Annual Session 2026
American Baptist Church of New Jersey
Annual Session 2026
TOGETHER IN GOD'S WORK: ROOTED IN CHRIST, RISING IN HOPE
1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-11 & COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
God is still at work—and is calling us to move forward together.
The 56th Annual Session of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey is an invitation to be renewed in Christ, strengthened in community, and inspired for God's mission.
Our journey begins with a three-part online webinar series (September 28–30), intentionally designed to guide us from the formation of the leader to the formation of the church and to the church's witness in the world. These conversations will prepare our hearts and minds as we gather in person on Saturday, October 3, 2026, for a day of worship, fellowship, learning, and celebration.
This is only the beginning. In the weeks leading up to Annual Session, we'll share more opportunities and resources to help you prepare your heart, deepen your faith, and engage more fully in this shared journey.
Stay tuned—our journey is just beginning.
Alpha baptist church
15 Rose St, Willingboro, NJ
Here are hotel options to consider for the Annual Session:
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Rev. Dr. Miriam Méndez - BIO
The Rev. Dr. Miriam Méndez serves as Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey (ABCNJ), where she provides visionary leadership, pastoral care, and strategic guidance to congregations and clergy across the region. A native New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage and a lifelong American Baptist, she has devoted nearly three decades to serving the Church as a pastor, church planter, spiritual director, seminary professor, and denominational leader.
Drawing on nearly three decades of experience in pastoral ministry, church planting, theological education, and denominational leadership, Rev. Méndez offers a seasoned pastoral perspective, helping congregations and leaders navigate conflict, transition, revitalization, leadership development, and faithful discernment. Prior to serving in New Jersey, she was Associate Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of the Central Pacific Coast, where she also founded Esperanza Church, the region's first bilingual (Spanish-English) American Baptist congregation.
For fifteen years, Dr. Méndez served as adjunct faculty at Portland Seminary, teaching courses in spiritual leadership, reconciliation, and prayer. A certified spiritual director and supervisor of spiritual directors, she is deeply committed to accompanying leaders in their spiritual formation and vocational discernment. She holds a Doctor of Leadership from Portland Seminary, where her doctoral research examined the structural, cultural, and theological factors that shape Latina pastoral development, reflecting her enduring commitment to cultivating diverse, faithful, and flourishing leaders for the Church. Her passion for developing emerging leaders—particularly women in ministry—has extended globally through the Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she mentored Christian leaders from more than thirty countries.
Rev. Dr. Méndez has served on numerous denominational, nonprofit, and community boards advancing leadership development, justice, and the flourishing of diverse communities. She believes that faithful leadership is cultivated through a life deeply rooted in Christ and sustained by attentiveness to the Holy Spirit. Whether mentoring leaders, guiding congregations through seasons of change, or equipping the Church for faithful witness, she invites others to discern God's transforming presence and participate in God’s reconciling work of reconciliation, justice, and hope in the world.
Webinars
Monday, September 28, 2026
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Rooted to Lead
A Conversation About the Spiritual Life Beneath Leadership
Scriptures: Colossians 2:6–7; John 15:1–8
Ministry leadership can be deeply life-giving—and deeply demanding. Join three ABCNJ pastors for an honest, moderated conversation about what it means to abide in Christ while carrying the weight of leadership.
Rather than focusing on leadership strategies, this webinar explores the spiritual life that sustains faithful ministry. Drawing from their own experiences and journeys, our conversation partners will share wisdom, encouragement, and practical insights for pastors and ministry leaders seeking to cultivate a deeper life with Christ. Together, we'll consider what it means to lead from spiritual depth rather than depletion, trusting God to produce lasting fruit in our lives and leadership. Whether you're new to ministry or have served for decades, this conversation will invite you to pause, reflect, and be renewed as you lead from a place of abiding rather than striving.
Presenters:
Rev. Daniel Cali
Rev. Daniel Cali - BIO
Daniel A. Cali was born in Santa Fe, Argentina, into a Christian home where faith was a way of life. His grandfather served as pastor of the local church. Daniel accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of ten and was baptized two years later — the foundation upon which his entire life would be built. At eighteen, God's call to pastoral ministry became undeniable.
