In Search of the Beloved Community

Dear Colleagues, my heart’s desire for each of you for 2024 is that you will prosper in every area and that you will enjoy good health. Let me introduce myself - I am Cecelia Ann Walker the eldest daughter of Walter Cecil and Annie Laura Walker. This is important to me because whatever I accomplish has its roots in their investment in my life and even their missteps have shaped me into a person who is in search of the Beloved Community. Both taught me to ground my life in love and gratitude.

I am so grateful for the two years that I have served as the Chair-Elect of the ACPE Board of Directors alongside outgoing Board Chair Shawn Mai. We did not know each other, but he has become a cherished friend. Thank you, Shawn, for your deep love of ACPE and your commitment to our mission. You have given your best and I hope to pick up where you left off. I would also like to thank Robin Brown-Haithco and Jonathan Ball. I along with Shawn asked Robin to serve as Interim ED, and I am so grateful she said yes. Her love for our organization is palpable. I have learned much from her as I’ve watched her balance grace and truth, and I have learned from Jonathan as he uses his sharp mind and caring heart freely intending to give his best to our organization. Additionally, our ACPE Staff has together propped me up on every leaning side throughout this time. While I have served ACPE in some capacity since 1998, there continues to be much for me to learn. For every member of ACPE who has reached out to me personally by email or text, offered encouraging words, and especially those who have prayed for me… I am grateful. We rise or fall… succeed or fail… together.

We have a lot of sacred work to do. What we are trying to do and who we are trying to become is vitally important. Being open and honest with each other and disagreeing with each other while remaining in relationship is difficult, but it is necessary work if we are to have the positive impact that I believe we all want. If we truly take the time to “hear each other into speech”, we will have to be patient with each other and the process. I hope that our capacity to offer grace and space to each other will strengthen our organization and our witness. If we commit to doing this work together, assume good intent of and for each other, and engage in the work to become our best selves, I am sure that we will move closer to our goals. I covenant to do my best in these areas.

I feel so blessed to be accepted by you. Other than my family and faith, nothing has given me more than ACPE. I want to hear your concerns and ideas. I am looking forward to serving as your Chair, working with you, and hearing your voices and I pray that I will serve you well. As we teach our students, we each must suspend our agendas for the good of ACPE which in turn, I believe will be good for those we serve.  As we enter a New Year and make our resolutions/plans, can we place near the top of our list a resolve to lock arm in arm and step by step together? “We shall overcome.”

Cecelia Walker is an ACPE Certified Educator at The Ingalls Center of Pastoral Ministries in the Baptist Health System. She can be reached at cecelia.walker@bhsala.com.