FBCLA First Baptist Church of L.A. · First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 4 Where We’ve Come From...

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FBCLA First Baptist Church of L.A.

Transcript of FBCLA First Baptist Church of L.A. · First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 4 Where We’ve Come From...

Page 1: FBCLA First Baptist Church of L.A. · First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 4 Where We’ve Come From I t was 1874. Dr. William Hobbs, a Canadian Doctor and Missionary, was returning

FBCLAFirst Baptist Church of L.A.

Page 2: FBCLA First Baptist Church of L.A. · First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 4 Where We’ve Come From I t was 1874. Dr. William Hobbs, a Canadian Doctor and Missionary, was returning

A Profile Offered to Applicants for the Position of Senior Minister

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 3

Dear Applicant:

In 1874, at the first organizing meeting of First Baptist Church of Los Angeles, the minister convening the gathering, a Baptist Missionary, charged the congregation: “Beloved in the Lord, you have made a solemn covenant with one another and with your Lord. Bear one another’s burdens in patience and in love, and daily seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I charge you to be faithful in him whom you have chosen for your pastoral leadership. Receive the Word of Truth from him with meekness and love. Encourage him in his arduous labors and assist him in his endeavors to make this church a true household of faith and a mighty force for good in the community. Amen”.

One-hundred forty-two years later, the City of Los Angeles is no longer a dusty frontier town of 10,000 souls, but today is an urban metropolis of 4 million people from all over the world. First Baptist Church is situated in the Wilshire-Koreatown neighborhood in Los Angeles. Throughout the years, the church has endeavored to make God’s love known in Jesus Christ, in word and deed, in an ever-changing world.

Today we seek a Shepherd, a qualified and committed man or woman, who will lead our congregation in spiritual growth, worship, discipleship, Christian education, missions and evangelism, and future vital ministries lived out in an urban multicultural and intergenerational context. We seek a leader who will help us share the caring Christ and continue to make our church “a true household of faith and a mighty force for good in the community” in Los Angeles.

In the words of Dr. James Allen Francis, who served as Pastor of First Baptist Church from 1914 to 1928, in a story titled “One Solitary Life”: “Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.” Dr. Francis’ story is quoted often and tells us that even with the passage of time, Jesus Christ has had more impact on history for good than any other person.

This profile is an introduction describing who we are and who we are looking for – If you believe God may be calling you to pursue this position, we invite you to enter into a conversation with us. Thank you for your consideration.

Pastoral Search Committee

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 4

Where We’ve Come From

It was 1874. Dr. William Hobbs, a Canadian Doctor and Missionary, was returning to his native Nova Scotia after planting new Baptist churches in Australia and New Zealand. On the way

home, he stopped in Los Angeles, then a frontier town of less than 10,000 souls, where he encountered 12 people seeking to establish a Baptist church. An organizing meeting was held at the German Methodist Church where the first worship service was held in English, the second in Chinese.

The congregation grew from the late 19th century into the early 20th century, occupying several buildings throughout downtown Los Angeles. In 1927, church leaders built the edifice which we occupy today—an immense 130-room complex designed in the Spanish Gothic Revival architectural style. During the post-WWII years, the once upscale, affluent and relatively homogenous neighborhood experienced a demographic shift as families fled to the suburbs.  During this era, First Baptist Church sponsored more than 250 Cuban refugees and introduced sanctuary headset equipment to facilitate simultaneous translation of worship services into Spanish in response to an increasingly diverse membership.

In 1965, following the Los Angeles Watts Riots, the church embraced the motto, “International. Intercultural. Ecumenical.” In the 1980s, the neighborhood saw an influx of political refugees and displaced families from war-torn Central America. The church welcomed our Latino neighbors as members with open arms. In 1992, being in the midst of civil disturbances which raised tensions amongst various racial groups, including the growing Korean population, First Baptist Church offered support to community members in need. 

As we’ve entered the 21st century, the church fellowship stands poised in an urban metropolis very different from the dusty frontier town in which it was founded. Today First Baptist Church continues to endeavor to make God’s Love, as it is known in Jesus Christ, present in word and deed, to an ever-changing world.

    

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 5

How We See Ourselves

One-hundred forty-two years ago, as First Baptist Church was being formed, the congregation had to ask God, “What Do You Want Us to Be?”...”What Do You Want Us to Do?”

