Dear member of the Ministers Council of VT/NH,
God’s peace be with you. I am Mark Ferrin and it is a pleasure to write you as your Senator representing the VT/NH Ministers Council of the American Baptist Churches USA. I have some vital news to share.
At the Ministers Council Senate in Green Lake last August 21-24, I was blessed to share with Senators from other regions about some of the joys, hopes, and burdens of the ministry. The prayer and worship times were especially uplifting for me. Much of the conference was affected by one concern of which many of you may have heard. A proposed amendment about qualifications of Senators, signed by some of the Senators, requested a change to the bylaws of the Ministers Council. The amendment was offered when one of the Regional Executive Ministers’ learned that a current female Senator was married to another woman. At the conference we had much discussion, prayer, and spirit searching about how to proceed with the amendment. We could not vote on the amendment, at this August meeting, because according to our bylaws, the amendment, which even though it was signed by the required 15 Senators, had been received too late for action this year. It was decided to bring it to the August 2005 Senate for a vote. A process was prayerfully developed by the Ministers Council Denominational Relationships committee to hear from all members of the council so the Senators will be ready for a vote next August. Therefore I am writing you with the proposed amendment and the details of the discussion process.
Sometime after our “Jerusalem Council” meeting on April 11th, (probably the first part of June) a secret ballot will be sent to each dues paying member of our ABCVNH Ministers Council to determine our position on the proposed National Ministers council Amendment.
Also, I want you to know that, with God’s guidance, I will try my best to honor this process, as well as talk to you personally. As your Senator, together our present President/ Senator, Peter Bolster we are willing to covenant with you to respect, not judge, be open and listen to everyone’s mind, heart, and spirit. We obviously have our own stories, our own spiritual pilgrimage, our own leading of the Holy Spirit, but are willing to listen to yours. My prayer, especially in the spirit of religious liberty, is that we all can listen and respect each other.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call me at First Baptist Church in Keene, NH at 603-352-0340. The best times are Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9 Noon. You can also call me at home at 603-352-8351, when I’ve finished putting our 2 girls to bed after 9PM. However, please do not call on Saturday night after 11PM when I am finishing my sermon, but certainly you may e-mail me anytime at ivymark@yahoo.com.
Let us all pray that God’s abundant grace continue to bless us during this process and all of our ministries.
In God’s grace,
Rev. Mark Ferrin
ABCVNH Ministers Council Senator
Rev. Peter Bolster
ABCVNH Ministers Council President/Senator
Reminder Letter
Colleagues in Ministry
Monday, March 28, 2005
Just a quick reminder of Our Minister's Council sponsored "Jerusalem Council" on
the subject of our response to the issue of Gay Ministerial leadership. The meeting is open to all ABC Ministerial leaders and will begin at 9 AM at the First Baptist Church of Lebanon on Monday April 11th. The projected ending time is 4PM. Lunch will be provided and a freewill offering will be taken to defray expenses. We urge each Ministerial Leader to be in prayer over the next two weeks for this important time of sharing and seeking God's guidance in our life together. This is not an "Educational or Advocacy Session", rather a time of seeking God's guidance as how to respond to differences of opinion on this issue. Opportunity for all to be heard will be provided, but of necessity input must be BRIEF for each person to be heard. Dr. George Daniels and Dr. James Scott will be our facilitators.
NO VOTE will be taken at the session, but an explanation of the Amendment to come before the National Senate this summer will be given.
A Mail Referendum on the amendment will be sent to all Region Minister's Council dues paying members as of June 1st. This will provide guidance for our Two Senators at the National Senate in August. We may find some division on this complicated subject matter, but there should be no division on the imperative to hear and pray with each other and share God's guidance in love , seeking His TRUTH, which is above our TRUTHS.
Just come and we'll find space and food for all!!
Peter Bolster