September 25, 2014, 11:30-1:30
Thanks for coming and spending a few minutes of your busy workday with me. Thanks to Cathy Brubaker for sending out the invitations and for arranging for the desserts, the cafeteria staff in providing them, and my small budget to pay for them.
When I was coming to Philadelphia yesterday, I thought that my trip was like on the campaign trail. We are in a campaigning and election season. From being here, I will spend the weekend in New Jersey. Next week, I’ll be in St. Louis. The following week in Seattle, and then four weeks from now, I’ll be back in Philadelphia again. If this were truly a campaign trip, you would be paying for the dessert rather than me!
But honestly, my visit here today is just the opposite. The ABC bylaws state that the President serves a 2-year term and is not re-electable. When I started my presidency earlier this year I wondered how much I could really accomplish in two short years. Before I could gain any traction, my term is over.
But then I realized the merits of a not re-electable 2-year term. At first, I thought of the need to maintain the rotation of increasingly having people from different backgrounds serve the denomination as President—laywoman, clergyman, clergywoman, white, racial ethnic, East, Midwest, Mountain/Prairie, West. That’s an admirable goal.
I thought some more and realized that there is even a more significant purpose behind a not re-electable 2-year term. A not re-electable short term means that I can speak what is on my heart as I discern God’s calling American Baptists to be and becoming. I don’t need to be politically correct because I’m a volunteer. I can speak as frankly and truthfully as God has given me the gift of speech and if no one likes what I have to say, I’m not running for a second term. And perhaps, I may be able to call out issues and problems that have been difficult to say or admit are present and are now hidden from view. So I hope that the time that we have would be transparent and an opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have and I promise that I would do my most diligent job to find answers if I don’t have them today.
When I was elected in Overland Park, Kansas more than a year ago, I said, “I am President for all American Baptists and not just for some.” All people regardless of the boundaries we create, the definitions that we describe, the orientations that we are. I am ABC President for only 2014-15, a not re-electable 2-year term. And for all who serve the Lord at the ABC Mission Center, I hope to be your faithful and humble President too.
Time for questions, answers, and engaging with one another in fellowship.