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 →
BUGB council meets again – without me :)
The new style BUGB Council meets for the first time today; one of a number of small steps in changing the Union as a result of the ‘Futures’ process. I’m not part of this so have no idea what’s going on, and I suspect that the change of format will mean fewer social media updates... 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 →
My experiences of Iquitos
Before I last went to Iquitos I agreed to write about it for the Baptist Times. The article's now on line: training pastors in Peru
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 →
Lessons from ministry: church meetings don’t work
When I first worked this out it felt like a guilty secret; but over the last six months I’ve seen several comments and articles which show I’m far from alone. Yet, I’m a Baptist Minister so surely I should be committed to this distinctive pillar of Baptist life? But what is it that Church Meetings... Continue Reading →
Lessons from ministry: death of the hunter-gatherer
Early humans were hunter-gathers, a way of life that gave way to agriculture and settled modes of living. But whatever the advances this had for human history, it marks an unfortunate tendency in church life. Bluntly, most churches structure for comfort and stability. We like each other and like what we do, so developing an... Continue Reading →