Daniel pursued He earned a Bachelor of Theology and Biblical Sciences at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Buenos Aires and a Master of Theology at the Latin American Theological Faculty (FATELA). He pursued doctoral studies at the New York Theological Seminary in New York City. It was at the seminary that he met Estela Wutzke, who has been his faithful partner in life and ministry ever since. Together, they have two children: Bryan (19), an Aerospace Engineering student at Purdue University who serves the Lord by playing the piano, and Alyson (16), a current high school student at Morris Knolls who was selected for the Stanford University Summer Program Scholar and serves the Lord as a flutist and vocalist.
In 2016, Daniel answered the call to serve as Senior Pastor of the Hispanic Baptist Church in Denville, NJ. He currently serves as Pastor of the Hispanic Baptist Church and the Bible Fellowship Church of Denville, NJ. Since 2022, he has served on the Board of Hispanic Access Foundation. Years ago, he partnered with the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association and Rotary Club International in service to the broader community. During the summers of 2023 and 2024, Daniel conducted firsthand research on the Protestant Reformation and the impact of church mission and faith in the 21st century, traveling the Reformers’ Route through Germany, Switzerland, England, Spain, Italy, and France. This journey deepened his love for the Church and her history and clarified how present conditions directly impact the theology of the church of Christ.
Rev. Dr. Marilyn M. Harris
Rev. Dr. Marilyn M. Harris - BIO
Reverend Harris is the fifth pastor and the first female pastor of First Baptist Church of Teaneck in Teaneck, New Jersey. She was licensed to preach in 1995 by Mount Olive Baptist Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, under the pastorate of the Reverend Gregory J. Jackson, Senior Pastor, and ordained to the gospel ministry in 2000 by Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, under the pastorate of the Reverend Dr. M. William Howard, Jr.
Reverend Harris’ experience has been shaped by a history of involvement and leadership in professional, community, and religious organizations, to which she brings a unique blend of faith and personal commitment. As a leader, preacher, and teacher, she has initiated and implemented a number of ministries that reflect the diverse membership of First Baptist Teaneck and the community-at-large.
She is a visionary who believes that God has a purpose and a call for every living soul, from the youngest to the eldest. It is her desire to promote an environment of health, hope, and healing for all. Through her leadership, First Baptist Church of Teaneck continues to prosper as they are “Communing with Christ, Developing Disciples, and Transforming Lives!”
Reverend Harris is an unwavering servant and vessel of God, family, church, and community who believes in helping people grow spiritually, intellectually, and socially. Reverend Harris was the first African American to preach at the Shrine of the Black Madonna at Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain, and was privileged to preach at the Kagiso Baptist Church, Johannesburg, South Africa. She served as the first female president of the United Missionary Baptist Convention, State of New Jersey. She is a chaplain for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the founder of the Clergy Women’s Alliance, which allows clergy women to come together in a safe environment to grow and bond as women in the clergy.
Reverend Harris is the Vice President of Ambulatory Services at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts; a Master of Business Administration degree from Rutgers University Graduate School of Management, Newark, New Jersey; a Master of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary, where she received the Seminary’s highest academic honor, the Scholarship Achievement Award in Biblical Studies; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary.
Reverend Harris has received many accolades and awards. She is sought after as a preacher, facilitator, and teacher of the Gospel and continues to be called upon to preach and teach throughout the tri-state area. Yet her greatest honor is the privilege of preaching and teaching the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Reverend Harris is a steadfast, devoted, and faithful disciple of Christ who believes in the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dr. Jared Murray
Dr. Jared Murray - BIO
Pastor Jared is a lifelong Monmouth County resident who has served as a pastor in the county for more than 20 years and has been part of several church plants. He currently serves as pastor of First Baptist Church of Red Bank and Branch Church, two congregations working together in a unique Kingdom collaboration to share the love of Christ throughout Monmouth County and beyond.
He is the founder and CEO of TheFeastNJ, which includes Dinner Church and the Heartwarming Center for Women, ministries that serve neighbors experiencing food and housing insecurity.
He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Missio Seminary. Jared and his wife, Kimberly, have been married for 17 years and have three children.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
7:00 - 8:30 pm.
Rooted Relationships
Cultivating Healthy Churches for God's Mission
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1–6; Colossians 3:12–17
The credibility of the Church's witness begins with the quality of its relationships. Rooted in Christ, we are called to embody communities that reflect his character. Yet, all too often, the world sees division, judgment, and hypocrisy instead.
