Thursday’s morning plenary session reminded us of what the Scriptures and our faith proclaim about the poor.
Tony Campolo challenged us with the words of Jesus, not the image of the Christ of our materialistic culture. We are called to radical lives of service on behalf of the poor and marginalized of our society, not to the values of consumerism and money. He shared the story of a bright and gifted student of his who went on to Harvard and could have had any legal job in the corporate world; instead he’s providing “pro bono” legal services for “lifers” in Montgomery, Ala., and leading a fulfilling life in Christ. Campolo also spoke to the churches. The Kingdom of God requires a sacrificial church, not the biggest and finest sanctuary money can buy, because if we are to reach today’s youth, we need to present a Gospel that inspires and demands commitment.
Naw Blooming Night Zan, general secretary of the Karen Women’s Organization of Burma, brought the congregation to its knees with the challenge, “Who are the poor?” She shared images of Karen refugees struggling to survive in camps in Thailand and remaining in Burma at their own peril. The unknown poor around the world cry out to us. Do we hear them? What can we do? Prayer is not enough. Send supplies, support relief efforts, welcome refugees, and learn about the peoples of the world who labor each day just to survive.
Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, brought the plight of the poor to our doorsteps. The United States, the richest and most developed country in the world, ranks far down the list of nations in the treatment and health of its children. The failures of our education, healthcare and employment opportunities, along with our system of justice have led millions of children from the cradle into prison, rather than life as productive and fulfilled children of God. The church needs to be the locomotive of systemic change in our society, not settled in as the caboose. As adults in the faith community, we must take responsibility for this by confronting our own hypocrisy and providing “safe” places for our children to grow, to learn, to love and be cared for. The church must reclaim its prophetic voice.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Mac Shotwell - Finally!
For over fifty years I had been hoping something like this would happen!
I grew up a Southern Baptist and, in seminary, chose to become an American Baptist. All though my years I have hoped and prayed that we would stop fighting the civil war and become one unifying factor for Christ in America.
I was beginning to think I would not live to see this happen.
I am looking forward to meeting cousins I have never met and to hear where and how we can be cooperative and live as brothers and sisters in Christ.
My wife, LaVerne, and our daughter, Paula, share this hope and will be coming with me.
My prayer is that this will be more than a one time event and that "Baptist UNITY in Seeking Peace with Justice" will become an ongoing reality.
I grew up a Southern Baptist and, in seminary, chose to become an American Baptist. All though my years I have hoped and prayed that we would stop fighting the civil war and become one unifying factor for Christ in America.
I was beginning to think I would not live to see this happen.
I am looking forward to meeting cousins I have never met and to hear where and how we can be cooperative and live as brothers and sisters in Christ.
My wife, LaVerne, and our daughter, Paula, share this hope and will be coming with me.
My prayer is that this will be more than a one time event and that "Baptist UNITY in Seeking Peace with Justice" will become an ongoing reality.
Leo Thorne - Edleman Speaks About The Poor
Former President Jimmy Cater set the tone for the historic gathering of some 10,000 Baptists at the New Baptist Covenant in Atlanta, Georgia. He said on Friday night that the occasion should be one endowed with "the spirit of idealism, cheer and celebration by the greatest diversity of Baptists we have ever seen."
It is terrific to walk the corridors of the Georgia World Convention Center and rub shoulders with Baptists from all over the United States, Canada and several other countries from across the world.
One ofthe highlights for me on the second day was the prophetic voice of Marian Wright Edleman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund. In her sermon on "The Bible Speaks about the Poor," she said that "adults are what's wrong with our children." She described the gathering as a call for "a new movement to serve our children." She challenged the church to be the "locomotive and not the cabose in speaking up for our children."
Joe Kutter - The Improbable
Last night Kansas State beat Kansas University and Texas A&M beat Texas and "Traditional Baptists" who have never worshipped together before, gathered in the presence of God in Atlanta. Last night was a night for the unexpected and improbable.
