April 2010

TRANSFORM025

Church Membership

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WALKINGTHEWIRE

– following Jesus in a confusing worl d

9 - 15 August, 2010The Warwick School, Warwick

July 28 - August 1 2010

For more information about the event including information on

the programme, how to get involved and other conferences connected to the Congress see:www.bwacongress2010.org

Editorial

MEMBERSHIP MATTERSThe Mission Department has recently released a clutch of statistics for the years 2002-2008. There are some encouragements including a modest rise in church attendance. But I want to reflect with you on the decline of 7% in church membership.

The obvious reaction to this is to express a complete absence of surprise. It is very well known that most organizations are experiencing a decline in membership. Political parties have been hit particularly hard. One of the main parties has seen its membership decline by more than a half in the past ten years. So, it would be possible to shrug off our own membership decline and get on with life as if it doesn’t matter. But the problem is that it does matter.

It does matter if fewer and fewer people are wanting to commit their lives to Christ and to his church. It is the most staggering privilege in all the world to belong to a group of people who want to celebrate and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ, and so a decline ought to cause us real sadness and concern.

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I need to be clear what I mean by membership. I am not talking about institutional membership. Having your name on a list can be a totally meaningless exercise. We have probably all heard of churches that have names on their membership lists even though they don’t know who the people are or whether they are still alive. I really can’t get my head round that, and don’t want to try!

I’m talking about being members of the body of Christ. When church membership is understood in this way it’s incredibly exciting and dynamic. The imagery of the body couldn’t be clearer. Far from being a matter of dry and dusty lists, it’s about being organically related to one another. It involves having a deep involvement in one another’s lives, and a fervent desire to see one another grow in faith and love. When churches commit themselves to that kind of vibrant membership far from being turned inwards, the church will be naturally turned outwards towards its community and the world beyond.

I’m convinced that membership really does matter. Let’s go out of our way to encourage and to celebrate dynamic church membership.

MissionIntroduction At the time of writing I feel a sense of excitement about what is happening and what God is doing in our churches. As we plan this year’s Big Welcome, the refreshed ‘Back to Church Sunday’ initiative, we are hearing that 6500 people came last year and in a sample of churches surveyed some 28% are still coming. Praise God! I am reminded of Ephesians 3:20 where it says ‘God can do immeasurably more than we can even imagine’; yet again he has done so. The following is just a small sample of the many initiatives we are working with at the moment. More details can be found in the regular Mission newsletter which can be found at www.baptist.org.uk/mission. Everything we do is to equip the local church.

Belonging before believing A sense of belonging to the church comes before believing in Jesus Christ for many people today. As each year goes by, an increasing proportion of the population is likely to have had little previous connection with church. Surveys show that significant numbers cannot tell the Christmas and Easter stories, and values are more likely to have been picked up from the media than from Christian principles. All this means that people coming into contact with us through our activities, or venturing into worship services, probably do not already have well-defined Christian beliefs. Rather, in our fragmented society, they are looking for friendship and acceptance. So what would make them stay and have a sense of belonging to our church in those early days?

The ‘Belonging before Believing’ workshop will take a very practical look at our

Ian BunceHead of Department

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church buildings and ourselves, from the angle of how good a welcome we give to new people and how we help them feel at home with us. Through considering aspects of our buildings and our practices, we shall explore how we can do the best possible to make people feel that they belong in a church that cares about them. We shall highlight the particular needs of those who arrive with disabilities and give simple measures that make activities more accessible to them. This is a useful workshop for any church in any setting and a good opportunity to stand back and review how other people see us.

The first ‘Belonging before Believing’ workshop will take place at Baptist House, Didcot on Thursday 27 May and will be repeated in Yorkshire on 30 June. The speaker on each day will be Mark Hope-Urwin. Mark comes with a wealth of experience as a former Executive with the John Lewis Partnership, and his current role as Director of Hospitality and Welcome at Birmingham Cathedral.

The day, which will be suitable for ministers, leaders and welcoming teams, will help churches to consider ways in which they can become more welcoming and help people to feel that they belong. Cost: £20 per person including lunch For more information, and to book, see www.baptist.org.uk/training_events/other.html

New resources from the Mission Department:LIFEsize is a new resource

especially produced to encourage the healthy life of churches and enable them to look afresh at their local mission.

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Aimed particularly at the smaller church, the resource includes inspiring examples of churches reaching their communities.

The study guide includes leaders’ notes for five small group sessions, a DVD with teaching for each session by John Singleton (Northern Baptist Association Regional Minister) and suggested discussion questions. It is hoped that this new resource will encourage groups from smaller churches to recognise their strengths, develop their relationships and serve their community. Copies are available from BUGB Publications at a cost of £5 per copy (+p&p). Wellspring is a new eight-week course

of refreshment and pampering, looking at issues women face today from a

Christian perspective. It offers a ‘pre-Alpha’ evangelism course suitable for single and married women - those who have contact with Christians through friendship, or church activities such as parent and child groups or keep fit classes. Developed by Baptist minister Leesa Barton, the course aims to strengthen the relationships that have been formed with these women; to explore practical ways for women to treat and look after themselves; to address key issues that affect women today; and to share relevant Christian truths.

Each session includes a brief talk on a topic relevant to women today such as ‘rest and relaxation’, ‘acceptance and security’ and ‘self image’. The individual talks given by Leesa are available on the included DVD, or can be adapted by a group leader using the notes in the

book. An important part of the evening is a ‘pampering’ experience in which each participant is offered a professional treatment relevant to the evening’s discussion, such as a foot massage or makeover. The whole event is set in comfortable surroundings with light refreshments.

Three launch evenings for running a Wellsprings course will be held in Ilford, Southampton and Sutton Coldfield. At these launches Leesa Barton will offer practical advice about running the course and participants will share a meal together. For details see: www.baptist.org.uk/training_events/other.htmlCopies of the resource are available from BUGB Publications at a cost of £5 per copy (+p&p).

New Mission FilesA number of new Mission Files are now available in the Church and School series, to help your church engage with and encourage a

local school. These cover such topics as:• Celebrating Christmas and Easter• School Assemblies• The Teachers in your Church• Welcoming a School to your ChurchThe second ‘Love Your Local School’ Day will be held on Saturday 10 July at Crofton Baptist Church, Orpington. For details see: www.baptist.org.uk/training_events/other.html

There are also new Mission Files about Toddler Groups and about using Father’s Day this year for connecting with men.

MissionNational Family Week

Between 31 May – 6 June this year, the second-ever National Family Week will take place, encouraging

people across the UK to celebrate being part of a family, whatever shape or size. The Baptist Union of Great Britain is encouraging your church to support this campaign and join with thousands of organisations in promoting the week by running family friendly events and activities for your local community.

