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9 People Baptized at FBC Mt. Holly |
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Written by Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer, ABCNJ Executive Minister and Senior Regional Pastor
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Saturday, 17 July 2010 23:10 |
Nine people, including a mother and son, were baptized at FBC, Mt. Holly on July 11, 2010. Rev. Ned Flexer is currently serving there as Interim Minister.
Do you have an inspiring ministry picture? Send it in to the region via email!
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Proposed Draft of ABCNJ By-Laws and Rules of Procedure Version 6 |
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Written by Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer and Rev. Teresa Ely
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Wednesday, 14 July 2010 15:56 |
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The following letter was sent to all of our ABCNJ churches with the proposed draft version 6 of the ABCNJ By-Laws and Rules of Procedure.
 American Baptist Churches of New Jersey
3752 Nottingham Way, Suite 101, Trenton, NJ 08690
Phone: 609.587.8700 • Fax: 609.587.7474
Web Site: www.abcnj.net
Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer
Executive Minister/Senior Regional Pastor
July 12, 2010
Dear ABCNJ Pastors, Lay Leaders and Churches:
At a special meeting on July 10, 2010, your ABCNJ Council met to consider additional feedback concerning the proposed ABCNJ Regional Council reorganization proposal. Specifically, we reviewed proposed changes to the ABCNJ By-Laws and Rules of Procedure. This is a continuation of the region-wide dialogue and grass-roots feedback that we began at the beginning of the year. Meetings have been held in all 8 associations, over 120 people responded to the online feedback survey, and individuals across the region continue to share insights and wisdom. As a result, many changes have been made to the original proposal. We and the Council would like to thank everyone who has participated in this discussion!
Enclosed you will find the newest version of the By-Laws and Rules of Procedure for your continued feedback. For those who wish to review the red-line version (which compares the current By-Laws to this version), please go to www.abcnj.net to download it. The current By-Laws are also found in your ABCNJ Directory.
Key changes in this version are:
1. The introductory paragraph related to the duties of Council (Section 6.04) now reads: "The Council will meet quarterly and shall have the power to act on matters that appear before it. The duties of the Council, working together with the Executive Minister, are:"
Please note that all duties currently given to the Council remain the Council's duties and are listed in either the By-Laws or (more properly in many cases), the Rules of Procedure. The By-Laws revision in no way takes away any authority from Council, or gives greater authority to any other ABCNJ entity, including staff.
In an extensive discussion at the meeting, all concerned agreed to this understanding: Ultimate authority rests with the local churches, as represented by the Annual Session. Council is elected by and is accountable to the churches and Annual Session, and the region's ministry team is accountable to and reports to Council and also to the churches at Annual Session. The proposed By-Laws and Rules of Procedure do not change or modify these relationships. The re-organization is solely intended to create a more efficent and effective Council so that the region may move forward in the twenty-first century.
2. This section will be added to the Rules of Procedure:
Section 4.02 (f): Associations and regional ministries will be represented on the Council by an ABCNJ church member (clergy or lay person) who is currently not serving as a salaried ministry team member.
3. Section numbers and misspellings have been corrected.
Here's where we go from here. The September Council meeting has been moved to Saturday, August 14 (First Spanish Baptist Church, Pennsauken). The Council will then consider any new comments we receive from your review of the By-Laws and Rules of Procedure. This is your final opportunity to share substantive changes to the proposal. All comments should be sent to President Ely by August 12, 2010. The Council will vote on the proposal, and if it is passed, it will then be placed on the agenda for the Annual Session Business Meeting on September 25, 2010.
May God continue to lead and guide us as we seek to do God's will!
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer Rev. Teresa Ely
Executive Minister Council President
American Baptist Churches of New Jersey American Baptist Churches of New Jersey
Attachments below.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 16:39 |
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Annual Session Registration Fee Reductions! |
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Written by ABCNJ
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Friday, 09 July 2010 14:29 |
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Here’s some great news! Due to a renegotiation with the Hyatt Regency Hotel, registration costs for the September 24-25 ABCNJ Annual Session are being radically reduced! We are passing all our savings (and more) on to you, so you can bring as large a delegation as possible. Churches and individuals that have already reserved will receive a refund for any overpayment.
There’s a seat with your name on it!
 Register before August 31 and enjoy the entire two days for just $89!
If you cannot come to the whole convention, Friday’s Opening Evening Session and Reception, featuring Jeff Johnson, is now just $20 per person. Saturday’s sessions, which include breakfast and lunch, now costs $69.
Annual Session promises to be an awesome opportunity for energizing your lay leadership! We will focus on friendships, relational evangelism and church renewal strategies.
Remember - there are deep discounts for early registration (by August 31) and group registrations (bring 9 people, the pastor gets in free!).
Hot off the (Judson) Press: Be among the first to read Making Friends, Making Disciples!
Making Friends, Making Disciples: Growing Your Church through Authentic Relationships, is Dr. Spitzer’s new Judson Press book.
It will be available at an incredible discount for ABCNJ churches when it is unveiled at Annual Session! Individual copies will cost $12.80 (20% off). A discount of 45% off will be offered for bulk orders of 10+ copies ($8.80), and you can get 50% off for 50-299 copies (just $8.00 each!).
All author royalties will be donated and sent by Judson Press directly to ABCNJ’s Anti-Poverty Grant ministry to churches.
Why not invite Dr. Spitzer to teach on how relationships impact discipleship and church growth? Call the office to secure a date for a sermon, workshop, study series or retreat!
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FBC Mt. Holly: Baptismal Service for Nine Believers. |
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Written by Interim Pastor Ned Flexer
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Tuesday, 06 July 2010 13:33 |
We received word from the Interim Pastor Ned Flexer of the First Baptist Church of Mount Holly that on July 11, 2010 in their morning worship service, they will be baptizing 9 believers. The congregation continues to move forward during this time as they prepare the way for new pastoral leadership. In the meantime, the ministry of sharing the Gospel message and working within the Mount Holly community continues.
Please pray for the 9 baptismal candidates as they publicly commit their lives to Christ.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 July 2010 19:11 |
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Pics from ABCNJ Youth Ministry Event - Flashforward |
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Written by Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer, ABCNJ Executive Minister and Senior Regional Pastor
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Sunday, 20 June 2010 12:27 |
About 75 high school students and youth ministry leaders gathered yesterday at Baptist Camp Lebanon for Flashforward, a day-long seminar focused on strengthening youth ministry in our churches. Churches from all around the region were represented, and we enjoyed a great day of learning, dreaming and brainstorming. Highlight pictures:
  
(1) Rev. Erin Phillips, Associate Pastor, FBC Haddonfield; (2) Worship; (3 and 4) The Flashforward "Blackout"
   
(5) The High Schoolers; (6) Youth Minister Track; (7) Lunch; (8) Don Smith, Camp Director
 
(9) Youth Sharing Their Vision of the Church in 2010;
(10) Eric Kraihanzel, Eastern University Professor
Deacon Gilbert Snead, Jr. from Mt. Zion Baptist Church epitomized the spirit of the day, when he described his vision for youth ministry in 2020: "That our youth are grounded and rooted in the Gospel. Their faith walk is contagious because of their fire for worship of our Lord Jesus. That they know they have a place in the church."
Next article: the visions of the youth, in their own words.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 20 June 2010 12:30 |
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