One answer received in the 1870s is that God wanted us to be International. Our earliest members were Canadian, European immigrants and Chinese. Following WWII, Japanese and Cubans joined our fellowship. Today our members trace their roots to Mexico, Central and South America (including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua). They originally hail from Asia (including Korea and the Philippines).  We have American-born sons and daughters of first-generation immigrants, often bilingual and bicultural. 

In line with our international identity, we have felt God’s call to be Intercultural. Through the years, the composition of our ministerial staff has been Caucasian, African American, Latino, Filipino and Korean. African Americans have been core members of our faith community for over 60 years. We’ve practiced a model of offering unified central worship services in English while providing simultaneous translation in multiple languages. We regularly enjoy delicious table fellowship with multicultural food offerings.  A former Associate Minister once described First Baptist Church as “God’s World of Magnificent Differences!”

Under God’s guidance, we have become an Ecumenical congregation in the broadest sense of the word. First Baptist Church is affiliated with the Wilshire Center Interfaith Council, an assembly of clergy and laity representing Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Islamic traditions. In 1988, First Baptist Church co-founded Hope-Net, a collaboration of 16 Los Angeles area congregations to address hunger and homeless needs. Hope-Net occupies office space in our building where regular food distributions are staged with the help of church volunteers.

God has led us to be a Community Serving church. In 1969, FBCLA founded the nonprofit Baptist Service Corporation which constructed a 230 unit high-rise senior affordable housing development which opened in 1973 named “Vista Towers” and located across the street from our church building. For several years, FBCLA partnered with the Downtown Los Angeles YMCA to activate our building’s gymnasium with youth sports and recreational programming. Today we collaborate with Play More, a nonprofit organization founded by one of our families, members for three generations, to sponsor activities targeting local children, youth and their families.

Our enormous edifice provides space for worship services and Christian Education for an ABC Spanish-speaking congregation and a local Korean-speaking Christian church. The building complex serves as a community center housing a variety of nonprofit community-based organizations, including an inter-faith leadership development organization, a pre-school, and arts and culture groups. 

For more than a century, First Baptist Church has faced national financial depressions, local crises, and even internal disputes, yet with God’s help, it has continued to offer hope and love to the people of Los Angeles.  Being International, Intercultural and Ecumenical has enabled us to respond to continuous change. As we continue to ask God, “What Do You Want Us to Be?”...”What Do You Want Us to Do?,” we do so with faith and a positive expectancy.

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 6

Our Vision for Ministry

The purpose of the First Baptist Church of Los Angeles is to make God’s love, as revealed in Jesus Christ, known:• In worship and study, we dedicate ourselves to the proclamation of the risen Christ, inviting

all to respond in faith and love.

• In acts of service and missionary outreach, we live out God’s love and demonstrate God’s care for all of God’s creation.

• In fellowship and celebration, we recognize that God is building a family of faith in and through us.

We recognize that God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents. We are committed to being International, Intercultural, and Ecumenical, finding unity in the diversity of Christian faith, for “Christ is our peace, who has made us one.” (Ephesians 2:14a).

First Baptist Church has been an experiment in modeling a multicultural, multilingual and interracial community that seeks to be a reflection of the rich diversity of Los Angeles. We seek to be a spiritual center that serves that diversity, and seek to be a welcoming community that celebrates and honors the uniqueness of individuals and cultures. We have pursued a worship life reflecting the richness of God which is Christ-centered and culturally diverse. We have chosen to be stewards of a location, committed to utilizing our facility as an instrument of ministry, serving the City.

First Baptist Church has a vision of church growth to reach God’s dearly loved children and bring them into the caring fellowship of the body of Christ. In 2016, the average worship service attendance was 70 persons. The current membership roll has 256 names; some have requested to maintain their membership affiliation while living beyond the local region while others need to be re-engaged to return to active involvement in church life. We recognize that the Wilshire–Koreatown community of Los Angeles surrounding our church offers a rich ministry field in which to engage in disciple-making.

