beaconchurches

Ralph · by **Ralph** on Tue Jul 08, 2008 3:57 pm

Lets hear your thoughts on this action

KUTTER TO SERVE AS MINISTERS COUNCIL ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 07/8/08 ) — The Ministers Council has elected the Rev. Dr. Joseph Ray Kutter as Acting Executive Director. Kutter will assume the responsibility on September 1. He was chosen by unanimous vote of the Ministers Council Executive Committee. The Executive Committee was authorized by Senate 2007 to finalize the selection on behalf of the constituency. Since last summer the Personnel Committee has received and reviewed names of potential candidates, and recommended Joe Kutter.

During his 39 years in American Baptist pastoral ministry Kutter has served five congregations. Since 1997 he has served as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas. With his leadership, that congregation constructed a new community life center, costing about $2.3 million. The center has allowed them to create new ministries to impact the community, including the Topeka Shepherd Center for senior adults, an after school program for middle school students, and Upward Basketball for more than 200 elementary school children from the community.

Prior pastorates include: the First Baptist Church of Royal Oak, Michigan, from 1987 to 1997; Cherry Hill Baptist Church, Dearborn Heights, Michigan, from 1980 to 1987; First Baptist Church of Arlington, Kearny, New Jersey, 1972-1980; and Assistant Pastor, First Baptist Church, Haddonfield, New Jersey, from 1970 to 1972.

Kutter has also served as President of the Ministers Council, as trustee of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, as chaplain to the General Board and General Board Executive Committee, and in a variety of regional and community leadership roles.

He received his education at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, Doctor of Ministry, 1978; Crozer Theological Seminary, Rochester, New York, Master of Divinity, 1971; and Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, Bachelor of Arts, 1967.

The Ministers Council was founded in 1935. As the professional association of pastoral leaders in the American Baptist Churches, the Ministers Council defines itself as the "the only group solely committed to the well-being of the clergy person" and seeks to fulfill its mission through a three-part Ministers Council strategy: face-to-face collegial covenant groups that meet monthly; strong constituent Councils with exciting programs; and a pattern of national clergy conferences

In 2002 the Ministers Council launched the Together in Ministry project. Funded by the Lilly Endowment Sustaining Pastoral Effectiveness initiative, Together in Ministry was designed with the goal of inspiring and resourcing pastoral leaders to form collegial covenant groups to strengthen them for their ministries. The Together in Ministry web address is www.ministerscouncil.com/togetherinmini ... fault.aspx.

Current Ministers Council Executive Director Kate Harvey states, “Joe Kutter’s numerous leadership capacities over the years with the Ministers Council, as well as his work on the Together in Ministry Steering Committee, equip him superbly for the role. The next stage of the Ministers Council strategy is a Lilly-funded project for organizational capacity building through resourcing and strengthening constituent Council leadership. His gifts make him the ideal leader for that phase of the work and I am thrilled to have him succeed me in the position.”

Kutter will serve the Ministers Council for two or three years as the American Baptist Churches USA pursues a process of restructuring.

An article written by Kutter appeared in the 2008 issue of Minister Magazine that is shaped around the theme of transition. It presents his perspective on this major transition in his pursuit of God’s calling on his life: www.ministerscouncil.com/periodicals/publications/aspx.

artjaggard · by **artjaggard** on Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:08 pm

Wow,

Folks, I've editted this post because I feel convicted that it was not gracious, and what ever happens with what is called the minister's council, I'd like to be a person with a beautiful heart. Please forgive me when I fall short of that mark. I'm trying. I did save this from the former post.

Well, first things first. Integrity requires acknowledgment of the fact that there is no council representing ABC pastors. The group that calls itself the Minister's Council actually only represents several hundred pastors. It would more aptly be named the Liberal Baptist Minister's Caucus. It's hard to get around this fact. Though the MC might claim to advocate for pastors in general, their representation is based on dues paying members.

The reason I kept this is not from animosity. The fact is, I've invested much of my heart in the Minister's Council, I've been grateful for Kate's presence in my life and I still grieve over all that has happened. When I was the pres. of Ohio's MC we increased our membership to over 200. In the Central Region I was staff laison and we increased our membership to over 120. It is hard to see an organization that I have loved fall so precipitously. And in the midst of that fall, it is important to be clear about who represents the family and who does not. So the acknowledgment is part of setting the stage for the vibrant life of Jesus to flow through our family. (BTW, integrity also requires acknowledgement that the whole VF system does not represent the family. It is a large minority in the family, but it is by no means the center of our life.)

One of the reasons this post is edited is because of the involvement of Joe Kutter in that precipitous fall. He probably is an excellent choice to head the organization as it currently exists.
God bless him; he's going to need it.

Kate accomplished some absolutely phenominal things during her tenure. I was absolutely thrilled with the course that she had set before everything unfolded. I continue to believe that her direction could have built the Kingdom in ways that would reverberate for decades. I pray that the vision she had not be lost. I am actually hopeful that parts of the ABC family will pick it up. I am not hopeful that the group which calls itself the Minister's Council will be that part. But as you all know, I am very hopeful for the ABC family.

Ralph · by **Ralph** on Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:54 am

Art, in that I am now not hanging out with pastors; not being in that field; I have no idea what the MC looks like in ABC/CR. Although last I heard no one for SEA was apart (that was a year or two back) and that it had died a quick death at the point you stated; which if I remember correctly was at or about the above named person became president of the region MC.

I have also heard of a group that is attempting to be the "Minister Coucil" for the disaffected (or those who have separted themselves for the MC) in the region but do not know what or how that is doing. If pistolpaking preacher is still read this he may have more info than I.

artjaggard · by **artjaggard** on Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:09 am

Hi Ralph,

I am aware of many pastor's groups that give me hope in the family. I spoke with pistol packing last week, but this did not come up. Hopefully there is something for the many pastors in the CR that used to participate in the MC.

love
Art

DMcFadden · by **DMcFadden** on Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:09 am

I have very mixed feelings. I served on the MC senate for a decade (4 of those years as a Vice President on the Exec. Com. and therefore on the national Ministerial Leadership Commission). Kate came on during my tenure on the EC. Our vote for her was unanimous as well. Joe and I have had some very good conversations together over the years. He is an honest, sincere, progressive with very strong preaching skills and the ability to speak with people on both the left and the right. Along with Art, I lament the shadow of the former organization and pray for Joe in his new role. He hails from the Roger Williams wing of the denomination (I believe he was on the Exec. Com. of RWF at one time). But, Joe is a decent and honest broker. I trust him immensely, despite our very real theological disagreements.

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Joe Kutter of FBC Topeka Acting Exec of Min Con

Joe Kutter of FBC Topeka Acting Exec of Min Con

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