Why not be a part of National Family Week 2010 and organise events or activities to give families in your local community the opportunity to enjoy playing, learning and spending quality time together? Events can take place at any time during the week but you may wish to tie in your plans with one of the week’s theme days. For example, the Family Week Picnic on 31 May, Family Week Story Time on 2 June, Family Week House Party on 4 June or the Family Week Sports Day on 5 June. For additional ideas to inspire your church, see www.baptist.org.uk/nfweek or www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk

The Big LunchSunday 18 July.

The original idea for the Big Lunch came from the

Eden Project, to encourage people to reconnect with their natural world and work together. Thousands of people across the UK took part in the launch event last year, including Baptist Minister Angie Tunstall who organised an event

in her community in Manchester. Hear more about Angie’s experience of running The Big Lunch at www.baptist.org.uk/resources/crossing-places/tunstall.html

Why not encourage your church members to get involved in this year’s Big Lunch on Sunday 18 July to bring their community together and say something positive about the church? There is plenty of information available on the Big Lunch website www.thebiglunch.com, including tips on organising your own Big Lunch and how to find one in your area.

Back to Church Sunday26 September 2010The Big Welcome: Come as you areEvery Baptist church should already have received information in the post about this year’s Back to Church Sunday. In response to feedback we have received from last year, we are producing some new refreshed and exciting resources to help your church offer The Big Welcome to those in your local community. For more information see www.baptist.org.uk/b2cs or contact b2cs@baptist.org.uk We are grateful to have the support and sponsorship of The Baptist Insurance Company for this project.

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IntroductionThis edition, two issues are addressed that relate ministry to settlement, and while they are perhaps technical matters, they are also intensely pastoral. I commend them to your interest and prayers.

WaiversThe Ministry Department is now administrating the arcane art of waivers. Before you think this is some mysterious charismatic phenomenon, let me explain. Many churches have a constitution (governing document or rules) governing their life. Most churches will also own property that is subject to separate trusts. Some property trusts indicate that the minister must be accredited by the Baptist Union. Most ministers in our churches are accredited in this way but where this is not the case (for instance a church seeks to call as its assistant minister a member of its congregation) the church needs to seek a waiver from the requirement to have an accredited minister. The details of this process need not detain us here, but two important points are these. First, always discuss the possibility of calling an unaccredited person with your Regional Minister as early as possible. A waiver must be sought before a call can be confirmed. Secondly, the person to contact at Baptist House is Vikki Bunce (vbunce@baptist.org.uk). She will guide you should you discover a waiver is necessary. If a waiver is required and you have not obtained one, you will be in breach of your church’s trust deeds. You will expect me to say that it is always best to first seek an accredited minister when a pastoral vacancy occurs, and I do so, but with some ambivalence. When I first left teaching in 1982 and was called by Lewin Road, Streatham to be its full-time pastoral elder, the church would have

needed a waiver to confirm its call to me. Technically, I was an unaccredited minister!

SettlementTimes are tough for those seeking settlement at the moment, and the first thing to say is, please pray for the many ministers-in-training who are leaving our colleges this summer and who are currently without a post. As they wait for a call from a church it can be an anxious period for them and their families so prayer for patience, hope and confidence in God’s call is invaluable.Settlement is tough at the moment because, to put it bluntly, there are too many ministers chasing too few posts. Some of the background to this is a cause of encouragement: the drop-out rate for ministers in the first years of ministry has been drastically reduced by the mentoring support given during the probationary period; and the numbers discerning a call to train for Baptist ministry (that is, the number of vocations) has remained high. After a decade or more when the number of posts has risen to roughly keep pace with these increased numbers of ministers, the impact of the recession, perhaps, has seen the number of available posts fall slightly. You can do the maths as well as I can - if the number seeking ministry remains high while the vacancies fall a little then some will find the search for a post challenging.What can we do? The most obvious thing is to encourage us all to give more, both to our local church if it has paid staff so that posts remain open, and to Home Mission so that the Union can give grants to those churches creating posts as they step up to the plate and seek paid ministry to move them forward in their mission.

MinistryPaul GoodliffHead of Department

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I anticipate that we might take some small steps to reduce the numbers seeking settlement through suspending some less familiar ways in which people become accredited by us, and the Association MRCs as well as college selection boards are committed to being rigorous in their own selection processes. However, we shall still require new entrants to ministry, even in these challenging times, so I do not want anyone to hear that erroneous message that ‘we do not need any new ministers’. We certainly do need them, and so I pray that while it remains tough, those with a genuine call to Baptist ministry still have the courage to put themselves forward to the recognition processes, trusting God to open up the doors for ministry to them following the training that they require. Who knows, they could be in your church. Indeed, could that person be you?

Calling Prison volunteers!The Prison Ministry Working Group, originally set up to support Chaplains, is glad to acknowledge that a huge amount of valuable work is contributed by those who give time as volunteers. The group is planning a day conference to be held in the autumn to encourage and support those who volunteer in prisons, whether within a chaplaincy team, leading worship, offering educational support or any other way. The day will also be open to Baptists engaged in the criminal justice system in any way, and a major aspect will be to give time for sharing good ideas, as well as listening to some stimulating input.

If you are involved in any way in caring for offenders, please let us know so that

we can invite you when all the details have been arranged – and if you aren’t involved but know someone in your church who is, please pass this on to them. To tell us of your interest, please email imillgate@baptist.org.uk or phone 01235 517705. We look forward to meeting you!

Churches’ Ministerial Counselling ServiceIt was 20 years ago that discussions first took place that led to the Baptist Union providing a counselling service for ministers. By 1996 the other Free Churches had asked to join in, and the CMCS was launched – and this provision is still offered today.

The basic principles remain – those coming to the service only pay what they can afford, and the denomination pays the rest of the counsellor’s fees, without ever knowing more than that an un-named Baptist has been to a counsellor. The service is becoming ever more professional, and now only accredited counsellors are admitted to the register.

Any minister or adult in a minister’s household going through a difficult time with which counselling might help, whether work related or personal, can contact the service. See the CMCS leaflet which is sent out every couple of years, visit www.cmcs.org.uk and click ‘How can I access the Service?’, or phone the Ministry Department – you will not have to reveal your name.

Ministry

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Faith and UnityGraham SparkesHead of Department

IntroductionAt the core of our work as a department is a concern for justice. There is a commitment to work for justice in our world, engaging with the politics that perpetuates violence and poverty. There is also a commitment to seek justice within our own Baptist structures, and we are already engaged in the search for racial justice and women’s justice. One of our aims in the months ahead is to find ways of addressing other key justice issues, such as disability and sexuality. These, too, must be on our agenda if our life together is to reflect gospel values.

Gathering around the Table: Children and CommunionHow does the church worship together as a whole family when its central meal so often excludes those who are the youngest members of that family? What do we say when a child wants to share the bread and wine? Where is the child in our understanding of Church and of Communion?

