Fall 2016Newsletter

The Spirituality Network, Inc. provides:

• EducationandformationthroughtheWellstreamsTrainingProgram

• Spiritualdirection referralsforgroups andindividuals

• Retreatplanningand facilitation

• Programstofosterthespirituallife

• ConnectiontoavarietyofspiritualityresourcesincentralOhio

As an ecumenical organization, the Spirituality Network serves people both within and outside of religious institutions.

Renee P. Wormack-KeelsExecutive Director

reneekeels@spiritualitynetwork.org

Carol Ann Spencer, OPWellstreams Coordinator

carol.spencer1@spiritualitynetwork.org

wellstreamscolumbus.org

Amanda Stone CushingProgram Coordinator

ascushing4@spiritualitynetwork.org

Sandra KerkaNewsletter Editor

blueiris7000@gmail.com

SPIRITUALITY NETWORK444 E Broad St

Columbus OH 43215Phone 614.228.8867

spiritnetwk@hotmail.comspiritualitynetwork.org

Twitter: www.twitter.com/spiritnetwk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/spirituality.network

continued on p. 6

Introducing Our New Executive Director

Rev.Dr.ReneeP.Wormack-Keels’careerinministrybeganinMassachusettsin1994astheministerofChristianEducationatSouthernBaptistChurch,Roxbury,MA.RenèewaslicensedasaministerandordainedtotheChristianMinistryatSouthernBaptistChurch.ReneeisthepastoremeritusofthehistoricFirstBaptistChurch,SalemMassachusetts.ShehasalsoservedastheSeniorPastorattheUnitedBaptistChurch,JamaicaPlain,MA,andasanintentionalinterimpastortotheFirstChurchofSpringfield,Ohio.ShereceivedherpastoraltrainingatAndoverNewtonTheologicalSchool,whereshewasawardedseveralgrantsandscholarships,includingtheJonathanM.DanielsFellowshipfromtheEpiscopalDivinitySchool,alongwithfellowstudent,Rev.JuneR.Cooper.

PastorReneeisactivewithTheAmericanBaptistChurchesofMassachusetts(TABCOM),servingasamemberoftheboardofdirectors;amemberoftheExecutiveCommitteeoftheAdnoriamJudsonAssociation,wheresheservesascochairfortheCommitteeonOrdainedMinistry.PastorReneeisanativeofCincinnati,Ohio,rearedbyherpaternalgrandparentsFredandKatherineWormack.Itwastheirfaiththatlaidthefoundationforherspiritualjourneyanddevelopment.Attheageof8,ReneewasbaptizedatBethelBaptistandattendedSundayschool,sangintheJuniorChoirandtheBethelWonders,andplayedpianofortheBudsofPromise.

See “An Exciting Announcement from the Chair…” p. 4

6 Spirituality Network Newsletter

Renee’sprofessionallifeincludesworkforformerGovernorofOhio,RichardCelesteasapolicyanalystonwomenandchildren’sissues.Inaddition,shehasbeenalecturer/instructorinthefieldsofsociology,women’sstudiesandBlackstudiesattheUniversityofCincinnatiandtheOhioStateUniversity.TheseexperiencesledhertoBostontobecometheexecutivedirectorofSocialJusticeofWomen,anonprofitadvocacygroup,providinginnovativetreatmentforwomeninthecriminaljusticesystem.From2002–2007,sheheldthepositionofregionalfielddirectorforPrisonFellowshipMinistries,makingheraverybusybi-vocationalminister.InMarch2002,ReneereceivedtheStanleyJonesCleanSlateAwardforaftercareservicestomenandwomenreleasedfromjailorprison.InDecember2008,shereceivedtheOutstandingCommunityServiceAwardfromWaymarkSeventhDayAdventistChurchforherworkasaprisonerrightsadvocate.

Renee’sleadershipstyleisbasedontheservant-leadershipmodelwithshareddecision-makingtoinsurethatallmembersareheardandinvestedinakingdom-buildingagenda.ThegiftsandtalentsthatshebringstopastoralministryincludeacommitmenttoaChrist-centeredministryofteachingandpreaching;astrongfaithinimpossiblepossibilities;ajoyfortheLordthatiscontagiousandenergizing;andahungerforprayer,worship,fellowshipandservicetoothers.HerhopeforthechurchisthatthebodyofChristwillbecomemoreunifiedthroughdiversitywithaclearlydemonstratedvisionandmissiontothe“leastandthelost.”HervisionandhopeforministryisbothamodelandavehicletobringtheWordofGodtohurtingpeopleinneedofredemption.

SheenjoysreadingthelatestbooksonheriPhone;gardeningastimepermits,traveling,continuingtolearnBiblicalHebrewandspendingqualitytimewithherthreesons,ninegrandchildren,twogreatgranddaughters,specialfriends,andawide-reachingcommunityfamily.Hergreatestpassion,however,isquilting.In2013QuiltingBeyondBorderswasestablishedasacharitabletrusttocreatebusinessopportunitiesforwomenlivinginpovertyintheCaribbeanIslands.Eachyearshetravelstooneoftheislands(Trinidad,St.Lucia,Grenada,orAntigua)alongwithateamofmasterquilters,toteach,train,andmentorwomenintheartofquiltingandotherfiberandmixedmediaarts.

