Connie Stinson - Aftermath

I am just one minister whose charge is a little congregation comprised of little people. The fact that we sit right next to what some folk like to call the most powerful city in the world is a line I sometimes use to make me feel less small.

I took my small self to the New Baptist Covenant Celebration last week. A few of my colleagues-in-ministry, pastors of large congregations with publicly powerful people (a distinction that may or may not be significant here), returned home and reported to their congregations that the conference was, as had been feared by some, mostly comprised of political rhetoric, more “show” than valuable enterprise, after all. These colleagues criticized messages and those who delivered them. I found myself wondering if I attended the same event.

I can see that it would be easy to be cynical. Usually, it happens to those who have been burned or hurt or disappointed or all the above, a plight common among ministers, and likely more common among moderate Baptist ones. We tend to work long hours for little-to-no measurable gain and in little-to-no supportive company. It’s often a lonely job. One often ends up “doing stuff” that doesn’t appear to be ministry at all, which raises the probability that cynicism will eventually overcome. Being anything but cynical requires trusting in a future that usually doesn’t seem likely.

But today I’m not…cynical. In fact, for the first time in my adulthood, for the first time since I realized the Southern Baptist Convention would cease being the Church through which God called me as a female teenager to a lifetime of vocational ministry, I feel proud and grateful to be a Baptist! Now, again for the first time in my adult life, I feel as though I can confidently say to the world as well as to my un-churched neighbor, that I am one of “those Baptists” who cares about the state of our world and am resolved to do something to help…and that along with other kindred spirits the likes of which met in Atlanta last week, I am building relational bridges to share concerns and plan strategies to address them. I have already spoken with two other pastor friends (who had similarly positive responses to the meetings in Atlanta) about an urgent need to come together and begin the process locally.

Beyond acquiring a new sense of moderate Baptist identity, my inner spirit was fed last week. I was deeply moved by the convictions of others in the face of their weariness and loneliness. I shouldn’t have been surprised to discover that some highly visible public servants have been deeply discouraged, but I was. Perhaps I have been so consumed by my own troubles that I didn’t bother to think about the fact that others in “high places” might have similar ones. Through them, I was reminded of why I do what I do.

There are many Baptist ministers, lay and otherwise, whose hearts are breaking, whose bodies are fatigued, and whose spirits are hungry, but who still manage to carry on. Two-and-a-half days spent with more moderate Baptists than I have ever seen in one place gave me a glimpse of what-could-be if we did a better job combining forces, albeit our weak, broken, weary, spiritually deprived ones. Last week’s New Baptist Covenant Celebration gave this tired body and soul a good shot of spiritual adrenaline. It is the only like-event in my 52 years that has had this affect on me, but it might have been enough to keep me going.

Brenda Halliburton - Welcoming a Stranger

Richard Wilson, a presenter at Friday’s special interest session “Welcoming a Stranger” reminded us that the immigration issues we are wrestling with in our churches are not public policy issues alone. The issues are also interpersonal, challenging how we view and live out the Christian understanding of hospitality. Scriptures remind us that we are to be like Abraham and Sarah, extending hospitality to strangers in our communities, because we may find that we are welcoming angels as our guests.

Presenter David Carro, who talked about the many ways immigrants are “actively” isolated each day, sensitized us even more. Little is said about ways to better understand the strangers among us, points out Carro.

As I reflected on each presenter’s words, I could not help but feel hope and expectation that a unified mission effort will, indeed, emerge from our conversation. Baptist clergy and lay servants from around the country shared insights from their experiences welcoming the stranger. And all of us were seeking to better understand the challenge of how to extend meaningful hospitality to the African, Burmese, Haitian and Latino immigrants who have come to this country seeking refuge and a better life.

This session broadened our understanding of hospitality beyond providing food and shelter by helping us hear that it must also include meeting the social, spiritual and physical needs of the stranger. Together we were seeking to transcend the distinctions and attitudes that have created barriers in our ministries, so that our individual and collective Christian witness will speak to the hospitality at that heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

I cannot help but believe that as a result of this session and the larger conference, Baptists will seek unity in mission efforts and a deeper understanding of what it means to be hospitable to the strangers in our midst. I pray that the work coming out of the New Baptist Covenant celebration will also make it possible for followers of Jesus to be a more hospitable people in the world, tearing down the dividing walls and leading the world through our witness toward a more excellent way!

Arlo R. Reichter - Dwelling Together

In advance of the event there were those asking "why" a Baptist Gathering would be of value and "what" would come of it. These are good questions, of course, in the days of careful prioritizing resources for attending such events. They are also appropriate questions for "outcome based" evaluations of programs and events.

There are also those who referred, in advance, to The Baptist Gathering in Atlanta as "historic". Yes, in some sense it was historic when you consider the range of Baptist organizations participating and the array of leaders. As for me, I wish to let someone in a future time determine, using the test of time, to decide if the Gathering was "historic".