In 2016, the congregation adopted the following statement reflecting our Call to Ministry as a Congregation:

We are called to be a community of faith, a welcome table, that celebrates the rich diversity of its membership as it serves and honors the diverse cultural and ethnic nature of Los Angeles and surrounding communities. We are called to be deeply grounded in the Word and Witness through the power of the Holy Spirit, being a prophetic voice for justice, healing and transformation. We are called to manifest the love of Christ as we share our various sources of capital with the community as well as being a witness to God’s reign through celebrative worship and care for one another.

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 7

Governance and Staffing

The Council of Ministries is the governing board which serves as both the Board of Deacons and the Board of Trustees. The Council’s presiding officer is the Moderator; other officers

include the Clerk and Treasurer. In addition, five at-large members serve on the Council in addition to a Spiritual Gifts Ministry Coordinator. The Senior Minister is a non-voting, ex-officio member.

Church members perform acts of worship and service through various Ministries. They assist in administering church business through Committees. The Council of Ministries annually reviews church Ministries in collaboration with the Spiritual Gifts Ministry, which evaluates and assesses the church members’ spiritual gifts and talents in order to match them with an appropriate Ministry or Committee. It also acts as a nominating committee for the selection of church officers.

Currently the church has the following core Ministries:• Christian Education• Communications• Diaconate (also known as Congregational Care)• Evangelism• Missions• Worship & Music• Ebenezer Fellowship (Spanish-speaking Members)• Filipino Fellowship• Korean Fellowship

The Council of Ministries has appointed a Personnel Committee, and may appoint other business committees, as needed.

The Church Staff consists of three divisions:

Ministerial: • Senior Minister• Director of Worship Arts• Organist / Choirmaster• Paid Choir Soloists

Office:• Administration & Building Coordinator• Communications Coordinator

Building Maintenance and Operations:• Facilities Manager• Custodians

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 8

Who We Are Looking For

First Baptist Church of Los Angeles is seeking a good, engaging preacher who plans and leads worship services sensitive to the needs of the congregation. A Senior Minister would

be involved in the spiritual development of members. An interest in Christian Education is expected and an ability to engage children, youth and their families. We are seeking a “people person” who relates well to people. A sensitivity to pastoral care duties is equally important. Members expect the Senior Minister to participate in the visitation of the sick, shut-in and bereaved.

Our next Senior Minister should work well with church lay leaders and is expected to be involved with church governance. A demonstrated experience in administrative leadership is also important. The location of the church in an urban setting and the diverse makeup of the congregation and local context necessitate experience in relating to multicultural communities and in evangelism. It also makes bilingual ability in English and Spanish desirable.

A Senior Minister would be expected to participate and lead efforts in church growth in collaboration with the congregation, and should help lead a program for new member recruitment. Since the financial security of the church is important, an emphasis in stewardship is essential. The church is an historic American Baptist Church; experience in relating with the ABC-USA denomination is valued.

With respect to educational and pastoral experience, we seek a Senior Minister with the following minimum qualifications:

• Masters of Divinity Degree Required

• American Baptist Churches (ABC) Ordained or Willing To Become ABC Ordained

• Ten Years of Experience in Urban Ministry Preferred

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles 9

Application Process

To apply, please submit a cover letter explaining why you feel called to apply to be Senior Minister and a completed application. Please address all inquiries and submit completed

application packets electronically to: [email protected]

A copy of the application is attached to this profile.

If the application packet can only be submitted via U. S. Mail, please forward to:

FBCLA Pastoral Search Committeec/o: First Baptist Church of Los Angeles760 S. Westmoreland AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90005

NOTE: All application information submitted will be handled confidentially by the Pastoral Search Committee.

Regional Denominational Consultants:Rev. Dr. Samuel Chetti, Executive Minister/CEORev. Dr. William Thurmond, Associate Executive Minister/Regional Resource Minister American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest and HawaiiGlendale, CA(818) 839-6069

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First Baptist Church of Los Angeles760 South Westmoreland AvenueLos Angeles, California 90005

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PASTORAL POSITION APPLICATION

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES, CA

c/o – Regional Resource Center ~ Office of the Executive Minister

P.O. Box 1868, Glendale, CA 91209-1868

(818) 839-6069 – Office of the Executive Minister ~ (626) 608-0380 – Confidential Fax

Please submit completed application electronically to: [email protected]

This Pastoral Position Application will allow us to get to know you better. If additional space is needed for further

explanation in any area, simply attach an additional document. Should you have any questions, please contact the

Office of the Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches, 818.839.6069. Thank you!

