Ministers Council Executive Commitee

Ministers Council Executive Committee met for their annual retreat in Council Grove, Kansas. Pictured is (back left to right) John Clark, Tim Schwartz, Chris Carlson,

Bruce Burfield, Chris Prater, Janet Crowl, Melissa Newberry, and Randy Moravec

(front left to right) Keli Burfield, Matt Sturdevant, and Leroy Thompson via Zoom

Ministers Council

President: Victor Velez

President Elect: Kevin Hazelton

Past President: Melissa Newberry

Treasurer: Tim Schwartz

National Minister’s Council Representative: Janet Crowl

Cross Roads Area Representative: Randy Moravec

East Central Area Representative: John Clark

Northeast Area Representative: Janet Crowl

OIABA Representative: Wil Brown

Southeast Area Representative: Jerry Neeley

Western Area Representative: Chris Prater

Bi-Vocational Representative: Mike Bright

AB Women in Ministry Representative: Nancy Killingsworth

What is the Ministers Council?

We are an independent, non-profit organization of ordained, commission, licensed and lay Christian leaders. Seminarians are also eligible for membership and encouraged to join.

We are the only ABC organization dedicated solely to the well-being of ministers. We serve in increasingly diverse settings including the local church, specialized ministries of chaplaincy, counseling, coaching and spiritual direction, as well as administration, education and community organizing. Individuals are eligible for membership in this body if they are eligible for inclusion in the Leadership Status list maintained by the American Baptist Churches Information System (ABCIS) and if they pay national dues to this body.

What Do We Do?

We nurture, encourage, and strengthen more than 2000 clergy, counselors, seminarians, and lay leaders. We provide fellowshipping opportunities; spiritual enrichment; and educational programming to fuel the effectiveness of the men and women called of God to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What Do We Provide?

Support for regionally based Ministers Council chapters
Annual gatherings, workshops, retreats for respite, and spiritual and professional development
Models and best practice guidelines for creating clergy peer groups
Informative articles and writings for ministers
Discounts to value-added services through partnerships
A sense of community for clergy so that no one has to go it alone