TABCOM ANNUAL GATHERING (#TAG2026)
May 1-2, 2026
Building Bridges
“…built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
The TABCOM Annual Gathering was held May 1–2, 2026, at the First Baptist Church of Worcester, 111 Park Ave, Worcester, MA 01609.
This year’s theme was “Building Bridges.”
Grounded in Ephesians 2:19–22, the 2026 TABCOM Annual Gathering invited participants to reflect on our shared identity as members of God’s household. We are reminded that we are no longer strangers, but one body in Christ—built together with Christ as our cornerstone.
In a time when divisions can feel strong, this gathering called us to unity, reconciliation, and deeper connection across cultures, generations, and communities. Together, we explored what it means to truly live as a people who build bridges—within our churches and beyond.
We were honored to welcome Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd as this year’s keynote preacher, Rev. Kelly Fassett as our plenary speaker and our own Rev. Dr. Mary Day Hamel as our Friday night preacher (see bios below).
Hosted by the First Baptist Church in Worcester, the Annual Gathering included inspiring worship, meaningful teaching, and opportunities for fellowship and connection.
We also celebrated church anniversaries, recognized ordination milestones, and gave thanks for the shared ministry we hold together as American Baptists in Massachusetts.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this joyous occasions!
VIEW OUR PROGRAM BOOKLET
VIDEOS
Friday evening
Rev. Dr. Mary Day Hamel
(see bio below)
TABCOM, Executive Minister
Friday evening
Rev. Kelly Fassett
(see bio below)
UniteBoston
Saturday afternoon
Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd
(see bio below)
Pastor, Greater Framingham Community Church
The TABCOM 2026 Annual Gathering Choir and Musician Geoffry Hicks
I Need You To Survive by Hezekiah Walker.
BRIDGES
ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS
PHOTOS
KEYNOTE PREACHER
Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd
Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd is a dynamic preacher, visionary leader, and passionate servant of God whose life and ministry embody the call to build bridges across communities, cultures, and generations.
For more than three decades, Dr. Lloyd has faithfully served as Pastor of Greater Framingham Community Church in Framingham, Massachusetts, where he has led a vibrant and growing congregation rooted in the Word of God, the power of prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Under his leadership, the church has expanded into a thriving, multi-faceted ministry impacting individuals and families throughout the MetroWest region and beyond.
Dr. Lloyd’s ministry extends far beyond the local church. A gifted educator and mentor, he served as adjunct faculty at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Center for Urban Ministerial Education, where he equipped and inspired emerging leaders in areas such as leadership, evangelism, and faith development. His passion for raising up the next generation of leaders is a hallmark of his life’s work.
A graduate of Houghton College, Dr. Lloyd earned his Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he received both the Benjamin E. Mays Fellowship and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award for outstanding leadership. He later earned his Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, with a focus on preaching for social change—an emphasis that continues to shape his prophetic voice and ministry today.
Dr. Lloyd is deeply committed to community engagement and social transformation. He has served in numerous leadership roles across civic, educational, and faith-based organizations, including the United Way of Tri-County, Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest, Interfaith Clergy Association, and the United Baptist Convention. His work reflects a lifelong dedication to justice, unity, and empowering individuals to impact their communities for Christ.
A sought-after preacher, teacher, and conference speaker, Dr. Lloyd has ministered both nationally and internationally, leading pilgrimages and sharing the gospel across the United States, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
At the heart of Dr. Lloyd’s ministry is a deep conviction: that lives can be transformed by the power of Jesus Christ, and that the Church is called to be a place of healing, empowerment, and hope. His message continues to challenge, inspire, and unite all who hear him.
FRIDAY PREACHER
Rev. Dr. Mary Day Hamel
Rev. Dr. Mary Day Hamel was called to serve as TABCOM’s executive minister in August 2015. From 2012-2015, Mary 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.
Mary has taught and consulted in the area of church conflict. She is certified by FaithTrust Institute to provide training in Clergy Ethics and Boundaries, which she teaches regularly. Mary is an officer of the Regional Executive Minister’s Council of ABC/USA. In 2025, she was appointed to the Commission on Safeguarding for the Baptist World Alliance.
In her free time, Mary enjoys travel, photography, swimming, and scuba diving. She “collects” US National Parks and visits at least one each year. Mary has two adult children and a beautiful granddaughter.
SATURDAY PLENARY PREACHER
Rev. Kelly Fassett
Kelly has served as the Executive Director for UniteBoston since 2012 and has been the catalyst for UniteBoston’s bridge-building work throughout Christians in the region.
She has a certificate in Christian Foundations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She also graduated with her Masters of Divinity in Global and Community Engagement at Boston University in 2019, with certificates in Religion and Conflict Transformation as well as International Mission and Ecumenism.
Drawing on her expertise in conflict transformation, she consults with diverse congregations and organizations to facilitate ‘Kingdom conversations’ and structured gatherings that align collaborative mission with shared organizational goals.