Today’s Date Present Position:

1. Personal Information

Full Name:

Title: Phone: Email:

Street Address:

City: State: Zip:

Birth date: Place of birth: Are you a citizen of the U.S.? Yes

No

If no, what country?

Marital Status: Spouse name:

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Children names & ages:

2. Educational Background (indicate name and address of educational institutions, degree, year of completion.

Please attach copies of your documentation)

Bachelor’s Degree (BA):

Master’s Degree M.A. or M.Div.)

Further education: (Ph.D.)

Please check your current status: Licensed Ordained Commissioned Missionary

Other:

If ordained, date of ordination: Location of ordination:

Please check: ABCUSA Recognized Non-ABCUSA but recognized Non-ABC Local church

Your current denominational affiliation: For how long?

3. Present Ministry - (If you are not serving in ministry at this time, please explain your situation.)

Church name:

Date began:

Street Address: State: Zip:

Phone: Your position:

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Reference name: Phone:

Email:

Reference Address:

Beginning average worship attendance: Current attendance:

Beginning average Sunday school attendance: Current attendance:

Average number of baptisms per year:

Beginning annual budget income: Current annual budget income:

List other significant ministries, indicating the approximate average number of people who participated in these

ministries.

Does your church have a mission, vision or purpose statement? Yes No

If yes, type it here: (Use a separate sheet if necessary)

What has been the most significant ministry initiative in your church in the past two years?

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In what ways was this ministry initiative significant?

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How open are you to moving to a new ministry?

Need to relocate Somewhat open

Very open Not open at this time

If open, what are the reasons you are open to moving to a ministry at this time?

4. Previous Ministry (Please list this information for your last three churches)

Church name:

Date began:

Street Address: State: Zip:

Phone: Your position:

Reference name: Phone:

Email:

Reference Address:

Beginning average worship attendance: Current attendance:

Beginning average Sunday school attendance: Current attendance:

Average number of baptisms per year:

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Beginning annual budget income: Current annual budget income:

5. Looking back at all your years in ministry, what do you feel best about?

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We often learn the most from challenges and personal mistakes, so briefly describe a significant challenge or

situation you handled – include what you learned and how it would be different if it occurred today.

6. What is the most important book you have read or seminar you have attended in the past three years?

What affect did this book or seminar have in your life and ministry?

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Please check all that apply:

7. Type of church for which I’m best suited:

Inner City Small City Open country

Neighborhood Small town Large regional church

Suburban Rural Other:

8. Theological Orientation:

Fundamental Holy Spirit

Renewal

Liberation theology

Conservative Moderate Other:

Evangelical Liberal

9. Worship and music style I prefer:

Traditional Contemporary

Blended Other:

10. Worship and music style(s) of my present church:

Traditional Contemporary

Blended Other:

11. My philosophy of ministry is best described as:

Traditional Cell based Willow Creek Seeker-Driven

Believer

focused

Small group Saddleback Purpose-Driven

Seeker

sensitive

Social action Other:

Seeker driven Post-Modern

12. Characteristics of churches for which I am least suited:

Charismatic Conflicted

Very traditional Declining

Very contemporary Other:

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13. The generation I have had the most success in reaching for Christ:

Builder Millennials

Boomer Other:

Gen X

14. My four greatest strengths or gifts are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

15. Do you speak more than one language? If so, please list:

16. I would best describe my spouse’s support and involvement in my ministry as: (check one)

Non-Cooperative

Highly Supportive

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

17. List three references that can provide information about you and your ministry.

Name:

Address:

Phone: Email:

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Name:

Address:

Phone: Email:

Name:

Address:

Phone: Email:

18. Please write a brief summary of your theological beliefs:

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19. Please write a brief account of how you came to faith in Christ and how you were called into ministry:

20. Please write a brief account of your philosophy of ministry (including the role of the pastor and laity and view of

the church government):

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21. Pastoral Agreement

I agree to sign and actively follow the Ministerial Code of Ethics (attached)

I declare that the information in this placement form is true and accurate and may be given to interested search

committees. Please date and sign:

Hardcopy signature ________________________________________________________ Date ____________

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22. MINISTRY SPECIALITES - Please select the best choice for each item that most describes this your degree of effectiveness,

using the following scale:

1=Not effective, 2=Somewhat effective, 3=Effective, 4=Quite Effective, 5=Exceptionally effective, 6=No basis for judgment

1 2 3 4 5 6

1.Evangelism and Church Growth: Leading persons to faith in Christ,

training Christians to share their faith, and developing ministries in which

persons receive Christ as Lord, resulting in enlarging the membership and/or

vision and ministry of the church.

