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
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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
6 Spirituality Network Newsletter
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
5Fall 2016
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
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