In the ultimate trivialities of basketball, depending on your team, there is a moment of delight or disappointment. But in the gathering of "Traditional Baptists" (Jimmy Carter's phrase) one suspects the presence of something holy and eternal. Perhaps... perhaps this is the beginning of a new wave of Baptist witness to the grace of God in Christ and God's call to full participation in the Kingdom.
When the former president declared, in my paraphrase, that the center of the gospel is the declaration that we are saved by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the center of our gospel is the center that holds us together with and in spite of our important differences, my heart shouted a loud "Amen".
In the ultimate trivialities of basketball, depending on your team, there is a moment of delight or disappointment. But in the gathering of "Traditional Baptists" (Jimmy Carter's phrase) one suspects the presence of something holy and eternal. Perhaps... perhaps this is the beginning of a new wave of Baptist witness to the grace of God in Christ and God's call to full participation in the Kingdom.
When the former president declared, in my paraphrase, that the center of the gospel is the declaration that we are saved by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the center of our gospel is the center that holds us together with and in spite of our important differences, my heart shouted a loud "Amen".
Michaele Birdsall - Opening Night
Unity in Christ is a choice. And on January 30, 2008, thousands of Baptists demonstrated the power and promise that emerges when individuals own and exercise their freedom to choose what Paul, in I Corinthians 13, calls “a more excellent way.”
As I sat in the auditorium on the opening night of the New Baptist Covenant convocation in Atlanta, I was struck by the depth of praise and worship. I sensed the entire gathering had been bathed in prayer and that God was showing us, in concrete ways, that all things are possible if we only believe.
An idea birthed in the heart of President Jimmy Carter and nourished by others who shared the vision of Baptist unity had become real. Thousands of Baptists from different backgrounds and different races had come together to be both challenged and changed by an intentional focus on issues that unite rather than divide.
I left the auditorium with renewed hope. Hope that dares believe that regardless of what our past has been—and in spite of external forces that want to convince us that love, justice and real systemic change is not possible—individuals can exercise their personal freedom to choose a different path. A path that promotes peace with justice and feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, shelters the homeless, cares for the sick and marginalized, and promotes religious liberty as well as respect for religious diversity. The amazing thing is that when we choose that path, that road less traveled, we ultimately discover that we are not alone. I believe our collective choice of Christian unity will indeed change the world.
As I sat in the auditorium on the opening night of the New Baptist Covenant convocation in Atlanta, I was struck by the depth of praise and worship. I sensed the entire gathering had been bathed in prayer and that God was showing us, in concrete ways, that all things are possible if we only believe.
An idea birthed in the heart of President Jimmy Carter and nourished by others who shared the vision of Baptist unity had become real. Thousands of Baptists from different backgrounds and different races had come together to be both challenged and changed by an intentional focus on issues that unite rather than divide.
I left the auditorium with renewed hope. Hope that dares believe that regardless of what our past has been—and in spite of external forces that want to convince us that love, justice and real systemic change is not possible—individuals can exercise their personal freedom to choose a different path. A path that promotes peace with justice and feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, shelters the homeless, cares for the sick and marginalized, and promotes religious liberty as well as respect for religious diversity. The amazing thing is that when we choose that path, that road less traveled, we ultimately discover that we are not alone. I believe our collective choice of Christian unity will indeed change the world.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Roy Medley - Anticipation
I am filled with great anticipation as we go to the New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta.
- It will be the most inclusive gathering of Baptists since the old Triennial Conventions of the 1800’s. We will meet cousins we didn’t even know we had!
- It will focus on what unites us, not what divides us.
- We will be challenged to consider more seriously how we understand Christ’s inaugural sermon and how we live it as our mandate for ministry and mission.
- Worship will be uplifting!
- Plenary speakers are outstanding Baptist laity and clergy living out our Luke 4 mandate.
Workshops will provide opportunity for networking around ministries and interests. - A closing ABC breakfast on Saturday, Feb 2 where we will hear from Neville Callam, the new General Secretary of BWA – over 400 of us have registered!
- An ongoing Season of Jubilee where Baptists will have the opportunity to participate firsthand in ministries with the poor, the dispossessed, and those who suffer.
Through this blog, you will be able to hear first-hand from ABC folk in attendance how the conference is expanding their understanding of what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ.
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