Trudy, I don't know how this might figure into the conversation, but here's my experience. When I became the interim pastor of Indian Baptist Church in Watonga, I think it was originally planned that I would be nothing more than an interim. After I had been at the church about three months, my people approached me about becoming the full-time pastor. I told them that I didn't think that would be possible since I was a Southern Baptist, not an American Baptist. After thinking it over, I realized that I owed nothing to Southern Baptists and there was no reason that I should not seek to obtain ABC credentials.
I told my Area Minister that I was interested in obtaining ABC credentials. He (
Rev. John Williams) put me in touch with Dr. Jim McIntosh, who was the chair of the CR Council on Ministry. I met with Dr. McIntosh and the Ministry Council in Wichita KS. I spent about two and a half hour with them and they questioned me extensively. We ran the gamut on all the stuff related to theology, ecclesiology, and everything in between. I offered to write a paper, knowing that was expected of ordination candidates. But they said that wouldn't be necessary since I had been previously ordained. The only requirement I had to complete was to attend the ABC Polity conference in Green Lake. In October of 2004, I went to Green Lake, Wisconsin (
by way of Green Lake Minnesota ) and attended the polity conference. In February of this year they approved me and sent my recognition of ordination.
I am as proud of as I am my ...