What I do know, however, having just experienced The Gathering is that it was one of the most significant experiences of my ABC life--and I was carried into an ABC (Northern) Baptist Church by my parents. It was significant because we spent important time "dwelling" together in the presence of God and a broad representation of Baptists from North America. What will come of it? For one it has already presented a time and place where God was glorified, where we learned together, where we greeted and embraced one another. These are "outcomes" already realized that must not be discounted.

If we had not taken this initial step there would be no potential for shared mission and ministry across some traditional "human built" divisions. I celebrate The New Baptist Covenant Celebration. My prayer would be that within our own ABCUSA family we would discover anew the joy and necessity of dwelling together in the presence of God and one another that we might be energized for mission and ministry in our time.

Marilyn Turner — Closing Night

The Morehouse College glee club—adorned in ties, slacks and blazers—stood on the stage risers and captivated the audience gathered for closing night. The young men looked like all of the men who hold “center stage” in my life. They reminded me of the men who have loved me and those I have loved—my beloved, my son, my father, my nephew and my uncles.

When the young man, whose hair was styled in cornrows, stepped forward and enthralled us with a rich and skilled testimony of the power of Christ as anchor in his life, I found myself wondering. Wondering how persons in this crowd, which was enthusiastically extending him a well-deserved standing ovation, would react to him if they encountered him on a dark street. I wondered if our ears could hear his melodious voice or if they’d be deafened by his cornrows. I wondered, as I have wondered so often, how much richer our world could be if we could all rid ourselves (me included) of our stereotypical thinking.

I wonder if we might all learn to adhere to the charge given us by former President Carter in his closing remarks: “Love God and love the person who is standing in front of you at any particular time.” Perhaps that is what this wonderful conference has been about— challenging us to move beyond the borders of our personal comfort. Perhaps the challenge before us is to move collectively closer to the cross until, even as the eyes of the world are upon us, we become the image of the serving, suffering and triumphant Christ.

“What’s next?” has been the question on the lips of so many who have been a part of the New Baptist Covenant. Perhaps the answer is quite simply this, “Love God. Love the person in front of you at any particular time.” Love them with the love of Christ.

Curtis Ramsey-Lucas - Hang Out With The Poor

In today's special interest session "Breaking Cycles of Poverty," Jimmy Dorrell, founder of Mission Waco, suggested that one of the problems we have in the church is knowing we need to love the poor, but not knowing how.

So, for those inspired to return to their churches and communities to start programs, he suggested, "Don't do anything before you hang out with the people in the community. Make some friendships. Too often we do for the poor without first figuring out what they need."

Dorrell noted that effective ministry models must be holistic and incarnational; they must encompass the wider systemic scope of the issues; they must be replicable yet contextually appropriate; and they must include the poor and marginalized in design, implementation and leadership. Most important, they must show evidence of impact and sustainability.

As Baptists covenant together to care for the marginalized, I'm encouraged by the Jimmy Dorrells in our midst, by their example of what is possible in Christ. They remind me that being effective in ministry is not dependent on having all the answers at the start. Actually, perhaps just the opposite is true. Maybe it’s the questions that prompt our engagement that are most lacking in our response, or perhaps we need to begin simply by meeting our neighbors where they are to minister with, rather than in their behalf.

Leo Thorne - Freedom

It was good to be reminded in the Special Interest Session on Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State that as Baptists we are committed to the separation of church and state. We were also encouraged to speak out for religious freedom wherever we see that freedom threatened among us as Baptists or with anybody else's religion.

Persons from the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Freedom spoke eloquently on the subject and stated that the core theological point for this matter goes back to creation. "God made us free, totally free, to choose God/religion or not," said Holly Hollman.

As I sat there in that room with the other attendees, my mind drifted to the thought again of the incredible love of our God who would care for us so much to give us such freedom to choose. God's love seeks not bondage to a particular state or nation, but freedom. No wonder the Apostle Paul reminds us that it is for freedom Christ has set us free. May we not lose that gift and choose to live below our high calling.

Mark A. Pittman - Respect Fueled By Love

So many Baptists, so many voices. My spirits have been uplifted and my soul touched. I have both rejoiced and repented. What a great experience! Yet, there are still so many missing! My continuing question, and prayer: Is this gathering to be perceived merely as an alternative to the religious right or as something of much greater importance?

Pastor Julie Pennington-Russell clearly hit the mark when she pointed out that respect, while a great and godly thing, cannot accomplish much without love. The two greatest commandments speak of love as the primary motive, beginning with a love of God that cannot but help overflow into my neighborhood. Dr. King saw a day when black and white would live together in peace. I pray for the day when the children of fundamentalists and the children of liberals will join hands "being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose...and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord ." The world cries out for us to demonstrate that this is possible! It is why I am an American Baptist.

I have great hope in this "seed" gathering: "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Several times in these sessions my conscience has been touched as I am reminded of my need to confess my attitude toward my more conservative family. Love does not permit me to exclude them or imagine myself superior. In His name we have too much work to do.