These are not new questions but many Baptists are now thinking about them in new ways. And this series of six studies seeks to help us in this task, challenging us to consider afresh what it means to gather around the table on Sundays. It asks us to explore what it means to be a community inclusive of the youngest amongst us.

Each study begins with several pages of reflection on the different issues which seek to open up Scripture and theology and contemporary understandings. Then there are questions or exercises to help a group work through these issues. At the end of each study is an exercise to involve children.

Gathering around the Table will hopefully be available at the Baptist Assembly and can

then be ordered from Baptist House. Make this a theme for study amongst deacons and in house groups at your church! For further information contact the Faith and Unity Department: gsparkes@baptist.org.uk

Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer: ‘In Step with the Spirit’ 1 November 2010.

The first Monday in November each year has been set aside to celebrate the Baptist Women’s Day of Prayer for over 50 years. This

year begins a new theme – In Step with the Spirit – based on Galatians 5:25, ‘If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit’.

The 2010 material for the Day of Prayer has been prepared by the BWA Women’s Department and a version for British Baptists will be prepared and sent out in the summer. To receive the material, please contact Janet Farnsworth: jfarnsworth@baptist.org.uk

The Apology In 2007, as a result of careful listening, sharing and discernment at our Council meeting, BUGB together with BMS World Mission made

an apology for our involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Subsequently a meeting of London Baptist ministers took place in Docklands during which they reflected on what had taken place at Council. A DVD has been produced based on the discussions that took place, exploring the reservations that were expressed at the time as well as the convictions that led to a meeting of minds. It includes bible study materials for use in church groups. For a free copy of the DVD, contact: jfarnsworth@baptist.org.uk

Faith and Unity‘Now is the Time’ – the call to be peacemakers

In May governments from around the world will come together for a conference to review the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). For many reasons this offers a very real opportunity for concrete steps to be taken on the path towards a world free of nuclear weapons, and a number of churches, including BUGB, are coming together to say so!

Our message is that • Now is the time for governments to make the use or possession of nuclear weapons illegal through a new Nuclear Weapons Convention • Now is the time to put all bomb-grade material under international control • Now is the time to strengthen the non- proliferation regime and build a secure future for all • Now is the time to make our voice heard.

Please join us in this important campaign. You can do so by signing the online petition, by making Britain’s nuclear weapons an issue for debate at election time, by making the NPT conference part of your praying.

For more information and to sign the petition, go to: www.endnuclearweapons.org.uk. To know more about the issues and the campaigning work that is taking place contact gsparkes@baptist.org.uk

Independent Methodist ConnexionOver the last five years BUGB and the

Independent Methodist Connexion have been in covenant partnership. We have journeyed towards closer unity, enabling relationships to grow deeper and our shared commitment to Christ’s mission to find expression.

The covenant partnership came to an end at the beginning of the year. Though many of us hoped that would mark the joining together of our two traditions, that has not happened. However, over coming months we hope and expect that a significant number of IMC churches will come into membership with BUGB, and we look forward to welcoming them. There is no doubt that they will enrich the life of our associations. For further info email: gsparkes@baptist.org.uk

General Election Resources Together with our ecumenical partners, BUGB has been involved in producing

a number of resources in the lead up to the General Election. These include an introduction to the main issues, how to run a hustings meeting, and what action to take to counter political extremism.

It is easy to forget the remarkable power of our democratic process. As Christians we must take our political responsibilities seriously.

Go to www.baptist.org.uk/resources/social_political.html and click on the appropriate section, or for wider ecumenical links go towww.ctbi.org.uk/42710

CouncilRichard NichollsGeneral Manager

Baptist Union Council met for three days during March at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. About 150 met together for days of intense conversation.

The Mission Department report had two major components, firstly a presentation and debate about the opportunities that come from the imminent retirement of the Baby Boomer age. In a new phase of what was formally called the Fresh Horizons programme, Council endorsed the development of an initiative that equips churches and people in ministry and mission to, for and among third agers. In the next few years this will be the biggest social group within our nation.

Council then debated and passed a resolution about renewing our commitment to church planting by Baptists. It was recognised that this needs to be well resourced, particularly in terms of new build areas.

Alongside these two important matters were the launch of LIFEsize, a resource for smaller churches, and an update on Back To Church Sunday and More than Gold, a united Christian response to the Olympics.

Council received the Management Accounts of the Union which showed a deficit of £628,717. They also noted that the Consolidated SORP accounts of the Union, including changes in the value of investments and property gains, and incorporating the results of the Union’s subsidiary companies, showed a deficit of £352,380 in its unrestricted funds. They noted that

the Trustees were proceeding with their contingency plans for dealing with such deficits, which trusted the churches to respond to the appeal for at least 5% of their general fund income, and covering deficits from reserves. The deficits would need to be met by reducing costs and therefore the services provided, if the income did not increase in 2010 and early 2011.

Council were advised of the progress of the Pension Review and the results of the Consultation with churches and pension scheme members, which had broadly endorsed the Group’s interim thinking. Further work would be done on the outstanding issues before firmer proposals were presented to Council in November.

Council were advised that the increase in the Home Mission Stipend for 2011 was likely to be between £300 and £500, but would depend on economic factors available in June after a general Election.

Council noted the changes which had taken place in The Baptist Times to reduce costs and improve profitability. It was hoped that the improved paper could continue to attract additional readership.

The Communications Committee report included an update on the ongoing development of online films, and the success of Baptist Life and Transform (printed and online). The BUGB Web Development Project is developing and the current architecture of the website is being reviewed in liaison with other departments

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Councilat the National Resource, Associations and Colleges. In preparation for this the department worked in partnership with the London Baptist Association to create a new contemporary website.

The Associations Home Mission Network (which reports through the Communications Committee) continues to meet, sharing stories and good practice from across the thirteen regions. In 2010 areas being reviewed will be Legacy Giving and the role of Home Mission Representatives in the local church.

A major resolution on ‘Women in Leadership’ was debated and agreed by Council. This clearly affirmed the commitment of BUGB to the full inclusion of women in ministry and all other forms of leadership, and to working to overcome the obstacles and barriers still experienced by women amongst us. The decision of Council is a significant step on a continuing journey, and both the Faith and Unity Department and the Ministry Department will be responsible for taking forward this agenda.

A presentation on ‘Faith and Politics’ gave Council the opportunity to reflect on our responsibility to engage with the political process in the run up to the General Election. Key issues of concern were identified, together with resources available for use by our churches.

Council heard about the ending of the existing covenant partnership arrangements with the Independent Methodist Connexion. More than half the IMC

churches have indicated a desire to be in membership with BUGB as well as retaining their involvement with the IMC, and applications will be processed in the normal way.

