TABCOM ANNUAL GATHERING (TAG2023)
Reconnect | Revive | Renew
May 12-13, 2023
It has been 3 years of dry bones. It’s time to reconnect and allow God to breathe His Spirit back into us and revive us again!
We have shed tears, we have been in despair, we have sometimes felt like all hope was lost and we have wondered how we can keep going. Praise the Lord we have endured because of the promise…
The promise of eternal life – the promise of a glorious reunion – the promise of unending joy & happiness & peace because of the salvation that is given through Christ. Now we will RECONNECT for the REVIVING of our dry bones and to be restored and RENEWED by the POWER of the Holy Spirit!
Peace and Blessings,
The TABCOM Staff
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Rev. Dr. Mary Day Miller
Rev. Dr. David Wright
Rev. Miller was called to serve as TABCOM’s executive minister in August 2015. From 2012-2015, Re. Miller served as Associate Executive Minister of Mid-American Baptist Churches, a region serving churches in Iowa and Minnesota. She has held two long-term pastorates, at the First Baptist Church in Fredericktown, Ohio and Memorial Baptist Church in Indianapolis.
She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Rev. David Wright is an ordained American Baptist minister and serves as
Assistant Pastor at Peoples Baptist Church located in Roxbury, MA. He also serves as Executive Director of BMA TenPoint (BMATP).
Rev. Wright graduated from Harvard College, cum laude, and Harvard Law School. He holds a Masters in Urban Ministry degree and a Masters in Theology degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
He currently serves as an adjunct professor at the Boston campus, CUME.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, MAY 12
| 12:00pm | Registration |
| 12:30pm – 2:00pm | Women In Ministry Luncheon |
| 2:00pm – 2:15pm | Break |
| 2:00pm – 5:00pm | Partner Organization meetings |
| 5:00pm | Dinner |
| 6:00pm | Business Meeting |
| 7:00pm | Worship – Rev. Dr. Mary Day Miller |
| 9:00pm | Cultural Liaisons Gathering |
SATURDAY, MAY 13
| 7:00am | Registration |
| 7:30am – 8:15am | Breakfast |
| 8:30-9:30am | American Baptist Women’s Ministry (ABWM) |
| 8:30-9:30am | Other group meetings |
| 9:45-10:45am | WORKSHOP #1 |
|
1. |
Review TABCOM By Laws – Kevin Porter & Barbara Drauschke |
|
2. |
Taste & See: Creation Care and Elder Ministry – Revs. Christine Keddy & Rebecca Driscoll |
| 3. | Incarnate Leadership – Rev. Dr. Ron Bouthillette |
| 4. | Thoughts on Grief – Rev. Jennifer Casstevens-Lopez |
| 5. | Pastor Compensation – Rev. Diane Badger |
| 10:45am – 11:00am | Break |
| 11:00am – 12:00pm | |
| 9:45-10:45am | WORKSHOP #2 |
| 1. | Review TABCOM By Laws – Kevin Porter & Barbara Drauschke |
| 2. | Taste & See: Creation Care and Elder Ministry – Revs. Christine Keddy & Rebecca Driscoll |
| 3. | Incarnate Leadership – Rev. Dr. Ron Bouthillette |
| 4. | Preserving Church Records – Rev. Diane Badger |
| 12:15pm – 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:15pm |
Closing Worship – Rev. Dr. David Wright |
|
Honoring Milestones (Ordinations and Church Anniversaries) |
|
| Benediction |
Rev. Dr. Mary Day Miller |
WORKSHOPS AND FACILITATORS
INCARNATE LEADERSHIP
A seminar where we will discuss five qualities that characterized the leadership style of Jesus. When church leaders emulate these qualities, they will inspire and empower the people they have been called to lead. The seminar will wrestle with four questions that emerge from John’s introduction of Jesus, “and the word became flesh and dwelt among us….”
