The London Baptist Association have now announced who their new team leader is. Geoff Andrews call is to be considered at a special meeting on 1st October. The LBA website gives details here
Disappointed, depressed, distressed?
My attention was drawn to a blog (HT Rob Petrini ) by 9marks ‘Don’t make your pastor a statistic’ which suggested the majority of US Pastors were not content in their roles: 70% feel underpaid 70% fight depression 50% feel unable to meet the demands of the job 90% work between 55-75 hours a week.... Continue Reading →
Head of Faith and Unity – BUGB job vacancy
With Graham Sparkes moving to Manchester to become the new President of Luther King House the Union is now advertising for his replacement as the head of Faith and Unity. Details here Graham has done a great job and so will be a hard act to follow. But if you can combine a theological reflection,... Continue Reading →
Assembly: who is it for?
So far it has been a great Assembly; the weather has been fantastic, the speakers good and the opportunities for meeting up with people plentiful. Yesterday I particularly enjoyed Jeff Lucas who was much better than I remember as a preacher (I know that sounds a bit pompous!) Yet in the midst of this love-in... Continue Reading →
Baptist Assembly has started: what sort of Union should we be?
This years Baptist Assembly is now underway. The annual showcase of Baptist life in England is up and running in Blackpool with ‘Your Kingdom Come’ as its theme. One question posed on the opening night was ‘what is God saying’? Perhaps the answer lies in the question: where are we going as a Union? What... Continue Reading →
Baptist Assembly ~ here we come
Off to Baptist Assembly (well BUGB’s) this weekend. I will try and post some comments as events unfold. One thing I’m looking forward to is the recognition of ministers on Sunday evening. I’m always struck that the two occasions Assembly recognises your ministry are at the end of the accreditation period and after your death.... Continue Reading →
BUGB Council – character or decision
So Council draws to a close till later in the year. It has been dominated by questions of pensions, which are going to be a significant issue over the next few months. But for me the highlight has been a presentation by the Younger Leaders Forum; a Baptist 18-30 group who grapple with issues relating... Continue Reading →
BUGB Council
Off to BUGB Council again tomorrow, so expect a few blog comments over the next three days from me and other baptist bloggers. At first reading the agenda looks routine with few surprises but when you dig a bit deeper it may not be as straightforward as expected. Monday’s highlight maybe the Faith and Unity... Continue Reading →
Distrust larger churches?
As comments to my Home Mission post demonstrate there is some distrust of larger Baptist Churches in the UK. As someone who was previously a minister of a Home Mission supported small church I have some experience on both sides of this; there is something dispiriting about the suspicion that the life of your congregation... Continue Reading →
BUGB Home Mission 2
In a previous post I promised some thoughts on the way ahead so here goes: Home Mission depends on voluntary contributions from churches. In the last couple of years the Union has changed its appeal to encourage each church to give 5% of income to Home Mission. I’m sure this is the right strategy; it... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 