Kelly and her husband Andrew are both ordained ministers with the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts, live in an intentional Christian community in the Dorchester area, and attend Neighborhood Church of Dorchester. They have two daughters named Abigail and Elyse and enjoy spending time outdoors.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Dr. Geoffrey Hicks
Dr. Hicks is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music (BM in composition, ’76), the University of Massachusetts (Lowell), (MM in Pianist, composer, performer, lecturer, recording artist, arranger, and conductor; he is a musician of many talents.
In February of 2002, the Geoffrey Hicks Quartet entertained hundreds of guests at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, to celebrate Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s seventieth birthday, in an evening celebration that also featured cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Dr. Hicks has performed as a singer/pianist at most major Boston Hotels, including the Westin Hotel, the Ritz-Carlton, Le Meridien, the Copley Plaza, the Charles Hotel (in Cambridge), and many others. He has also conducted several choral groups; including the New England Conservatory Youth Chorale, the Rosie’s Place Jazz Choir, the Nativity Prep Boy’s Choir of Roxbury, and many more. Familiar with such performance facilities as Boston’s Jordan Hall, Symphony Hall, the Hatch Shell, the Tsai Performance Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, he has performed before congressmen, presidents, and several international dignitaries.
WORKSHOPS & FACILITATORS
STRENGTHENING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE (SYFF)
SYFF focuses on creating customized stewardship programs that support the long-term sustainability of your ministry. We help you grow resources through investments, endowments, and planned giving—fostering a culture of generosity that expands beyond annual giving. With the ability to start an endowment at just $10,000, we partner with you every step of the way to help you achieve your ministry’s financial and legacy goals.
Magda Amargos, CGPA, Donor advisor and TABCOM liaison, American Baptist Foundation
Magda has been a member of the Spanish-American Baptist Church in Union City, NJ for 30 years.
She graduated with a Finance Degree from the New Jersey City University.
Magda was a member of the Board of the American Baptist Churches, USA and represented them in the Finance Committee of National Ministries and Rainbow Acres. She worked as a Retirement Benefits Consultant for the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board.
She has an extensive history of work with ABC churches and regions helping them develop solid financial plans to secure the future of the ministry.
PASTORING THE “PURPLE” CONGREGATION
Leading a “purple church” means shepherding a congregation where political diversity is real, visible, and often deeply felt. In this workshop, we’ll explore practical ways leaders can cultivate trust, Christ-centered unity, and meaningful dialogue among people who see the world differently.
We’ll discuss how we can navigate difficult conversations, reduce polarization, and foster a community where Jesus—not politics—shapes our shared life. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or engaged layperson, this session will offer hopeful, practical guidance for leading faithfully in divided times.
Rev. Doug Scalise
Born in Boston and raised in Brookline, MA, Doug Scalise is the son and grandson of pastors.
Doug and his wife Jill have been married since 1989 and began serving at Brewster Baptist Church on October 1, 1995.
They have two grown sons, Nathan, who is married to Zoe, and Greg, who is married to Marci.
He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1999. Doug’s primary ministry interests are preaching, leadership, equipping people to discover and use their spiritual gifts in ministry, spiritual formation, and making disciples.
Several themes at the core of Doug’s philosophy of ministry are sharing God’s love, grace, and mercy and the joy we have in Jesus while serving God and others.
Outside of BBC, Doug enjoys playing baseball with the Orleans Pirates in the Veteran’s Baseball League of Cape Cod in the spring and fall and supporting the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Doug likes watching the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics, movies (especially comedies and classics), reading good books, going for long walks with Jill, and spending time with family and friends.
PRESERVING OUR CHURCH RECORDS
If your church is like most churches, you have acquired a lot of records, historic items and photographs through the years. How do you make sense of it all? How do you organize it? What is the best methods for preserving these records and what should be kept and what can be tossed? This workshop will teach you how to preserve your church records and make order out of chaos.
Rev. Diane Badger
Rev. 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 served on the Executive Board of the Old Colony Baptist Association for nearly 30 years. Previously she served 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 The American Baptist Churches of MA (TABCOM) as the administrator for the Commission on Ordained Ministry ushering candidates for ordination and standing through the maze of paperwork and requirements to be ordained and receive standing in the American Baptist Churches.
Rev. Badger also oversees the archives for TABCOM; organizing and cataloging our rich Baptist history and training churches on how to preserve their church records.
WELCOMING THE STRANGER – WHEN THE WORLD WANTS TO TURN THEM AWAY
Ray Schellinger
As the global consultant for immigrants and refugees, Ray works with our global partners and International Ministries (IM) colleagues who are providing food and shelter, legal aid, and education for displaced people and immigrants. He offers training and financial resources to strengthen their programs and ministries.
Ray leads several weeklong “Immigration Immersion” experiences each year on the Mexican/US border. These experiences provide the opportunity for American Baptists to better understand the reality of the border, the humanity of those who come there to seek asylum, and the ways that US immigration policies affect our most vulnerable neighbors.
He also offers workshops for churches who would like to strengthen their efforts to welcome the stranger and to sponsor asylum seekers and refugees.