Rev. Dr. Ronald Bouthillette
Rev. Bouthillette is on the TABCOM staff. He is focused on working with our associations in “search and call,” and providing resources around church renewal.
Ron is a native New Englander. He is a graduate of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, where he serves as an Adjunct Professor in Practical Theology. Ron teaches courses in pastoral ministry, leadership and church revitalization. Ron specializes in Church Leadership and Revitalization.
Ron has pastored churches large and small for over 40 years. He brings this experience to all of his ministries – especially within the areas of church revitalization, churches in transition, leadership and in his mentoring ministry. He is also involved in church consulting with American Baptist Churches throughout the US. Ron is the Associate Executive Minister in Leadership in the American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire. He is married to Cathy Bouthillette. They have two grown children and six grandchildren.
PASTORAL COMPENSATION FOR PASTORS
This workshop will help you understand pastoral compensation. Dealing with the unique tax implications for pastors in terms of compensations; and understanding pastoral benefits. This workshop is targeted to pastors, but church leaders are also welcome.
PRESERVING CHURCH RECORDS
How do you preserve and protect your church records? What do you need to keep and what can you dispose of? What materials are needed to protect your records? Learn the basics of preservation and organizing your records properly.
Rev. Diane Badger
The Reverend Diane L. Badger is an ordained American Baptist Minister. She graduated from Eastern Nazarene College with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She served in Nonprofit Administrative and Financial positions for nearly twenty years prior to being called to the pastoral ministry. She received her Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in May 2009 and was ordained that same year. While still at seminary, Rev. Badger was called to be the pastor of Community Baptist Church of Marion, MA and served there until 2014. During that time, she also served as a hospice chaplain on Cape Cod.
Rev. Badger has served on the Executive Board of the Old Colony Baptist Association since 1998, first as clerk and now as treasurer. She also serves on the board of the Conference of Baptist Ministers in Massachusetts (CBMM) and MABIT (Massachusetts American Baptist Investment Trust). Since August 2021, Rev. Badger has worked for TABCOM as the administrator for the Commission on Ordained Ministry ushering candidates for ordination through the maze of paperwork and requirements to become ordained ministers.
In her spare time, Rev. Badger does research on genealogy and Massachusetts Baptist History uncovering our past before it gets lost in the mists of time.
THOUGHTS ON GRIEF
This workshop will examine the dynamics of grief and its impact on Individuals as well as the Institutional Church. Together we will explore our understanding of how We and the Church are impacted by loss and consider ways to begin the healing process.
Rev. Jennifer Casstevens-Lopez, MDiv., BCC, Coaching Student & Center for Career Development in Ministry Team Member
Rev. Jennifer was born and raised in New England. After graduating, in 1987, from American International College with her bachelor’s in Psychology she entered Andover Newton Theological School earning her Masters of Divinity in 1991. Upon graduation Jennifer was ordained into the American Baptist Churches USA and served as a pulpit minister.
Rev. Jennifer found her true calling at the bedside during visitation and focused her ministry on becoming a professional Chaplain. She has the spiritual gift of listening deeply to God and being a channel for God’s presence with others on their unique journeys. Creating spiritual rituals for others to find their center in God’s love is her greatest joy in ministry.
For nearly thirty years, endorsed by the American Baptist Churches USA and Certified through the Association of Professional Chaplains, she has successfully served as Chaplain in a variety of settings including Hospice, Trauma I Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Adult Day Groups, and Long -Term Acute Care facilities.
Through years of experience supporting Patients, Families, and Staff as a Chaplain, along with personal experiences Rev. Jennifer is an expert in the process of grief. She has extensive training in grief and compassion as well as in family and institutional dynamics.
As a life-long learner Rev. Jennifer is very interested in the mind-body connection and is currently adding to her toolbox by studying to be a life Coach through The Mindfulness Coaching School.
She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and their family dog.
TASTE & SEE: Creation Care and Elder Ministry
This In this interactive workshop, led by TABCOM staffers Rev. Rebecca Driscoll and Rev. Christine Schrade-Keddy, we will read, share, taste and see!!!
