The Conference of Baptist Ministers in Massachusetts
15 Spring Valley Road
Worcester MA 01609
March 1, 2005
Dear Minister Council members,
As most of you are aware, members are being invited to join together to take part in what is called "The Jerusalem Council Process" based on Acts 15, a time of prayer, listening to scripture, and sharing of personal testimonies. This process came out of the national Ministers' Council Senate as a result of an proposed amendment to the By-Laws of the national Ministers' Council which would exclude gay and lesbian people from the senate. If you need to refer to the actual wording fo the amendment, it can be found on the Ministers Council website, www.ministerscouncil.com.
We have two meetings scheduled in Massachusetts. On April 2, we meet at the First Baptist Church –Westwood, 808 High Street (route 109). Our facilitator who has been trained to lead us through the process is George Tooze. George served as associate pastor, 1964-1977, at the First Baptist Church of Beverly, Massachusetts; and as senior minister at the First Baptist church of Malden, Massachusetts, 1977-1983; and as senior minister, First Baptist Church of Indianapolis, Indiana 1983-2003. After 40 years of ministry he retired in 2004. George currently serves as President of the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board; as a member of the General Board; as a member of the General Board Executive Committee; as a member of the Mission, Vision Planning Team; as a member of the Nominating Committee, ABC/USA; as a member of the Franklin College Board of Trustees; as a member of the Board of the American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis. The second meeting will be at the First Baptist Church of Pittsfield, 88 South Street (Route 20) on April 9. Our facilitator will be George Daniels. George has served the American Baptists in ministry for 40 years. He has had the privilege of serving in a variety of settings that ranged from a staff position in an inner city church to a pastorate in a rural church, and as area minister for the American Baptist Churches of the Central Region and Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin. Following retirement in 2000 George served as Interim Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire.
A deli-style lunch will be provided; donations for lunch will be collected at the time of the meal. Please let us know whether or not you will attend by e-mailing me at cbmm@massministers.org or by calling me at 508-799-4004.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Peace,
Michael Harvey