Today,herfiberarthasanewname:Metamofosi.MetamofosiisSwahiliformetamorphosisortransformation.Herpassionforministryandtheartofquiltingandsurfacedesignpowerhercommitmenttohelpingfaith-basedgroupsandorganizationsexperiencethepowerofGodastheychangetoenhancetheKingdom.

New Executive Director — continued from p. 1

5Fall 2016

Transitions, Challenges, and Opportunitiesby Renee P. Wormack-Keels, Executive Director

TheprophetIsaiah’swritingtothechildrenofIsraelcameduringatimeoftransitionandchallenge.Hiswordsfromchapter43:18“Donotcalltomindtheformerthings,orponderthingsofthepast.19“Behold,Iwilldosomethingnew,Nowitwillspringforth;Willyounotbeawareofit?Iwillevenmakearoadwayinthewilderness,Riversinthedesert.”

Newthingsarehappeningallaroundusthatwemaynotbeawareof.

OverthesummerasIwatchedtheDemocraticNationalConvention,Iwasremindedthateverythingonearth(andperhapsinheaven,too)isinastateoftransition.Forthefirsttimeinhistory,awomanhasbeennominatedasthepresidentialcandidateofamajorpoliticalparty.Womenhavebeenvotingsince1920;ashortfew94years.Iexpectthattheirvotewillhaveasignificantimpactinthe2016presidentialelection.Timesareindeed,changing.

Yes,transitionistough.Yet,Ithinkweareuptothechallenge.Transitionsandchangeisprophetic.DidnotIsaiahremindusthatGodisalwaysuptosomethingnew?1ThebookofJoshuacomestomindalsowhenIconsiderthechallengeoftransition.After40yearsofwanderinginthewildernessandMoses,wholedthemthroughthosetoughtimes,diedbeforeenteringthePromisedLand.Anew,andmuchyoungerleader,emergestotakehisplace.

ButGodtoldJoshua,“bestrongandverycourageous,thatyoumayobservetodoaccordingtoallthelawwhichMosesMyservantcommandedyou;donotturnfromittotherighthandortotheleft,thatyoumayprosperwhereveryougo.”2GodwordsofpromiseanddirectionwouldbethefoundationofJoshua’sleadershipineverysituation.

And,finally,thereisopportunity.Jesuswouldoffertothedisciples(andtousaswell)wordsofpromiseandopportunity.“Allpowerisgivenuntomeinheavenandinearth.Go,therefore,andteachallnations,baptizingintheNameoftheFather,andoftheSonandoftheHolyGhost:teachingthemtoobserveallthingswhatsoeverIhavecommandedyou:andlo,Iamwithyoualways,evenuntotheendoftheworld.”3

Imaginethat!Havingopportunitiestopursuealifeoffaithandtomakeadifferenceinourfamilies,inour

communitiesandintheworld.TherearealsoincreasedopportunitiestoknowthatGod’sloveisunconditional.

MargaretWheatleyisoneofmyfavoritewriters.Anot-too-recentpublication,Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope in the Future,featuresanarticletitled“WillingtobeDisturbed.”4Heropeningstatementreads,“asweworktogethertorestorehopeinthefuture,weneedtoincludeanewandstrangeally—ourwillingtobedisturbed.”ThatstatementcontinuestoguidemythoughtsasIenteranewworkandroleasexecutivedirectoroftheSpiritualityNetwork.Thisnewworkisfilledwithtransition,challengesandopportunities.

Transition from pastoral ministry to nonprofit management

Ifullyembracethepartnershipleadershipmodelofnonprofitmanagementbecauseitexiststomakecommunitiesbetterplacesforpeopletolive.Inpartnership,thosewhoworkwithintheorganizationhavethepowertodeterminehowtheywilldotheirwork.Everyoneisthenresponsiblefortheoutcomesofthemission.That’sexcitingforme.

What’s the challenge?

Newleadershipbringsforthnewideasandchallengestorediscovercreativity.Wheatleyoffersinsightintofacingthosechallengesaswell.Shesuggests,“wewillsucceedinchangingthisworldonlyifwecanthinkandworktogetherinnewways.”Wecannotdoitalone.

Then there are opportunities

Allaroundusareopportunitiestobecomemorediversebutalsoinclusive.Howmightwecreateanenvironmentwherepeoplefeeltheycanactivelyparticipate,wheretheircontributionsarerespectedandvalued?Ithinkitmeanslearningtohavecourageousconversationsaboutculture,race,andspirituality.

Isaiahhasmotivatedmetoseenewvisionandre-newedinterestinthenewthingsofGod.Howaboutyou?

1Isaiah 43:18–192Joshua 1:73Matthew 28:18–204Margaret Wheatley, TurningtoOneAnother:SimpleConversationstoRestoreHopetotheFuture, San Francisco: Berrett-Koshler Publishers, Inc., 2002