Biennial Mission Summit FAQ
Q1. What is a Biennial Mission Summit?
Answer:
The Biennial Mission Summit is the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) national gathering held every two years. The ABCUSA Biennial Mission Summit has three main purposes.
The first purpose is the “Mission Summit,” which is a unique opportunity to come together, share ideas, and learn from one another what is working in the growth and vitality of our churches today. American Baptists can take away new information to their home churches, and try new tactics to be successful as churches within their community.
Second, the Biennial Mission Summit is a time of celebration. We gather to celebrate God’s work among us as an ABCUSA family, and this time together serves as a reunion where brothers and sisters in the faith reconnect, worship and learn together. These moments of celebration take place at the worship sessions, Mission Summit Experiences, in the hallways, and at the pre- and post-Biennial events of various ABCUSA affiliated groups and organizations.
We also need to do the necessary business of our denomination which is the third purpose for gathering together. We elect the denomination’s officers (President, Vice President, Budget Review Officer) for the coming Biennium.
Q2. Who are the Biennial Mission Summit Delegates?
Answer:
Delegates to the Biennial Mission Summit are members in good standing of cooperating congregations of American Baptist Churches USA. Each church selects and sends Delegates for the purpose of electing the officers for the coming biennium and for voting on any other official business. The number of Delegates from any one church is dictated by a formula based on membership and financial support of ABCUSA. Churches and attendees can contact their regional offices or send an email to [email protected] to learn how many delegates their church can send.
Q3. Can you tell me more about the "Mission Summit Conversation" part of the event?
Answer:
A Mission Summit Conversation is an open opportunity for anyone attending the Biennial Mission Summit to engage in meaningful dialogue about a topic of interest by self-selecting into a small group. The Mission Summit Conversations are the heart of the Mission Summit. One round of Mission Summit Conversations will be held at the 2017 Biennial Mission Summit.
Click here to view the Mission Summit Conversations FAQ
Click here to view the 2017 Topics and to learn more
Q4. Why should I attend?
Answer:
Biennial Mission Summit participants and delegates are able to be a part of powerful times of learning, worship, small group explorations of topics of particular interest, sharing of ministry opportunities through the Hall of Ministries, and much more. Everyone is welcome to register and attend an ABCUSA Biennial Mission Summit. Only Delegates from our churches may vote on any business items at the business session.
Q5. What is the Hall of Ministries?
Answer:
At Biennial Mission Summit in Portland, Oregon, June 30-July 2, 2017, the “Hall of Ministries” will highlight ministries and partners along with others interested in exhibiting and sharing their organizations with American Baptist Churches USA. The Hall of Ministries set-up will allow all exhibitors and attendees to take advantage of the event theme and “Connect!” with one another.
Near the entrance of the Hall of Ministries, there will be a Ministry Square which will serve as a town hall, where Biennial Mission Summit attendees may gather, network and reconnect with one another!
In the Hall of Ministries, we want American Baptists to learn about the history of ABC and the various organizations that are a part of it, and get excited about initiatives and denominational priorities we have into the future.
Above all, we want Biennial Mission Summit attendees to be engaged, make valuable connections, and see what organizations are doing—things that can make a difference in their lives.
Q6. Is there provision for hearing impaired people at the Biennial?
Answer:
Please email [email protected] if there is a need for American Sign Language.
Q7. Will there be offerings received during the worship sessions?
Answer:
Yes, worship sessions give us opportunities to support various ministries of American Baptist life. The recipient of each offering will be announced before the offering is received.
Q8. What meals can I attend?
Answer:
Meal events are ticketed events. Only a few meals are by invitation only, and these are identified in Biennial publications. There will also be a coffee shop and venues selling salads and light meals available at the Portland Convention Center during mealtimes. A limited number of additional tickets to ticketed events MIGHT be available during the Biennial Mission Summit at the Meal Event Ticket Counter. It is best to purchase your meal tickets before arriving in Portland.
Q9. Who plans the Biennial Mission Summit?
Answer:
The Biennial Mission Summit Planning Team (BMSPT) is a group of American Baptists, both clergy and lay, from around the nation who are appointed by the ABCUSA President to plan the event. They are assisted by the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC), composed of people from the host region, who take responsibility for details such as child care, local transportation, etc. The Staff Advisory Group (SAG) is made up of representatives from all four ABCUSA program boards. It also assists the Biennial Mission Summit Planning Committee by taking the dreams and plans of the BMSPT and making them a reality. Working together, these three groups bring you the Biennial Mission Summit in its final form.
Q10. Where may I purchase copies of the recordings from the 2017 Biennial Mission Summit?