Join us as we look together at what the Bible has to tell us about natures bounty and how God intends for us to use plants to nourish our bodies and our communities. We will make some delicious recipes to taste and to take home with us as well.
Rev. Rebecca Driscoll
Rev. Rebecca Driscoll serves as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Attleboro and is the TABCOM Creation care Minister.
Rev. Driscoll holds an American Baptist ordination through the Old Colony Baptist Association.
She has previously held a role as Program Coordinator of the Campus Kitchens Project at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. In this role, she worked with students through various service projects to help them connect what they learned in the classroom to social justice issues impacting the area’s food system, and also served as a liaison with local and national partners to ensure that food was secured and delivered to those who could use it in the local community.
She previously worked as a Housing Advocate Intern with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, as a Program Coordinator for El Centro, a tutoring program working with Latino/a students, and as a Park Ranger at the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.
Rev. Driscoll received her Master of Divinity degree from the Boston University School of Theology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA.
On January 7, 2019, Rev. Driscoll was the first person to be accepted for a new Women in Ministry Internship program with ABCUSA.
Rev. Christine Keddy
Rev. Christine Keddy currently serves as Settled Pastor of the West Acton Baptist Church and Elder Ministry Coordinator for TABCOM.
She served as Associate Pastor for Family Outreach and Education at FBC Westwood from 2016-2019, where she founded the outreach programs “Kids in the Kitchen” and “Kids in the Story.” Rev. Christine received her Master of Divinity, Magna Cum Laude, from Bethel Seminary in 2015. She pursued graduate courses in Elementary and Early Childhood Education at Bridgewater State College, and holds her Preschool Lead Teacher certification with the state of Massachusetts. A passionate lifelong educator, she has been teaching students of all ages (from PreK to Seniors) her entire adult life, in a number of different secular and religious settings. In her free time, Rev. Christine enjoys thrifting, walking all over Boston, writing her blog, cooking, and coffee with friends.
TABCOM BY LAWS WORKSHOP
The TABCOM Bylaws were outdated and the Standing Rules were more than 20 years since the last update. The TABCOM Board of Directors in 2016 requested that a Bylaws task group be stood up to review how the Bylaws can best support the current needs of the TABCOM church body. Join us to review the current version of the Bylaws that is seeking to be approved by the region’s churches. You are open to hear an overview of the updates and then to participate on the ensuing discussion on the proposed changes.
Kevin Porter
Kevin E. Porter has been a member of First United Baptist Church in Lowell since 1985. Currently, he is the Treasurer and serves on the Mission Team, Ministry Council, and is in the Choir after working through all the other boards of the church over the years.
Kevin is one of the past Presidents of The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM), serves on the Board of Directors for TABCOM, and continues on the Bylaws Task Force of TABCOM. Kevin is a graduate of the TABCOM School of Ministry and serves as a staff member and Co-Lead.
Kevin works in program management for the Defense market for Leidos Corporation supporting the planning software for Air Force, Navy and JPO aircraft. He currently is the President on the Board of Directors for The Pines in Maine and serves on the BOD for the Refugee Immigration Ministry in Massachusetts. Kevin loves to travel both for missions and with his family and is always looking for the next adventure.
Barbara Drauschke
Barbara Drauschke is a member of the First Baptist Church of Medford, which she has attended her whole life.
Presently she is church school superintendent, newsletter editor, and a member of the choir.
Barbara is retired from Harvard University, having worked there for 45 years in the Physics Department as a faculty assistant for as many as six professors.
She is the Clerk for The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM), a position she has served in since 2005.
She is also a member of the Bylaw Review Committee and is an active member in the Judson Association since the late 1990s, having served as Clerk, Treasurer, and Moderator.
Barbara has been married to Fred Drauschke for 50 years, and they have three adult sons, and 7 grandchildren.