2.Communication: Speaking, writing or using media to persuade, motivate or

inform others.

3.Community Assessment/Involvement: Assessing the demographic,

economic, social and spiritual realities of the community and developing

appropriate ministries through the church and/or in cooperation with other

agencies.

4.Conflict Management: Handling conflict situations with persons or groups

constructively.

5.Interpreting the Faith: Communicating a comprehensive understanding of

the Bible and Christian theology in terms people relevant to their lives.

6.Visionary Leadership: Discerning, communicating and implementing God’s

vision for the church in such a way that other leaders in the congregation and

the church as a whole unites to accomplish God’s purpose.

7.Leadership Development: Recognizing and calling forth leaders in the

church, as well as motivating and supporting persons in the discovery,

development and use of their spiritual gifts so that God’s purpose is

accomplished and the church is strengthened.

8.Preaching: Preparing and delivering sermons so that the Word of God is

proclaimed with clarity and conviction, bringing its power to bear on the needs

of individuals, the church, the community and the world.

9.Stewardship: Training people to use their income and possessions in ways

that honor God, reflect their commitment to Christ, and support the work of

God in the world.

10.Mission Promotion: Encouraging and providing opportunities for

individuals and the congregation to become informed and involved in Christian

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witness in their communities, region and world.

11.Multicultural Sensitivity: Modeling openness and understanding to

persons of other language, ethnic or cultural groups.

12.Planning and Management: Working effectively with a church or

organization to development and implement its objectives and goals.

13.Pastoral Care: Showing by word and presence an empathetic

understanding of and concern for persons in the routings joys and sorrows, as

well as the crises and transitions of life, giving assistance where appropriate

and feasible.

14.Discipleship: Guiding persons individually or in groups in understanding

and deepening their experience of the presence of Christ in every aspect of

their lives.

15.Worship Design: Designing and leading worship experiences in a way that

enables the congregation express praise, thanksgiving and devotion to God

and helps.

16.Turn-Around Ministry: Demonstrated ability to take a plateaued or

declining congregation and move it toward vitality and growth.

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23. Work Style (Please describe your own work style)

Below are twenty sets of phrases which describe common work styles.

Choose only one phrase from each set even if both seem to describe the

person.

§ Place an X in only one box on each horizontal row.

§ There are no incorrect answers.

§ If you don’t know leave that statement blank.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Te

nds

Very

stro

ngly

D

efin

itely

Tend

s So

mew

hat

Tend

s So

mew

hat

Tend

s D

efin

itely

Tend

s Te

nds

Very

stro

ngly

1. In most situations is quiet and

reserved

1. In most cases is outgoing

2. Helps people to figure out things

themselves

2. Advises people what to do

3. Shares opinions with others 3. Usually withholds personal opinions

4. In conflict situations likely to take

one side

4. In conflict situations likely to be

impartial

5. Does own organizing 5. Gets others to organize

6. Prefers to work alone 6. Prefers to work with others

7. Generates ideas 7. Adapts ideas

8. Relies on others for sense of

direction

8. Relies on self for sense of direction

9. Makes use of conflict and

confrontation

9. Seeks to avoid conflict and

confrontation

10. Encourages others to take initiative 10. Gives strong direction to others

11. Takes innovative approaches 11. Prefers traditional approaches

12. Places much emphasis on

denominational national and world

mission

12. Places little emphasis on

denominational national and world

mission

13. Prefers to plan ahead 13. Meets each situation as it arises

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14. Work best with groups 14. Works best with individuals

15. Resists criticism and adverse

opinions

15. Listens to criticism and adverse

opinions

16. Drives hard to achieve objectives 16. Places feelings of others ahead of

goal achievement

17. Is often involved in community

affairs

17. Is seldom involved in community

affairs

18. Emphasizes denominational

relationship

18. Minimizes denominational

relationship

19. Speaks out on controversial issues 19. Is silent on controversial issues

20. Feels ethical decisions should be

based on absolute standards

20. Feels ethical decisions should be

made in light of circumstances

Only one response per line is permitted

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TheCovenantandCodeofEthicsforMinisterialLeadersoftheAmericanBaptistChurches

ofLosAngeles,Southwest&HawaiiHavingacceptedGod’scalltoleadershipinChrist’sChurch,IcovenantwithGodtoserveChristandtheChurchwith,thehelpoftheholyspirit,todeepenmyobediencetotheTwoGreatCommandments:tolovetheLordourGodwithallmyheart,soul,mindandstrength,andtolovemyneighborasmyself.