Amongst the many matters reported to Council from the Ministry Executive, particular attention was paid to the responses made by the Ministerial Recognition Committee to the very demanding context in which ministers and leaving students find themselves at present when seeking a pastorate. Some measures to restrict in a small way the routes into the settlement system were discussed. It is hoped that these measures, together with a new emphasis upon the possibility of bi-vocational ministry, might ease the current pressures. The major recommendation brought to Council was a restructuring of the Register of ministers, rooted in a theology of ministry developed by a working group over the past 18 months. The major change concerns the development of a new, second Register, to recognise and support various kinds of Church Workers, including initially Children and Family Workers, Parish Nurses and Church-based Community Workers. With considerable debate, and some hesitation on the part of many, the recommendation was narrowly passed, and the Ministry Department intends to consult again about these proposals before any implementation.

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Our Task Groups are engaging with responses we have received from an association consultation with the churches to develop ways in which the association can serve the churches in the coming years.

Around the Union

CentralAdministrative contact: Stephen Copson01462 442548stephen.c@centralba.org.uk

East MidlandsAdministrative contact: Rebecca Nicholls0115 981 8645administrator@embaptists.co.uk

EasternAdministrative contact: Hayley Beckett 01263 826377secretary@easternbaptist.org.uk

Heart of EnglandAdministrative contact: Karen Martindale0121 472 4986mailbox@baptist-heartofengland.orgHEBA continues to explore missional partnerships through which churches can be given fresh inspiration, resources and training. Saltmine Trust have worked with us on evangelism training and theatre productions. An exciting project offering support to churches in urban, multicultural contexts is being developed with Northern Baptist Learning Community. Recently we have provided training for children’s workers with Scripture Union and the Bible Reading Fellowship. A lot has happened since our new Regional Ministry Team was formed in 2007, so they will be taking some time to review things this autumn.

In the first half of the year regional ministers explored some Baptist distinctives with local churches, delivering seminars around the association on ‘Making the most of Church Meeting’ and ‘Help! I’m a Deacon’. Training opportunities have been a feature of our thinking and the Association Council has set aside a budget to encourage churches to promote training for their members.

The EMBA is commencing a process of listening to its churches about engaging in mission. The aim of this process is to encourage our churches in their own mission and inform future EMBA mission strategy. American student volunteers will be working in four of our EMBA churches over the next 12 months. A good number of prospective ministers are enquiring about exploring a call to ministry and there are healthy developments in supporting small churches without a minister in their mission vision.

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North WesternAdministrative contact: Mandy Howarth 01942 221595baptnw1@aol.com During the spring we are running a number of training evenings in order to ensure that churches in our region know of the forthcoming changes in child protection and are ready to comply with the new vetting and barring legislation. We are also excited as we continue exploring ‘beyond the boundaries’ at our Making Mission Manageable event in May where we will be specifically exploring Café Church. There will be an opportunity to hear from those already involved in Café Church and look at some of the practical aspects.

NorthernAdministrative enquiries: 0191 273 7641admin@thenba.org.ukWhilst the association stretches to the border with Scotland, there are only a few Baptist churches in Northumberland, a vastly rural county. Therefore it is with great excitement that the association is sponsoring Glendale, a church-planting initiative based in Wooler, but seeking to serve the wider area. We look forward to welcoming mission teams from Texas over the next few months as part of our developing links with Tryon Evergreen Baptist Association.

LondonAdministrative contact: Paul Martin020 7692 5592paul@londonbaptist.org.ukThe LBA has continued to develop its strategy, ‘Making disciples, sharing the good news of Jesus’. A new logo has been adopted and the website has been completely re-designed - both with the help of the Communications Department at Didcot. Five ‘roadshows’ were held around the association from January to March in the context of Sunday evening services in which the directors of the LBA shared their thinking about the future staffing of the association as part of a consultation exercise.

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South EasternAdministrative contact: Steph Tidy01444 233431admin@seba-baptist.org.uk January saw SEBA’s third anniversary celebration at Tenterden which included the induction of Paul Kerley as Regional Minister and the re-dedication of the team. Jonathan Edwards was our guest speaker. At the end of January 10,000 copies of SEBA News (as a supplement within The Baptist Times) were distributed free to all our churches. The team met for a 24-hour retreat in February. Applications are being invited for participants in a MAD Week (Make A Difference!) when young people can engage in mission in Kent Thameside during the October half-term.

Around the Union

South WalesAdministrative contact: Jackie Godding 02920 491366office@swbabugb.org.uk The annual conference for ministers in the South Wales Baptist Association and Baptist Union of Wales was held in February in beautiful Saundersfoot. Our guest speaker, Krish Kandiah from the Evangelical Alliance, spoke relevantly about ministry today. It was a good time of interaction, fellowship and teaching. The storytelling evening gained momentum as we shared together what the Lord is doing throughout the nation of Wales.

South WestAdministrative contact: Chris Wooding01392 433533chris@swbaptists.org.ukWe are looking forward to the Baptist Assembly coming to Plymouth and welcoming the national family to the South West. SWBA will hold its Annual Meeting on the Sunday of the Assembly weekend and we anticipate having a particularly strong South West presence at the meeting. We will be saying goodbye to our Association Chairman after ten years’ service, and seeking to elect another.

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West of EnglandAdministrative contact: Geoff Starling0117 965 8828office@webassoc.org.ukOur dream to plant ten new churches in ten years has begun with the development of ‘The Stowe’, a new missional community on a housing development near Swindon. WEBA churches gave just under £10,000 towards this project; the next focus will be a new community in Portishead near Bristol. Other WEBA initiatives include a Re:source Bristol bike ride, a visit from Rick Lewis, author of ‘Mentoring Matters’, in April, and two ‘3 in 1 Events’ this year to make it easier for more churches to be involved.

YorkshireAdministrative contact: Deborah Gamble0113 278 4954debbie.gamble@yba.org.ukThe YBA is making preparations to launch a new Mission Strategy following a series of Listening Events across the region. The vision for this focuses on enabling and equipping Christians in Yorkshire churches to be confident in the good news of Jesus Christ. The central point is “our confidence together in Christ” and confident partnerships with others is also a key feature. We are currently working on strategic objectives in the areas of evangelism, discipleship, leadership and spirituality.

Southern CountiesAdministrative contact: Keith Hawton023 8041 0691k.hawton@scba.org.uk

Staff News

EasternJulie Eadie has been appointed as the Association Bookkeeper.

Heart of EnglandKeith Judson (Regional Minister Team Leader) will be on sabbatical leave during May, June and July. Amongst

other things Keith is hoping to visit BMS projects and the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut. Please pray for this trip and that the rest of the sabbatical will be refreshing and fruitful in terms of future ministry.

LondonRevd Dr Pat Took is due to retire as Regional Minister (Team Leader) in early September. The directors of the LBA are currently undertaking a full staffing review prior to appointing Pat’s successor.

