One subject occupying recent Baptist threads on facebook, particularly a new BUGB Council group, is ministry; ministers both full and part time, accreditation, training and continuing development. Two issues stand out to me: We need to reclaim an understanding of stipend. The discussions about the rise of bi-vocational ministry and the reducing number of full... Continue Reading →
Fresh Streams 2014 some early reflections #fsnc14
I’ve spent the last 48 hours at the Fresh Streams conference. Although I’ve been to the odd day over the last few years it is the first time I’ve been to the whole thing for 5 years. It hasn’t changed much over that time (though the leadership has become more plural and has a better... Continue Reading →
Lead a movement; what’s that mean?
Earlier this month I blogged that one of my New Year dreams was to lead a movement not an organisation. Recently I’ve heard plenty of talk about the need for a ‘Baptist movement’ which poses the question what do I/we mean by movement, particularly when used in distinction to organisation or institution? A movement is... Continue Reading →
dream of leading a big church?
Last week I shared three reasons big churches keep getting bigger on facebook and wondered how the UK church would be different if 1 in 10 Christians attended a church of over 2000, whether it would be a good thing and what chance there would be of any of them being Baptist? Whether vision or... Continue Reading →
Larger Churches leaders gathering
It was great to attend this earlier in the week, an annual gathering facilitated by BUGB for team leaders from the Union’s ‘larger’ churches. It’s encouraging to spend time with people who do a similar role to me, who face similar challenges and struggles, without feeling the need to apologise. [It is a strange quirk... Continue Reading →
A bank which wants to say yes
I had an idea the other day whilst thinking about Baptist life (though it could be applied more widely). Why not start a ‘bank’ whose purpose was to loan money to projects which might not pay back but which need money to get something started. OK ‘bank’ may be the wrong word, but words like... Continue Reading →
Keeping perspective in church needs distance
One thing I’ve noticed about being a minister is that the longer you are in a church the harder it is to separate your own thoughts about the church situation from your own sense of identity. In the early day’s it easier to see things because you approach them with fresh eyes; though you have... Continue Reading →
The Regional Minister bus
There are more interesting things to blog about than Baptist Associations appointing Regional Ministers but I can’t help but notice the large number of appointments being made at the moment. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in one here in the North West myself, so I know that many of these folk are gifted... Continue Reading →
Lynn Green’s induction
It was a privilege to attend Lynn's induction as the BUGB's new General Secretary yesterday afternoon at Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church. Following a resume of the story leading up to Lynn's appointment, told by Jenny Royal (moderator of the trustee board and of the search group) and Lynn, the formal part of the induction was... Continue Reading →
New Baptist General Secretary
Today is the first day for the BUGB’s new General Secretary Lynn Green. Lynn is someone of great ability and I’m confident she will make a good impression in an often impossible role. Her experience of Union life, being a Regional Minister, as Senior Minister of Wokingham Baptist church and before that working for the... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 