The institutional elements of Baptist life are under scrutiny as evidenced by blogs covering this week’s BUGB Council. Yet alongside some of the difficult stuff I want to point to some reasons for optimism.1. The large number of people who are disappointed there wasn’t something more positive and pioneering means there are large numbers of... Continue Reading →
BUGB Council – potential?
Council was a difficult affair. This ought not to be a surprise given the outcome means some people will loose their jobs; no one should delight in pain. It was also difficult to see where the future might be and where agreement lay.After some disquiet and soul searching Council agreed to the main elements of... Continue Reading →
Futures, Council and #BUGB
Off to BUGB Council again tomorrow; an extra one to progress the conversation about the Futures process. Many people, several of them friends, have invested a lot of work in this yet I go with a heavy heart because I don’t think we have identified the vision and strategy needed. - I don’t see Association... Continue Reading →
BUGB is the future going flat?
In preparation for the next BUGB Council I’ve revisited the published Futures booklet (download). I know several people who have slogged their guts out on this process over recent months (and many more whose livelihoods depend on the outcomes) which makes me hesitate to critique it, but this is not the moment for timidity.Loads of... Continue Reading →
Spurgeon’s Nigel Wright announces retirement
Rev Dr Nigel G Wright who has been Principal of Spurgeon's college since 2000 has announced he is to retire next summer. He has been a good Principal for the college and it will be interesting to see who follows him. Nigel's college biography is here
Futures, culture and #Bugb
The BUGB debate about its future moves onward, Council meets again in two weeks to make some decisions about the way forward. I’ll do another blog post about some of the proposals but I remain concerned we haven’t grasped the scale of the challenge we face and the culture change needed to move forward.Whatever structures... Continue Reading →
Discipleship 4: Ministers help or hindrance?
If discipleship is so important how does this impact ministers and how might it affect how we exercise ministry? How can we ensure we develop disciple making communities?1. Live out your values. If whole life discipleship is important it should permeate your ministry. First, because all of us are disciples and ministers need to live... Continue Reading →
Discipleship 2: How the church can help
In recent years LICC, Willow Creek and others have done some helpful work on growing whole-life disciples. But as I’ve talked with people about how the church can help, the following have been mentioned.- Creating a culture of honest experimentation; allowing people to be ‘not sure’ as well as encouraging people to ‘give it a... Continue Reading →
Discipleship 3: Real life issues
As I’ve been thinking and talking with others about discipleship a number of subjects have come up as topics churches need to address. In fact I’ve started to create a list for a possible series of sermons. Which includes:Money and DebtMarriage and marriage breakdownSex:- Single people, including younger people and older people- Gay people- Sexualisation... Continue Reading →
Discipleship 1: How do we grow?
Reflecting on our church’s future direction and my part in it, I’ve spent some time recently thinking about discipleship; which has included at least one discussion in church. So whilst I’m on holiday over the next week I’ve set a couple of blog posts to appear which collate some of the thoughts so that others... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 