Answer:
Recordings are available for purchase with Dove Cassettes, here: www.dovecassettes.com/conferences/abc/abc.html
Answer:
The Biennial Mission Summit is the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) national gathering held every two years. The ABCUSA Biennial Mission Summit has three main purposes.
The first purpose is the “Mission Summit,” which is a unique opportunity to come together, share ideas, and learn from one another what is working in the growth and vitality of our churches today. American Baptists can take away new information to their home churches, and try new tactics to be successful as churches within their community.
Second, the Biennial Mission Summit is a time of celebration. We gather to celebrate God’s work among us as an ABCUSA family, and this time together serves as a reunion where brothers and sisters in the faith reconnect, worship and learn together. These moments of celebration take place at the worship sessions, Mission Summit Experiences, in the hallways, and at the pre- and post-Biennial events of various ABCUSA affiliated groups and organizations.
We also need to do the necessary business of our denomination which is the third purpose for gathering together. We elect the denomination’s officers (President, Vice President, Budget Review Officer) for the coming Biennium.
Q2. Who are the Biennial Mission Summit Delegates?
Answer:
Delegates to the Biennial Mission Summit are members in good standing of cooperating congregations of American Baptist Churches USA. Each church selects and sends Delegates for the purpose of electing the officers for the coming biennium and for voting on any other official business. The number of Delegates from any one church is dictated by a formula based on membership and financial support of ABCUSA. Churches and attendees can contact their regional offices or send an email to [email protected] to learn how many delegates their church can send.
Q3. Can you tell me more about the "Mission Summit Conversation" part of the event?
Answer:
A Mission Summit Conversation is an open opportunity for anyone attending the Biennial Mission Summit to engage in meaningful dialogue about a topic of interest by self-selecting into a small group. The Mission Summit Conversations are the heart of the Mission Summit. One round of Mission Summit Conversations will be held at the 2017 Biennial Mission Summit.
Click here to view the Mission Summit Conversations FAQ
Click here to view the 2017 Topics and to learn more
Q4. Why should I attend?
Answer:
Biennial Mission Summit participants and delegates are able to be a part of powerful times of learning, worship, small group explorations of topics of particular interest, sharing of ministry opportunities through the Hall of Ministries, and much more. Everyone is welcome to register and attend an ABCUSA Biennial Mission Summit. Only Delegates from our churches may vote on any business items at the business session.
Q5. What is the Hall of Ministries?
Answer:
At Biennial Mission Summit in Portland, Oregon, June 30-July 2, 2017, the “Hall of Ministries” will highlight ministries and partners along with others interested in exhibiting and sharing their organizations with American Baptist Churches USA. The Hall of Ministries set-up will allow all exhibitors and attendees to take advantage of the event theme and “Connect!” with one another.
Near the entrance of the Hall of Ministries, there will be a Ministry Square which will serve as a town hall, where Biennial Mission Summit attendees may gather, network and reconnect with one another!
In the Hall of Ministries, we want American Baptists to learn about the history of ABC and the various organizations that are a part of it, and get excited about initiatives and denominational priorities we have into the future.
Above all, we want Biennial Mission Summit attendees to be engaged, make valuable connections, and see what organizations are doing—things that can make a difference in their lives.
Q6. Is there provision for hearing impaired people at the Biennial?
Answer:
Please email [email protected] if there is a need for American Sign Language.
Q7. Will there be offerings received during the worship sessions?
Answer:
Yes, worship sessions give us opportunities to support various ministries of American Baptist life. The recipient of each offering will be announced before the offering is received.
Q8. What meals can I attend?
Answer:
Meal events are ticketed events. Only a few meals are by invitation only, and these are identified in Biennial publications. There will also be a coffee shop and venues selling salads and light meals available at the Portland Convention Center during mealtimes. A limited number of additional tickets to ticketed events MIGHT be available during the Biennial Mission Summit at the Meal Event Ticket Counter. It is best to purchase your meal tickets before arriving in Portland.
Q9. Who plans the Biennial Mission Summit?
Answer:
The Biennial Mission Summit Planning Team (BMSPT) is a group of American Baptists, both clergy and lay, from around the nation who are appointed by the ABCUSA President to plan the event. They are assisted by the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC), composed of people from the host region, who take responsibility for details such as child care, local transportation, etc. The Staff Advisory Group (SAG) is made up of representatives from all four ABCUSA program boards. It also assists the Biennial Mission Summit Planning Committee by taking the dreams and plans of the BMSPT and making them a reality. Working together, these three groups bring you the Biennial Mission Summit in its final form.
Q10. Where may I purchase copies of the recordings from the 2017 Biennial Mission Summit?
Answer:
Recordings are available for purchase with Dove Cassettes, here: www.dovecassettes.com/conferences/abc/abc.html