June 28, 2015
Tonight’s reception is for all former members of the General Board and Board of General Ministries. We also welcome current members of BGM tonight.
The purpose for this gathering is to thank you for your faithful service in the past and your continuing prayer for us today. For those who are currently serving on BGM, we are deeply appreciative of the time and talents that you give in making who American Baptists are today.
The national board whether it was the General Board in the past or today’s Board of General Ministries, there’s a very special reason why you have served and are currently still serving. As Baptists who believe in soul freedom, God’s gift in creation of making us in the image of God and empowering us to read the Scriptures to interpret the meaning of God’s will at every period of history, His-story, God’s reign breaking out around us, means that we have faith in the insights and wisdom that comes from our collective understanding.
It’s true that Baptists love to hear the preached word and that we would grant people the privilege to discern the Word of the Lord like you did for me tonight and others over this weekend and on every Sunday behind the pulpits of the 5300 churches that make up the American Baptist Churches, USA. But the purpose of the board reflects our Baptist life at its best and that when we are together, we are always closer in resembling the Body of Christ than when we are apart.
Believe me, working together is never easy. We all sing, “I like to do it my way.” But the only way that God’s people know is to become united in the Lord and we know it best when we come to the Biennial Mission Summit and when we work as sisters and brothers on the national boards of the General Board in the past and on the Board of General Ministries today.
Thank you for your past service for which we are always grateful and thank you for your current service for which we are ever ready and prepared for God’s Spirit to transformed us all for the journey that God has for us to come.