North WesternWe will be very sorry to see Barbara Tickner leave us at the end of April. Barbara has been a volunteer at the association for many years and has seen a number of regional ministers come and go during her time. As her 80th birthday approaches Barbara is leaving us to devote more time to her home church in Liverpool and we will miss not only her incredible knowledge and energy but also her encouragement, support and friendship.

South WalesWe welcome Jackie Godding, who has joined the team as our new Association Manager.

Regional

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National

Jenny StewartJenny Stewart (Communications) left the Baptist Union at the end of February to join Scripture Union International as International Business

and Development Manager. Jenny joined the Baptist Union in 2002 as Events Administrator, taking on responsibilities with the Baptist Assembly, Leading Edge and the BWA Congress. Since then she also took on the management of BUGB Publications. Jenny has contributed vast amounts of time and energy to all these areas and will be missed by many.

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CommunicationsAmanda AllchornHead of Department

IntroductionAs I write this, the Communications Department is in the throes of creating resources and planning for Assembly in May and Leading Edge in August. We are also busy developing the BUGB website and are very excited about the possibilities the new website will offer you all in the local church. One area we are exploring is how we can direct church leaders more quickly to resources. There will be much more about this in the September edition of Transform – so watch this space!

BUGB Spring DVD ‘Making Peace’ In March we filmed the next major BUGB DVD in Barrow in Furness. Ministers receiving this edition of Transform should find this

DVD enclosed – the film is also available online at www.baptist.org.uk/dvd2010. In the film we wrestle with a major national and international issue affecting all of us – the issue of peace. We feature the journey that Abbey Road Baptist Church, Barrow in Furness has been on regarding the renewal of Trident which has a dominant presence in the town. Also featured is the role of the Joint Public Issues Team as they engage with the Government on behalf of our Baptist family, the URC and Methodist Churches, see www.jointpublicissues.org.uk for more information. Please do use this important resource in the life of your church and even in ecumenical gatherings.

Twitter As BUGB get more involved in the range of ways we can communicate, we have now joined the increasingly popular social network Twitter. So if you ‘tweet’ visit www.baptist.org.uk and click on the tab to follow us and get regular updates on Baptist life and new items on the BUGB website.

Making Peace

dvd_2010_2.indd 1 10/03/2010 16:37

Encouraging

Missionary

DisciplesAnnual Review 2009

Take a look at ourAnnual Review 2009now available online at

www.baptist.org.uk/annualreview2009

The Baptist TimesMark WoodsEditor

Looking to the future

The last few months have been an exciting period in the life of The Baptist Times. In brief, we: - launched an appeal for funds which saw a generous response from readers- re-designed the paper to give it a fresher, cleaner look- re-designed our office to make it a smaller but more appropriate work space- replaced antiquated computer equipment- changed our advertising agent and our printers - engaged a business manager to make us more commercially effective

We also said farewell to our valued features editor, Jenny Williams, news of whose prestigious journalism award for her work with us came through just after she left.

Most of these changes have impacted our staff more than our readers! But it has all helped to put us in a more stable and confident position which will also benefit our readers.

Looking forward, we have started a number of interesting projects aimed at resourcing and informing Baptist churches, including:

• Regular supplements focusing on a particular association in the Union. These are produced by the associations themselves, and allow them to tell their stories in their own way. They’re distributed to all the association’s churches, so that everyone in a congregation has the chance to read them.

• Inserting theonepaper, an evangelistic paper, into The Baptist Times once a month. From its May edition this will be edited by The Baptist Times. It’s available to order in any quantity and is ideal to give away in neighbourhood outreach programmes or to give to people on the fringes of your church.

• A Baptist Times Gone By book which focuses on the war years. How did Baptists respond to the moral, physical and spiritual challenges of global conflict? Details of its publication should be available by the time of the Baptist Assembly in Plymouth.

If The Baptist Times isn’t widely read in your church - or not read at all - why not consider subscribing in order to stay in touch with what is happening around our churches? Please visitwww.baptisttimes.co.uk or phone Bob Hilton on 01235 517738.

We’d also be very happy to send youfree copies - just email me ateditor@baptisttimes.co.uk or phone 01235 517672.

And finally...if you have ever wondered how The Baptist Times is put together, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix2xVOJXP5M

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PublicationsSeveral new publications are now available for you to purchase via the resource section of the BUGB website.

Baptism Belonging and Breaking BreadRewritten and expanded for the BUGB by Paul Beasley-Murray, this book replaces the popular Baptism and Belonging. It has been designed to use as a set of classes for those wanting to be

baptised and become members of a local congregation. As the title suggests it has been expanded to include a section on the Lord’s Supper. Priced at £1.50, it provides an excellent resource for church leaders. Journeying Through Conflict

This excellent resource by Vivienne O’Brien and Ernie Whalley has been redesigned and updated. The resource was originally developed after a seminar at the 2002 Baptist Assembly on

‘Hurting Churches’ attracted more than 500 attendees. It provides leaders with various tools that will enable them to handle tensions in church relationships. Priced at £4.50 per book.

2010 DirectoryThe new look Baptist Union of Great Britain 2010 directory is now available. The price has been kept at £15.50.

Other new resources coming soonLook out for the new version of Safe To Grow, completely rewritten to include more safeguarding issues and the new ISA regulations. Also, soon to be released is a new resource on Children & Communion which will hopefully be launched at the 2010 Baptist Assembly.

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Church Treasurers’ feedback, 2010 Challenge and Training Days

A big ‘thank you’ for all your generous donations to Home Mission during 2009. Giving was very slightly up on 2008 which is good news, especially against the current economic backdrop.

Thank you too to those treasurers who responded to my letter last September, it was great having your feedback, particularly knowing how many of you appreciate having your own copy of Transform.

The Olympics are less than three years away now and I know it might be a big ask, but I want to encourage us all to ‘raise the bar’ as we approach 2012. Although Home Mission giving is up, annual increases remain well below the annual rate of inflation and as annual costs rise the gap between income and expenditure is increasing sharply.

Many churches have responded magnificently to the call to increase giving to Home Mission to ‘at least 5% of General Fund income’ and I do hope many other churches will join them this year. Some of you have asked me what would the increase look like on a per church member basis. Well, I can tell you – it would mean an extra £10 per church member per year, or put another way, just 20p per week.

So in the run up to the Olympics, here is a challenge for every church and every church member and in true Olympic fashion let’s raise the bar gradually – let’s raise the bar this year by 10p per week per church member, next year 15p and in 2012 20p. So treasurers and ministers are you

ready to accept the challenge? I realise there are many competing demands upon your monies which is why I hope the challenge is a realistic and achievable one. I realise too that some churches could afford to give more and I encourage those that can to do so, if only for the sake of those who may be less able.