This webinar explores how your church can intentionally cultivate a culture of love, grace, and reconciliation. Together, we will examine three common types of church conflict and three practical, Christ-centered ways to address them.
At the end of the webinar, you will have a clear pathway for building a healthy community that faithfully reflects God’s heart to a watching world. The stakes are high, and the Holy Spirit is calling us to live more faithfully together for the sake of God’s mission.
Presenter:
Dr. MaryKate Morse
Dr. MaryKate Morse - BIO
Dr. MaryKate Morse is a teacher, author, spiritual director, leadership mentor, and coach who has devoted her life to equipping people on the front lines of ministry and Christian leadership. Her passion is helping leaders experience the transformative work of spiritual formation so they can lead with wisdom, courage, and faithfulness in diverse cultural and ministry contexts.
Dr. MaryKate Morse, a former Executive Dean of Portland Seminary at George Fox University, served in numerous leadership roles, including Associate Dean, Director of Strategic Planning, Director of Master's Programs, Director of Hybrid Programs, and Lead Mentor for the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership & Spiritual Formation. She continues to teach as a Professor of Leadership and Spiritual Formation in the Doctor of Ministry program.
Raised in an Air Force family, MaryKate developed an early appreciation for diverse cultures. After earning a bachelor's degree from Longwood University, she and her husband, Randy, served with their young family among the Aymará people in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia and Peru, partnering in ministry and community development. This experience profoundly shaped her understanding of leadership, discipleship, and God's work across cultures.
MaryKate later earned a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, a Master of Divinity from Western Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary), and a PhD from Gonzaga University, where she studied the characteristics of renewal leadership as modeled by Jesus. She has planted two churches and continues to serve leaders worldwide through spiritual direction, mentoring, coaching, teaching, and speaking.
She is the author of Making Room for Leadership, A Guidebook to Prayer, and Lifelong Leadership. A founding member of Leighton Ford Ministries' Mentoring Communities and of Missio Alliance, she has received both the Dallas Willard Award and the Richard Foster Award for her contributions to the spiritual formation of Christian leaders.
MaryKate and Randy have three adult children, six grandchildren, and an Australian Shepherd named Ivy. Together, they enjoy hiking, reading, exploring new places, and spending time with their family.
For more information: https://marykatemorse.com/
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
7:00- 8:30 p.m.
Rooted to Witness: Rising in Hope
Living the Liberating Gospel in Our Communities
Scriptures: Matthew 5:14–16; Micah 6:8; 1 Corinthians 3:5–11; Luke 4:18–19
Rooted in Christ, the Church is called not only to proclaim hope but also to embody a gospel that liberates, heals, and restores dignity. This webinar invites congregations to examine the social, cultural, economic, and spiritual forces that hold people and communities captive and to discern how the Spirit is calling the Church to participate in God’s work of liberation.
Centering the wisdom, lived experiences, and resilience of those pushed to the margins, participants will explore evangelism as a prophetic presence: building authentic relationships, confronting injustice, honoring the sacred dignity of every person, and working alongside communities rather than simply providing services. Together, participants will identify one bold, Spirit-led action their congregation can take to move from charity to solidarity and to become a visible witness to Christ’s justice, healing, and liberating hope.
Presenter:
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Ríos
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Ríos - BIO
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth "Liz" Ríos is an ordained minister, educator, author, and nationally recognized leader whose ministry equips churches to embody the liberating gospel through justice, discipleship, and community transformation. An Afro-Boricua theologian, she integrates mujerista and barrio theology with over 35 years of experience in pastoral leadership, church planting, and leadership development, helping congregations faithfully engage the social, cultural, and spiritual realities shaping their communities.
Dr. Ríos is the founder of Passion2Plant, one of the nation's few church-planting networks founded and led by a woman, and of The Passion Center, an online faith community and leadership training hub. She also directs the Lilly Endowment-funded Púlpito Fellows program, equipping Latina/o pastors to leverage digital ministry for biblical justice and transformational leadership.
A sought-after speaker and mentor, Dr. Ríos has served as a pastor, nonprofit executive, higher education administrator, and consultant. She is Adjunct Faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary and serves on the board of Sojourners. Through her scholarship and ministry, she challenges the Church to move beyond charity toward solidarity, cultivating communities that bear visible witness to Christ's justice, healing, and hope.
For more information: https://elizabethrios.com/about