Inaffirmationofthiscommitment,IwillabidebytheCodeofEthicsoftheMinistersCounciloftheAmericanBaptistChurchesandIwillfaithfullysupportitspurposesandideals.Asfurtheraffirmationofmycommitment,IcovenantwithmycolleaguesinministrythatwewillholdoneanotheraccountableforfulfillmentofallthepublicactionssetforthinourCodeofEthics.

• IwillholdintrustthetraditionsandpracticesofourAmericanBaptistChurches;IwillnotacceptapositionintheAmericanBaptistfamilyunlessIaminaccordwiththosetraditionsandpractices;norwillIusemyinfluencetoalienatemycongregation/constituentsoranypartthereoffromitsrelationshipandsupportofthedenomination.Ifmyconvictionschange,Iwillresignmyposition.

• IwillrespectandrecognizethevarietyofcallstoministryamongmyAmericanBaptistcolleagues,andotherChristians.

• IwillseektosupportallcolleaguesinministrybybuildingconstructiverelationshipswhereverIserve,bothwiththestaffwhereIworkandwithcolleaguesinneighboringchurches.

• Iwilladvocateadequatecompensationformyprofession.Iwillhelplaypersonsandcolleaguestounderstandthatministerialleadersshouldnotexpectorrequirefeesforpastoralservicesfromconstituentstheyserve,whentheseconstituentsarehelpingpaytheirsalaries.

• Iwillnotseekpersonalfavorsordiscountsonthebasisofmyministerialstatus.

• Iwillmaintainadisciplinedministryinsuchwaysaskeepinghoursofprayersanddevotion,endeavoringtomaintainwholesomefamilyrelationships,sexualintegrity,financialresponsibility,regularlyengagingineducationalandrecreationalactivitiesforministerialandpersonaldevelopment.Iwillseektomaintaingoodhealthhabits.

• IwillrecognizemyprimaryobligationtothechurchoremployinggrouptowhichIhavebeencalled,andwillacceptaddedresponsibilitiesonlyiftheydonotinterferewiththeoveralleffectivenessofmyministry.

• Iwillpersonallyandpubliclysupportmycolleagueswhoexperiencediscriminationonthebasisofgender,race,ethnicity,age,maritalstatus,nationalorigin,physicalimpairmentordisability.

• IwillnotproselytizefromotherChristianchurches.

• Iwill,uponmyresignationorretirement,severmyministerialleadershiprelationswithmyformerconstituents,andwillnotmakeministerialcontactsinthefieldofanotherministerialleaderwithouthis/herrequestand/orconsent.

• Iwillholdinconfidenceandtreatasconfidentialcommunicationanyinformationprovidedtomewiththeexpectationofprivacy.Iwillnotdisclosesuchinformationinprivateorpublicexceptwhen,inmypracticeofministry,Iamconvincedthatthesanctityofconfidentialityisoutweighedbymywell-foundedbeliefthatlife-threateningorsubstantialharmwillbecaused.

• Iwillnotusemyministerialstatus,positionorauthorityknowinglytoabuse,misguide,negativelyinfluence,manipulate,ortakeadvantageofanyone,especiallychildren.

• Iwillreportallinstancesofabuseasrequiredbylawtotheappropriateagency.InanycaseinvolvingpersonsworkinginABCministry,Iwillalsoreportthecircumstancestotheappropriateregionaland/ornational

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denominationalrepresentative.

