The 66
th Annual Meeting of American Baptist Women’s Ministries will occur on
Friday, June 30, 2017, at 9:00 AM (preceding the 10:00 AM start of
Women’s Day) at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Business at the annual meeting will include the election of national officers and a proposed bylaws change with regard to the Secretary officer position. No registration is required to attend the annual meeting.
AB Women’s Ministries nominating committee, chaired by Ellen Teague, nominates Colleen Charsky, Rev. Yana J. C. Pagán, and Jackie Arnold to be elected for national officer positions.
Nominee for Treasurer – Colleen Charsky
Colleen Charsky, of Pulaski, New York, has served the American Baptist Women of New York State as Treasurer (2014-2017) and as chair of the Finance Committee (2008-2014). She is a leader in her region’s Oswego Association as well. With educational degrees in Molecular Biology and Plant Pathology, she is a researcher and attributes that skill to being a problem-solver and a detail-conscious person. She operates her own tax preparation business. She is married to an American Baptist pastor; they have three children. She has organized mission trips for her family to volunteer in the Dominican Republic. With a son who has autism, Colleen has become a trained and passionate advocate for persons with disabilities. She is a member of Pulaski Baptist Church, where she teaches high school Sunday school and enjoys singing in the choir.
Nominee for Coordinator of Young Adult Women’s Ministries – Rev. Yana J. C. Pagán
The Rev. Yana J. C. Pagán teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Esperanza College of Eastern University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She currently serves as pulpit pastor at Gulph United Church of Christ. She is a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Norristown, Pennsylvania. Yana is a Judson Press author, has written Sunday school curriculum for Judson Journeys, and was a contributing author for AB Women’s Ministries resource,
Hope in the Midst of Depression. She was the speaker at ABWM’s Intergenerational Retreat held at Green Lake, Wisconsin, in 2014. Yana is a consultant for conflict transformation training. Focusing on topics of living with the reality of disability, effects of stress, self-care, trust, living an authentic life, justice, and empowerment, Yana has a desire to work with women and young people, sharing her story and giving them hope.
Nominee for Coordinator of the Western Section – Jackie Arnold
Jackie Arnold, of Loveland, Colorado, is a person whose faith and friendship are contagious. She enjoys watching women grow in Christ, and she loves her role as mentor. Jackie served on the national AB Women’s Ministries board in 2010-2013 as Secretary and Conference Registrar. Prior to 2010, she served the ABWM of Colorado as president. A seasoned leader, she is retired from full-time employment in Human Resources for a large company. She is a member of First Baptist Church, Loveland, Colorado, where she sings in the choir.