Baptists Together Mission Forum – November 2021

This national group aims to reflect, inform, inspire and raise the profile of mission across Baptists Together. Here is a summary of key points from the November 2021 meeting.
 

Moving where the Spirit leads

Lindsay Caplen led a meditation on Matthew 28 using a story from Honduras in 1998. Every major bridge was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina except the Choluteca Bridge. The storm also changed the course of the river so the bridge was stranded, high and dry. It is amazing how quickly things change. Churches can feel a bit like the bridge! Is the way we are being church the best way to help people get from where they are to where they need to be? Our future health as Baptists Together may depend on us remaining dynamic. How can we best help the Union in this setting? Jesus came to them and said ‘ALL authority is given to me... Surely I am with you to the very end of the age.’

What might we have to let go of, personally or in our church lives? Will we be prepared to do whatever it might take? 

Are we scared and tired? Do we feel God has gone on Sabbatical? Jesus says to us: Surely I am with you, to the very end of the age. So he is with us. Christ is our lead partner, so we need to move where the Spirit leads.
 

Being clear about the nature of mission

Everton Jackson of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) joined the gathering as a guest speaker to reflect on mission.  Everton said ‘We need to be clear about the nature of mission. It is no longer from the West to the Rest’. It is the task of bringing all things under the lordship of Christ. The BWA challenges all unions to focus on prayer and evangelism – the winning of souls - in the month of May, starting in 2022. We can accomplish more together than singly.
 
There is a reality of the rich and the poor, developed and underdeveloped. Many countries have had serious challenges in coping with the impact of Covid. They don’t have the resources to buy vaccines. They are waiting under the table for the crumbs to fall. The BWA is trying to hold their hands. All divisions of the BWA have been asked to consider these countries. Many have been able to join into partnerships. BWA is trying to advocate for vaccine distribution. 

You can view Everton’s reflection here:

 

Project Violet

Jane Day and Helen Cameron of Project Violet joined as guests and Mission forum were asked:
If you could ask one question about the place of women ministers in the Baptist Community, what would it be?
 
Here are some of the responses:

• Are women finding their place in incarnational pioneering?
• Do women feel that being a woman is the biggest stumbling block to getting where they want to be?
• Colour, age, social position etc: what effect do they have?!
• How do we recognise and value the work of the lay women who are doing the things unseen?
• What is being done to increase women into mentoring positions. What else can we do in terms of mentoring as a movement?
• Are there areas around the processes Ministerial recognition that need to be looked at?

 

The future

What should be on the agenda of Mission Forum in the in the future? Here are some ideas which were shared:

• Internships
• Mission with the working class
• Discipleship as an organising principle. Learning from our smaller churches
• Small & local
• Connecting digitally
• Church planning/multiply approach.
• Disciple making movements
• Re-inspiring churches to do mission in their way in their place
• New Housing
• Hybrid discipleship (clicks and bricks)
• Offering confidence – telling stories – celebrating ‘tried and failed’
• Communities
• Environmental care
• Large churches 

What do you think Mission Forum should be reflecting on? Please contact us to tell us how you see God at work and how you are joining in.
 
Baptists Together Mission Forum, November 2021

Please share this update with your church.