• IwillshowmypersonalloveforGodasrevealedinJesusChristinmylifeandministry,asIstrivetogetherwithmycolleaguestopreservethedignity,maintainthedisciplineandpromotetheintegrityofthevocationtowhichwehavebeencalled.Signed____________________________________________________________________________Date_____________________

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American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest and Hawaii BACKGROUND VERIFICATION FORM DISCLOSUREThisistoinformyouthattheAmericanBaptistChurchesofLosAngeles,SouthwestandHawaii,hereafterknownas“theEmployer”,requestsaconsumerreportfromTrak-1Technology,aconsumerreportingagency,forthepurposeofevaluatingyou,theapplicant/employee,foremployment,volunteerserviceoracontractedposition,includingretentionasanemployee,volunteerorindependentcontractor.Thisreportmaycontaininformationbearingonyourcharacter,generalreputation,andpersonalcharacteristicsfrompublicorprivaterecordsources.CaliforniaNoticeYouhavetherightunderSection1786.22oftheCaliforniaCivilCodetocontactTrak-1Technologyduringtheirnormalbusinesshourstoobtainyourfileforyourreview.Youmayobtainsuchinformationasfollows:

1. InpersonatTrak-1’sofficeaddressat7131RiversideParkwayTulsa,OK74136.Youwillneedtofurnishproperidentificationpriortoreceivingyourfile.Youmayhavesomeoneaccompanyyouandshouldinformsaidpersonthattheyalsohavetopresentreasonableidentification.IfyouwantTrak-1todiscloseortodiscussyourinformationwiththisthirdparty,youmayberequiredtoprovideawrittenstatementgrantingTrak-1permissiontodoso.

2. Bycertifiedmail,ifyoumakeawrittenrequest(andprovideproperidentification)tohaveyourfilesenttoaspecifiedaddressee.

3. Bytelephone,ifyouhavepreviouslymadeawrittenrequestandprovidedproperidentification.Trak-1Technology’stelephonenumberis(918)779-7000.Theirfaxnumberis(918)779-6500.

Trak-1Technologyhastrainedpersonneltoexplainanyinformationthatisfurnishedtoyouandtoexplainanyinformationthatiscoded.AUTHORIZATION/CONSENTDuringtheapplicationprocessandatanytimeduringthetenureofmyemploymentorservicewiththeEmployer,Trak-1TechnologywillactonbehalfoftheEmployertoprocureaconsumerreport(knownasaninvestigativeconsumerreportinCalifornia)whichIunderstandmayincludeinformationregardingmycharacter,generalreputation,orpersonalcharacteristics.Thisreportmaybecompiledwithinformationfromcourtrecordrepositories,departmentsofmotorvehicles,pastorpresentemployersandeducationalinstitutions,governmentoccupationallicensingorregistrationentities,businessorpersonalreferences,andanyothersourcerequiredtoverifyinformationthatIhavevoluntarilysupplied.

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Inparticular,theEmployerseekstoprocureaninvestigativeconsumerinformationreportinvolvingallofthefollowingbackgroundareas:

• NationalCriminalFileCheck• SexOffenderRegistrySearch• SocialSecurityNumberSearch

Bymysignaturebelow,IauthorizeTrak-1TechnologyonbehalfoftheEmployertoprocurebackgroundinformationinthealloftheabovementionedareas. Applicant/EmployeeSignature Today’sDate PrintFirstName MiddleName(__None) LastNameStreetAddress City,State,Zip DriversLicenseNumber IsthisaCaliforniaNumber?Yes___No___DateofBirth * / / MMDDYYYYSocialSecurityNumber* - - xxx xx xxxx *ForidentificationpurposesonlyMinnesota(MN)&Oklahoma(OK)Residentspleasenote:Inconnectionwithyourapplicationforemployment/service,youhavearighttoobtainandreviewyourconsumerreportbycheckingtheappropriateboxbelow:____YES,IamaresidentofMNandwouldlikeafreecopyofmyconsumerreport.____YES,IamaresidentofOKandwouldlikeafreecopyofmyconsumerreport.California(CA)Residentspleasenote:UnderCAlaw,youhavearighttoreceiveafreecopyofyourinvestigativeconsumerreportbycheckingtheappropriateboxbelow:____YES,IamaresidentofCAandwouldlikeafreecopyofmyinvestigativeconsumerreport.Email:

Please return to the Office of the Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest and Hawaii,

P.O. Box 1868, Glendale, CA 91209-1868 ~ Attn: Dr. Samuel S. Chetti.