Fall 2016 Newsletter - Constant...
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Fall 2016 Newsletter The Spirituality Network, Inc. provides: • Education and formation through the Wellstreams Training Program • Spiritual direction referrals for groups and individuals • Retreat planning and facilitation • Programs to foster the spiritual life • Connection to a variety of spirituality resources in central Ohio As an ecumenical organization, the Spirituality Network serves people both within and outside of religious institutions. Renee P. Wormack-Keels Executive Director reneekeels@ spiritualitynetwork.org Carol Ann Spencer, OP Wellstreams Coordinator carol.spencer1@ spiritualitynetwork.org wellstreamscolumbus.org Amanda Stone Cushing Program Coordinator ascushing4@ spiritualitynetwork.org Sandra Kerka Newsletter Editor [email protected] SPIRITUALITY NETWORK 444 E Broad St Columbus OH 43215 Phone 614.228.8867 [email protected] spiritualitynetwork.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/ spiritnetwk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ spirituality.network continued on p. 6 Introducing Our New Executive Director Rev. Dr. Renee P. Wormack-Keels’career in ministry began in Massachusetts in 1994 as the minister of Christian Education at Southern Baptist Church, Roxbury, MA. Renèe was licensed as a minister and ordained to the Christian Ministry at Southern Baptist Church. Renee is the pastor emeritus of the historic First Baptist Church, Salem Massachusetts. She has also served as the Senior Pastor at the United Baptist Church, Jamaica Plain, MA, and as an intentional interim pastor to the First Church of Springfield, Ohio. She received her pastoral training at Andover Newton Theological School, where she was awarded several grants and scholarships, including the Jonathan M. Daniels Fellowship from the Episcopal Divinity School, along with fellow student, Rev. June R. Cooper. Pastor Renee is active with The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM), serving as a member of the board of directors; a member of the Executive Committee of the Adnoriam Judson Association, where she serves as cochair for the Committee on Ordained Ministry. Pastor Renee is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, reared by her paternal grandparents Fred and Katherine Wormack. It was their faith that laid the foundation for her spiritual journey and development. At the age of 8, Renee was baptized at Bethel Baptist and attended Sunday school, sang in the Junior Choir and the Bethel Wonders, and played piano for the Buds of Promise. See “An Exciting Announcement from the Chair…” p. 4
Transcript of Fall 2016 Newsletter - Constant...
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
Carol Ann Spencer, OPWellstreams Coordinator
wellstreamscolumbus.org
Amanda Stone CushingProgram Coordinator
Sandra KerkaNewsletter Editor
SPIRITUALITY NETWORK444 E Broad St
Columbus OH 43215Phone 614.228.8867
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
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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
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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