Finally, a number of training days are being planned for treasurers during 2010 and I look forward to meeting many of you at these events during the year.

Malcolm Broad, Treasurer of the Baptist Union of Great Britain

Home Mission

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STAMPS,COINS,MEDALS & POSTCARDS

Stamp collecting is one of the world’s most popular and

enduring hobbies, with more than 20 million collectors!! It is also the means by which BUGB raised over £4,100 in 2009, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Alan Cookson, from Aston Clinton Baptist Church, Aylesbury. But there’s more – the following items can also be turned into money for Home Mission: •Stamp collections, presentation packs and First Day covers • Old postcards • Medals • Coins • Old bank notes • Cigarette and tea cards, and telephone cards • Dinky, corgi and matchbox toys (cars, lorries, buses etc)

So please send your stamps and other collectibles to Alan Cookson, 41 Pemberton Close, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP21 7NY. Or drop them off at the Communications Department at Baptist House in Didcot!

Finance

IntroductionThe Finance Office is again in the process of preparing year end accounts for the many funds that are held and maintained at Baptist House. Donations and funds received for the Home Mission Appeal and the Loan and Trust Funds are dealt with on a daily basis in addition to the support given to churches that seek help on various matters from pensions to gift aid and from loans to tax queries.

2010 StipendThe Trustees have fixed the Home Mission Stipend for 2010 at £19,350. Treasurers should also note that the value of a Manse for Pension Fund purposes is £5,825 per annum as from 1 January 2010. This increases the amounts that churches and ministers pay as pension scheme contributions, and significantly increases the benefits which will be received in due course from the fund.

2011 StipendThe Trustees have not yet established a Guideline Stipend for 2011.

Deposit ratesThe Baptist Union Corporation currently (from 1 November 2009) pays interest at 0.80% on money deposited by churches in the Baptist Union Loan Fund. The current rate is advertised each week in The Baptist Times. The deposits assist the provision of loans to churches, and are welcomed by the Corporation.

Loan ratesThe Baptist Union Corporation is willing to lend at 3.50% (from 1 November 2009) to churches buying, extending or renovating buildings or manses, subject

Philip PutmanHead of Department

to suitable repayment arrangements being in place. This rate is also subject to change in line with national interest rates. The current rate is advertised each week in The Baptist Times.

Mileage ratesThe recommended mileage rates continue at 40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles within each tax year, and 25p for each mile thereafter.

Compiled by Philip Cooke FCA., Honorary Taxation Adviser to the Baptist Union

A further selection of Questions & Answers from my mailbox.

Gift Aid relief on donations to other causes:Q: Some of our members who make ‘gift-aided’ donations through the church specify amounts which they wishto be donated to other charities or projects, but I am wondering whether it is in order for us to claim ‘gift-aid’relief in these circumstances?A: It is a fundamental rule under the ‘Gift-Aid’ provisions that relief can only be claimed on ‘unfettered’ donations to a charity. This means that it is not possible for a donor to give directions as to how a donation shall be applied. The donor can express a wish that a gift might be used in a particular way but the trustees (deacons) cannot be bound by this and it is for them alone to determine whether the charity’s funds are being applied for

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the church’s declared charitable objectives. Donations are received by a charity on the basis that they form partof that charity’s income so that where a charity is simply being used as a ‘conduit’, relief is not available. This does not mean that a church is unable to make donations to other charities but it is for the trustees to determine whether they represent a valid application of church funds. For example, donations to Home Mission,BMS World Mission and most missionary societies (possibly comprising sums from individuals who have requested that consideration be given to applying all or part of such gifts in a particular way, as well as donations from a church‘s regular income) will represent a proper application of funds and will therefore quite properly qualify for relief. Such relief is usually included in the donated sum. It is not unusual for individuals to seek to support a ‘pet project’ through a church, more especially if that project is not a registered charity. This would be a classic example of a charity being used as a ‘conduit’ and would be totally unacceptable to HMRC who would be entitled to recover any relief which has been claimed inappropriately, almost certainly with interest and maybe a penalty. Gift aid relief has been an enormous boon to churches and charities in general and it goes without saying that every endeavour should be made to ensure that such relief is not misused.

Donations from companies:Q: Do donations from companies qualify for gift-aid relief?A: Whilst charitable donations made by companies will usually be deductible from a company’s taxable profits for corporation tax purposes, they do not

give rise to gift-aid relief in the hands of the recipient charity and should not therefore be included in a claim.

Shared ownership of manse:Q: Ownership of our church manse is shared with our minister who has a 30% share which he has leased to the church.Is it right in these circumstances for the minister to bear 30% of the council tax and water charges?A: No - this is not right! The church is, through its own 70% share of the property and the leased 30% minister’s share, the ‘legal occupier’ of the entire property which it then makes available to the minister as a manse for the better performance of his/her duties. The church is therefore responsible for payment of the whole of council tax and water charges which should be billed to and paid by the church.

Lease to church of minister-owned property for use as a manse:Q: My wife and I lease our property to the church for use as a manse for which we receive an agreed rental. However, after taking account of loan interest and other outgoings for maintenance and insurance etc there is a net deficit. Do we still need to report this to HMRC on our tax returns?A: If the deficit position is likely to continue then there is no net income to report and the completion of the UKproperty pages might therefore seem unnecessary. It is not possible to offset such a deficit against other incomefor tax purposes but it can be carried forward indefinitely to set against any future net rental income which mayarise. If there is a possibility that there might be net rental income at some point

Finance

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in the future then one should go through the motions of completing the relevant pages and recording the net deficit available to be carried forward.

Rented manse:Q: Our church does not have its own manse but we are about to rent one for use by our newly appointed minister. Can we do this without any taxation repercussions?A: Manse accommodation does not have to be owned by the church but in the case of a rented property it is essential that the lease or tenancy agreement be in the name of the church and that the rent be paid by the church directly to the landlord. Most landlords will consent to this if the circumstances are explained and any necessary conditions or limitations are set out in the agreement. Unless the church is the named tenant then payment or reimbursement of the rent by the church will give rise to a taxable benefit to the minister and the usual exemption for a manse provided for the better performance of a minister’s duties will not apply.

Manse telephone:Q: How should we be dealing with the manse telephone in order to ensure that no taxable benefit arises to theminister?A: A telephone line provided by the church at the manse (which the Revenue regard as a workplace) will be exempt from any charge to tax as long as the church is the subscriber and there are procedures in place to monitor, control and minimise the cost of private use. Some telephone providers, however, try to make things difficult either by saying that if the line is in the name of the

church it will be regarded as a business line (with a higher rental) or that it must be in the name of the minister. What appears to be acceptable in many cases is for the account to be in the name of the church, c/o the named minister and the manse address. If the minister reimburses the cost of personal calls then it is only the line rental which is exempt and the cost of calls (less the amount made good by the minister for personal calls) will need to be included on form P11D and included on the minister’s tax return (both as a taxable benefit and a deductible expense) unless a dispensation is in place. In summary, therefore, the account should be in the name of the church (resulting in the line rental being exemptfrom tax) and church business calls should form part of the P11D dispensation. Incidentally, it is now possible to apply for a P11D dispensation online at https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/shortforms/form/P11DX?

