-time Bookkeeper to work 2-3 days a week. The bookkeeper oversees the church’s financial data and compliance by maintaining accurate books on accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and daily financial entries and reconciliations. They will perform daily accounting tasks, such as monthly financial reporting, general ledger entries, and record payments and adjustments. The bookkeeper will also assist with compliance, temporary disability insurance, and workers’ compensation filings. Must be a bornagain believer. Position description.

Administrative Assistant: Paramount Baptist Church is looking for a full-time Administrative Assistant who will work in the office M-W-F and from home Tuesdays and Thursdays. The church Administrative Assistant oversees the daily operation of the church office and assists the pastor and staff with a variety of administrative duties. The individual will report directly to the pastor. As a church Administrative Assistant, responsibilities include answering phone calls, managing schedules, filing, and generating programs for services. You also record personal data regarding new members of the congregation, visitors, and a variety of other issues affecting the church. Position description

2023 Publication Schedule & Article Deadlines

Issue Article Submission Deadline

June – July 2023

August – September 2023

October – November 2023

December 2023 – January 2024

Monday, May 1

Monday, June 26

Friday, September 1

Monday, October 30

Article Submission Guidelines.

• All submissions should be sent as a Word document with one-inch margins on all sides. No PDFs, please.

• All articles should be typed in 12 pt. font, double-spaced and limited to 400 to 600 words.

• All articles should feature original content and be previously unpublished, unless reprint permission is provided Please also provide a brief author bio in the following format: “[Author name is [job title] at [name of church/org. (email address or social media handle –optional).”

• Please provide a photo credit in the following format for any images you provide to help illustrate your article: “Photo courtesy of [name of photographer or owner of image].” Please provide the names of all persons featured in a picture listed from left to right. Please also provide background information about the image: the who, what, why, when, where.

• All articles are subject to editing and may be held for a future issue.

• Article submissions that do not meet the guidelines may not be accepted or will be returned for appropriate editing.

• Please email article submissions to cb@dcbaptist.org. Address questions/comments to Sonia Myrick, Capital Baptist Editor at cb@dcbaptist.org