
Director's Page
July 2008
FROM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE:
National Ministries has interviewed candidates for the
position of Ecclesiastical Endorsing Agent. While this
search is underway, I have agreed to continue serving you
as your Interim Endorsing Executive. I am not involved in
the search process and I am not a candidate for this open
position. The Rev. Richard Harris, who is a member of the
American Baptist Committee for Chaplains and Pastoral
Counselors, will continue to function as the Endorsing
Agent of Record for Military Chaplains.
It is our privilege to serve all of you as you serve
others in Jesus' name. Please continue to keep us, and
each other in your prayers. I ask you especially to
remember our military chaplains who are deployed to places
of danger and distance, as well as those at home and church
who await their return.
Rev. Rhonda J. Cushman
LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2009 BIENNIAL MERIT
AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE Every two years,
the General Board of the American Baptist Churches gives
public recognition to the ministry of American Baptists
serving as Institutional Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors,
and Military Chaplains by selecting representatives from
each of these categories to receive a
Biennial Award of Merit.
At the 2007 Biennial, the General Board of the
American Baptist Churches USA granted Awards of Merit for
Outstanding Ministry as a Military Chaplain, an
Institutional Chaplain, and a Pastoral Counselor, to:
- Pastoral Counselor Merit Award - Dr. Linda I.
Kirkland-
Harris
- Institutional Chaplain Merit Award - Dr. Peter Yuichi
Clark
- Military Chaplain Merit Award - CDR Lee Axtell, CHC,
USN
Do YOU know of an American Baptist endorsed colleague,
friend, supervisor, trainee, member of your church, or
someone you have admired whose ministry as a chaplain or
pastoral counselor has been continuously outstanding over
a period of several years?
The Committee on Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors
solicits your nominations for these prestigious awards.
The deadline for submission of your nominations has
been extended to September 10, 2008.
Criteria for selection include evidence of outstanding
contribution in some or all of the following:
- In-depth, sustained pastoral care or counseling
- Creative institutional change consistent with
American
Baptist mission
- Humanizing institutions through administravie and
pastoral gifts
- Leadership in regional, national, international
professional partnerships
- Participation in ecumenical, interfail, interchurch
relationships
- Education, training or research with clergy and
helping professionals
- Local church, Regional, Denominational
participation
- Evangelism, discipleship, and mission
- Recruiting, mentoring, or inter-professional
relationship building
Send your letters of nomination to Chaplaincy
and Pastoral Counseling Services, PO Box 851, Valley
Forge,
PA 19482, before September 10, 2008
A NOTE FROM GEORGE LANGHORNE
To my Colleagues who serve in specialized
settings:
As many of you already know, I was diagnosed with
multiple myeloma on 13 April 2007. It has been a tough
ordeal meeting this challenge. I was first treated with
oral chemotherapy until I could complete my scheduled
trips
in June 2007. On 9 October 2007 I was admitted to the
Emory University Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia for an
autologous stem cell transplant. Immediately, I was given
high dose chemotherapy. That high dose chemo is still
working. It kills everything, the good and the bad. On 11
October 2007 the transplant was performed. I have been in
recovery since then.
On 22 April 2008 I went in for my six month checkup. I
am elated to share the report! My doctor told me,
"You
are in complete remission. The cancer is gone. All
counts
are zero."
I want to thank all of you for your continued concern
and prayer support. God heard and answered your prayers.
THANK GOD, I am healed of the cancer. The best news was,
I
can slowly begin normal routine activity. Now I am in
process of rebuilding my body from the onslaught of
chemotherapy. It will take a few more months for my body
to be restored. I have to wait until at least October
before receiving immunizations.
"Complete remission" came at the best time for me. I
can do some of the things I love to do. I can get
about. I am happy that I can now work in my flower
garden as long as I wear the mask and gloves. p>
Considering my health challenges and timetable for
recovery, I decided to retire as of 1 July 2008. National
Ministries is now searching for another
fulltime endorsing executive. You deserve the best that
God can provide. I pray often for your ministries in your
many different settings. You make National Ministries and
the American Baptist Churches, USA look good. Keep up the
great spiritual care to people in need.
George A. Langhorne
THE GLEASON SCHOLARSHIP
In 1996, the Ministers Council chapter for Chaplains &
Pastoral Counselors established a scholarship fund to
honor
outgoing Director of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling,
Jack Gleason. The Gleason Gleason Scholarships are awarded
to persons who are preparing to provide spiritual care
ministry in specialized settings as a chaplains or
pastoral
counselors.
The Ministers Council chapter selects the recipients
from applications and from nominations submitted by
pastors
and colleagues in ministry. A letter of recommendation
from
the pastor is required. Please consider nominating someone
for this award. Your nomination should include the name,
area of specialization, and school or accredited CPE
provider.
Application forms are available from the Office of
Chaplain and Pastoral Counseling Services and letters of
nomination should also be directed to this office.
Decisions and awards are made by the Ministers Council
chapter.
COMMITTEE ON CHAPLAINS & PASTORAL
COUNSELORS (CCPC) MEMBERSHIP
This committee grants and maintains your
ecclesiastical
endorsement. Each year your endorsement is reviewed by the
committee for compliance and continuance. There are six
members on this committee. The committee's composition
reflects the categories/areas of endorsements. The
committee now has at least one member from military
chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and institutional
chaplaincy.
The committee members are:
- Dr. Harry Simmons, Chair,
- Dr. Glenn Asquith
- MG Lorraine K. Potter, USAF (Retired)
- Dr. Eric C. Holmstrom
- Rev. Richard G. Harris
- Rev. James Munro.
TYPES OF ECCLESIASTICAL
AFFILIATION
There are three types or levels of
Ecclesiastical affiliation. They are (1)
Ecclesiastical Endorsement, (2)
Ecclesiastical Recognition, and (3)
Ecclesiastical Approval.
Ecclesiastical Endorsement is granted
to those persons who meet the academic, theological and
clinical requirements and need the endorsement
for
employment or professional membership. Endorsement is to a
particular employing agency or organization.
Ecclesiastical Recognition is granted
to those persons who are serving in specialized settings
where endorsement is not required for employment.
Ecclesiastical recognition is also granted in volunteer
specialized ministries.
Ecclesiastical Approval is granted to
all training and student categories. Chaplain Candidates
for the military or chaplains/pastoral counselors in
clinical training are granted ecclesiastical approval.
Membership in an American Baptist Church is required
for
any type of ecclesiastical affiliation. Membership is
verified by the regional executive, the local church and
enrollment in the American Baptist Personnel Service.
ONLINE APPLICATION
The application for endorsement/recognition/approval
is
posted on the documents and
forms page in PDF format at www.abc-
cpcs.org. The instructions and descriptions of the
types of affiliation are also posted. Please refer new
applicants to this website for applications.
|