Phil posted a comment on my previous blog (here) that warrants a proper response. At issue is how we understand the decisions made last week by BUGB Council, so if you find the whole debate a turn off look away now. Phil says I fail to understand what the changes are about, that it is not... 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 →
Beyond 400 book
I've been involved for the last few months with the Beyond400 website, giving an opportunity for a spread of British Baptists to imagine what the future might look like. The web posts plus some of the comments have now been published as a book. Click here to buy a copy. Not only does the book give... Continue Reading →
BUGB futures a quick guide
I’ve been meaning to write more about the Futures process for some weeks. But since Baptist Assembly meets this weekend I wondered if a short summary might be more helpful: What’s the issue? 1. Why are we talking about it? Because we (BUGB and Associations) are spending more money each year than we are getting... Continue Reading →
Quick thought
I spotted this quote in an Associated Baptist Press opinion piece and wondered what it may say to us in BUGB about our own futures process. "I think it is important to resist allowing the framing of the issues to be set by people acting independently of their local congregations. Denominational meetings are often hijacked... Continue Reading →
Beyond 400 – thoughts so far
Now the 6th voice has been published I thought some reflections might be in order; though for the full effect you need to read each entry and the comments yourself. Three things have struck me so far: 1. We need to acknowledge how broken the current denomination is. Peter Dominey spoke of grieving what is... Continue Reading →
Baptist Futures survey
As part of the conversation BUGB is having about the future their website has a survey that anyone involved in Baptist life is invited to complete. SurveyMonkey questionnaires are of course only part of the solution, the danger sometimes is that they make a monkey out of survey results; by forcing you to make choices... Continue Reading →
Beyond 400 – join the conversation
Starting tomorrow the Beyond 400 website will carry a wide range of thoughts and ideas about the future of Baptist life in Britain (primarily focused on BUGB). Initially 40 people have agreed to participate by writing a short piece, or creating a video, that will stimulate conversation about re-imagining Baptist life for the future. The... Continue Reading →
Fresh Streams and BUGB life
I’ve spent the day at Fresh Streams annual conference. Since this is a three day affair I’m wary of blogging on such a small part of the whole, beyond noting that I enjoyed it, but the day prompts some wider thoughts. At this particular point in Baptist History, with the challenges BUGB faces, we need... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 