Who we are...and where we are going
ABWIM Advisory Team:
• Pastor Laura I. Ayala
Convener of ABWIM Advisory Team, Associate Executive, Minister for Christian Education and Leadership
Development at Puerto Rico Baptist Region
• Jeremy Fackenthal
Adjunct Professor of Religion and Philosophy
• Rev. Soozi Whitten Ford
Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Indiana/Kentucky
• Dr. Susan Gillies
Interim General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA
• Michelle M. (Micky) Holmes
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, American Baptist Seminary of the West
• Rev. Atula Jamir
Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lowell, MA
• Rev. Nikita McCalister
Financial Administrator, American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
and Associate Minister, Calvary Baptist Church, Providence, RI
• Rev. Miriam Mendez
Associate Regional Pastor, American Baptist Churches of New Jersey
• Rev. John W. Polite
Lead Pastor of reMIX (a new church start in Hollywood, CA)
• Rev. Dr. Dee Dee Turlington
Immediate Past President, ABCUSA Ministers Council
• Rev. Tom Wiles
Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
• Rev. Betty Wright-Riggins
Philadelphia Baptist Association Consultant, Area Ministry and Communication
• Rev. Patricia Hernandez
National Director, American Baptist Women in Ministry
The following strategic priorities for the five-year period 2011 to 2015 will produce the greatest progress towards fulfilling ABWIM’s vision and mission:
• Pastor Laura I. Ayala
Convener of ABWIM Advisory Team, Associate Executive, Minister for Christian Education and Leadership
Development at Puerto Rico Baptist Region
• Jeremy Fackenthal
Adjunct Professor of Religion and Philosophy
• Rev. Soozi Whitten Ford
Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Indiana/Kentucky
• Dr. Susan Gillies
Interim General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA
• Michelle M. (Micky) Holmes
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, American Baptist Seminary of the West
• Rev. Atula Jamir
Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lowell, MA
• Rev. Nikita McCalister
Financial Administrator, American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
and Associate Minister, Calvary Baptist Church, Providence, RI
• Rev. Miriam Mendez
Associate Regional Pastor, American Baptist Churches of New Jersey
• Rev. John W. Polite
Lead Pastor of reMIX (a new church start in Hollywood, CA)
• Rev. Dr. Dee Dee Turlington
Immediate Past President, ABCUSA Ministers Council
• Rev. Tom Wiles
Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
• Rev. Betty Wright-Riggins
Philadelphia Baptist Association Consultant, Area Ministry and Communication
• Rev. Patricia Hernandez
National Director, American Baptist Women in Ministry
The following strategic priorities for the five-year period 2011 to 2015 will produce the greatest progress towards fulfilling ABWIM’s vision and mission:
- Establish and/or strengthen an active and available network and available resources for women in ministry in every American Baptist region.
- Educate church congregations about American Baptist women in ministry by conducting at least one event in each region and developing the resources to support the events.
- Charge the ABWIM Advisory Committee to identify a measurable goal for increasing the number of women employed in ministerial positions.
- Create an award recognizing an ABWIM advocate to be presented at the Biennials.
- Establish a practice of recognizing inspiring women in ministry from diverse fields using the ABWIM web pages.
- Create and distribute to women in or considering seminary a resource list of seminary opportunities and events that explore and encourage cultivating a ministerial call.
- Develop an annual retreat or conference resource for women in ministry to strengthen mutual support and celebrate women’s gifts.
- Develop specific projects to strengthen support and advocacy for African American women in ministry, Latina women in ministry, Asian women in ministry and Native American women in ministry.
- Develop the ABWIM priorities for 2016-2020.