Neither is there any taxable benefit where a church is the subscriber for a mobile phone provided to a minister for church business use, the exemption in this case extending to the cost of the phone itself, any line rental and the cost of all calls, including any private calls.

Reference should also be made to paragraphs 1.13 - 1.15 of the Taxation Guidance Notes for Churches &Ministers (document F5 on the BUGB website) for further information, including broadband connection.

Council tax on empty manse:Q: We currently have a pastoral vacancy and our manse is unoccupied. The local council is contending that

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because two or three items of furniture were left in the property by the former minister we are liable to pay 90%council tax. Are they correct?A: Though not a council tax ‘expert’ my understanding is that an unoccupied church manse which is held foroccupation by a future minister falls into Class H for council tax purposes and is therefore exempt. I suggest, therefore, that you resist the claim. Of course, if the manse is let in the meantime the tenant will become liable for council tax in the normal way.

A final word concerning online filing of ministers’ tax returns:HMRC has advised that due to cost considerations they do not have any plans in the foreseeable future to include the MoR pages in their free self assessment online software. This means that if ministers wish to file their returns online it will be necessary to use commercial software. I am making enquiries of some software providers about costs and will include details in the next issue of Transform. It does mean, of course, that if ministers choose to make a paper return it must be filed not later than31 October.

These notes are issued for general guidance only. The author or publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of material contained herein. If you are in any doubt about the correct treatment of any matter you should seek further professional advice. I am prepared to respond to questions of a general nature and my email address is:philipjcooke@aol.com. In order to avoid any such emails being treated as ‘spam’ please state under ‘Subject’ the name of your church plus the words ‘Taxation enquiry’.

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Finance

Legal and Property Issues

IntroductionRoutine work in the Corporation continues but exciting things have been happening in the Loan Fund! Eighteen loans totalling over £5,000,000 were offered in 2009 - some for the construction of brand new church buildings, including our largest ever loan of £1,000,000, and three loans for churches in Scotland.

Water and Surface Water Drainage Charges We know that churches are affected by the practice of some water companies who charge them the same tariff as commercial customers. The Government tried to tackle this problem through the Flood and Water Management Bill. However, the terms only ‘permit’ water companies to charge a social tariff, and it is uncertain whether this Act will become law. It is possible that some draft guidance will be issued, and that this will be subject to public consultation. If this happens we will let you know through Webwatch – we know you will want to respond.

Guidelines Leaflets BUC guideline leaflet C29 Churches, Charities and Incorporation has been comprehensively updated. It now offers more advice and guidance to churches, especially where they have a community project that they might want to establish as a company. There is more information about Charitable Incorporated Organisations which should become available later this year. (The Charity Commission expects to issue more information ‘in spring 2010’.)

Linda HolderManager of the Baptist Union Corporation

B4 Redeveloping Church Premises and B4a Contract Procurement – the alternatives have been slightly altered. They now include some additional information, and comments about Collateral Warranties and Latent Defects Insurance.

Chubb Fire Appliance Servicing and Supply ContractSome churches may not be aware that Chubb offer special rates to churches on fire extinguishers and on the servicing of fire appliances. The details can be found at www.churcheslegislation.org.uk under ‘Publications’. In order to receive the quoted rates it is important that churches deal with the named contact at Chubb Corporate Accounts.

Inspection and Maintenance Contracts for Lifts Churches with lifts on their premises should consider whether an annual maintenance and repair contract would be a cost-effective way of servicing their lift. They should also ensure that their insurers know that they have a lift and that it is inspected at six monthly intervals in order to comply with the LOLER regulations. Further information can be found in the Health and Safety Executive leaflet Thorough examination and testing of lifts – Simple guidance for lift owners which can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/PUBNS/indg339.pdf

New Charity Commission Leaflet - Faith in Good GovernanceThe Charity Commission has published a new booklet for churches called Faith in Good Governance. It brings together into one document the aspects of

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Legal and Property Issues

charity law and good practice which are most relevant to faith organisations. The guidance can be found at www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/tcc/pdfs/faithgov.pdf or on request from the Charity Commission (0845 3000 218).

Baptist Insurance – Helpful GuidanceBaptist Insurance publish guidance on their website under ‘News’. In recent months this has included guidance on burst pipes and snow clearance. For further information see www.baptist-insurance.co.uk/news/index.aspx

Churches and Charity Numbers Churches with an income below £100,000 and so have not needed to register with the Charity Commission are still charities but remain ‘Excepted from Registration.’ These churches will not have their own charity number. They should not use the charity number for any other organisation, even if that is the number for their local Baptist Association, or their property trustees. For more information, please see the BUC guidelines leaflet C16 Churches and Charity Registration www.baptist.org.uk/resources/resource_downloads/199.pdf

Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme An interim grant scheme that returns, in grant aid, all or part of the actual amount spent on VAT on eligible repairs to listed places of worship is due to continue until March 2011. Churches that may be eligible to benefit from this scheme should ensure that any applications for relief are submitted promptly. For further information see www.lpwscheme.org.uk

Help for historic chapels from English Heritage

English Heritage is setting out to help all congregations caring for a listed Baptist chapel. Good stewardship keeps many in good condition but some are in urgent need of help. On 30 June, English Heritage will reveal the results of research into the true condition of all England’s listed places of worship and publish a practical guide to provide advice about funding, maintaining and using churches and chapels more sustainably. The pack will be sent to every listed Baptist chapel, of which there are some 280, but is also available free to anyone who may be interested. To register for a copy, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/powar or call English Heritage Customer Services on 0870 333 1181.

SafeguardingAlan ElsonSafeguarding Administrator

THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR CRB APPLICATIONS AND RENEWALS OF DISCLOSURES AT CAS IS 31 MAY. ONLY EMERGENCY APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT DATE UNTIL 14 JUNE.

New style CRB forms that include application for registration with Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will become available after the end of May. Only new appointments or those changing jobs may apply in the first wave of registration from 26 July – this will become compulsory in November.

Existing holders of Disclosures are to start entering the new system from April 2011 and then only those with Disclosures that are more than three years old or those who are currently working without a Disclosure.

A timetable for the changeover was sent out to Webwatch subscribers in January. If you have not seen it yet, please go to the BUGB website www.baptist.org.uk and look in ‘Latest News’ under the ‘News and Media’ section. The title of the document is CAS Schedule for changeover to new CRB/ISA application process. It is important that everyone connected with the process for applying for CRB Disclosures sees this.

Training opportunities for churches on the new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) should already be under way. If you have not heard about these in your area, please contact your Regional Ministry Team. Most of the major denominations are collaborating over this programme so you may find that events in your locality are being run by another church.

A new version of Safe To Grow is currently in production – this should be available at the Assembly. It will have new advice on issues such as electronic communication and bullying. We will also be recommending that churches adopt consistent terminology to enable us to communicate effectively with one another and outside agencies. Clear markers will be incorporated in the text to differentiate between statutory requirements and recommended good practice. Plans are afoot to eventually make this available electronically so that there will be easier access and updating in the future.

Detailed guidance on the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) is still awaited. As we receive guidance it will be published on the BUGB website and in Transform. At the time of writing it seems unlikely that local systems will need to be dramatically changed other than to include the statutory requirements that before allowing newly appointed people to start work, their registration status will have to be checked and if not registered they will have to do so.

Recruiting Safely. The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has recently published guidance on Safer Recruitment (www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/safeguarding/safer-recruitment). The Churches Agency for Safeguarding (CAS) has details about this document and a presentation that you can download (www.churchsafe.org.uk).

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Events

National

Leading Edge9-15 August 2010, Warwick ‘Walking the Wire – following Jesus in a confusing world’

Leading Edge, our summer family festival, is a wonderful holiday week where people of all ages come together to worship God, learn, play, relax and be equipped for their ministry and mission.

This year we are pleased to announce that speakers will include Joel Edwards (Micah Challenge International), Jonathan Edwards, Tracy Cotterell (London Institute of Contemporary Christianity), David Kerrigan, Diane Tidball, Ian Bunce and Kathryn Morgan. Together we’ll be exploring the theme ‘Walking the Wire – following Jesus in a confusing world’, looking at how Jesus engaged in a world of contradictions and pain, and finding ways of applying this to our own calling to be missionary disciples.

The Edge, the new look adult programme, will have lots of creative new elements over several venues and the seminar streams which will include: crossingplaces, ‘the world and work’, a creative stream by John Turner from Saltmine Ministries and a leadership stream.

The very popular V2 venue for those in their 20s will also be back again. The children will have an exciting Club L:Edge programme to enjoy with the usual teaching, fun and games; and the Innovation team will be delivering the programme for teens.

Don’t miss out – book now. Come as part of a group of 15 or more paying guests and get a 5% discount. See the website for more information:www.baptist.org.uk/leadingedge

MissionWellsprings Launch Tuesday 25 May: IlfordThis event is for women in churches who might run a Wellsprings course, and will include a meal, practical help from author Leesa Barton and a demonstration. Further days will be held around the country later in the year.

Belonging before Believing - ‘creating a culture of welcome’Thursday 27 May: Didcot,Wednesday 30 June: YorkshireSpeaker Mark Hope-Urwin will help churches to consider ways in which they can become more welcoming and help people to feel that they belong.

National Family Week31 May – 6 JuneSee www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk for ways that your church can get involved in running family friendly events and activities for your local community.

Small Churches DayWednesday 23 June: Bawtry Hall, near DoncasterA day with speaker John Singleton, for anyone who worships in a small church.

Love Your Local School DaySaturday 10 July: OrpingtonA day to help churches to develop links with their local school.

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Central12 June: The Assembly and AGM in Milton Keynes in June has ’Stuck inside the Box?’ as its theme with David Kerrigan of BMS World Mission as the speaker.At the end of June a one-day seminar is planned, ‘Witness and Dialogue’, discussing our relationships with people of other faiths.

East Midlands May/June: ISA Briefings to Churches delivered by EMBA Safeguarding Advisory Group11 September: EMBA Treasurers’ Day led by Malcolm Broad (BUGB Treasurer).

Regional

The Big LunchSunday 18 JulyAn opportunity to bring your community together and say something positive about the church. See www.thebiglunch.com

Back to Church SundaySunday 26 September‘Come as you are: The Big Welcome’. See www.baptist.org.uk/b2cs for information.

For more information about any of the events being run by the Mission Department, and to book, see www.baptist.org.uk/training_events/other.html or contact the Mission Department on mission@baptist.org.uk or 01235 517713

Faith and UnityEdinburgh 1910 - 2010: ‘Towards unity in mission’ 11-12 October 2010The Hayes, SwanwickThis conference marks the centenary of the Edinburgh Missionary Conference, often understood as the beginning of the modern Ecumenical Movement. Speakers include the Revd Dr Stephen Finamore from Bristol Baptist College, Dr Kirsteen Kim, Fr James Hanvey SJ and the Revd Dr Jeremy Morris. For more information and to book a place, contact Churches Together in England: carole.golden@cte.org.uk

Ecumenical Officers from five denominations will continue to meet after the end of the conference, to reflect on the themes in relation to their work. Baptist Ecumenical Officers should have received an email invitation to attend already, and if you believe you should also be invited, please contact: htreavis@baptist.org.uk

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The Gathering16 October 2010Woodgrange Baptist Church, Forest Gate, London This year’s Gathering takes as its theme ‘Reaching the Margins’, and will explore how to equip black and white Baptists to reach the white working class and other marginalised groups. Key contributors will guide our thinking, and there will be the chance to worship, discuss and seek practical guidance for building stronger relationships with those on the margins of life. This is a wonderful opportunity to share in a Baptist multicultural event. Do join us! The cost is £15 (including lunch) and more details are available from: jfarnsworth@baptist.org.uk

Events

6 May: Lymm Baptist Church, Lymm10 May: Poynton Baptist Church, Poynton17 May: Hawkshead Hill Baptist Church, Cumbria20 May: Tanterton Christian Fellowship, Preston27 May: Princes Drive Baptist Church, Colwyn Bay

15 May: Making Mission Manageable – Exploring Café Church at Little Leigh Baptist Church19 June: CVM Men’s Day10-12 September: Impact Youth Weekend at Quinta

Northern25 May: ‘Preach The Word’ – Preacher Training Event.12 June: Association Assembly with Nigel Wright.

South Eastern22 April: Consultation Day for representatives of the SEBA Networks at Worth Abbey.

25-27 May: Ministers and Church Leaders Conference at Ashburnham Place. Speaker: Revd Dr Ian Stackhouse.

17 April: Drug Awareness Seminar for Pastors, Youth Leaders and Parents in Crawley.

3 July: Parish Nursing Seminar in Tunbridge Wells.

South Wales18-19 June: Momentum - Moving Forward in Christ (the Baptist Assembly in Wales) takes place in Carmarthen. The South Wales Baptist Association is pleased to be part of this Assembly together with

EasternMay: We are holding a series of Mission Resourcing Roadshows around the association during May.

12 June: Our EBA Assembly, entitled ‘Living the Life’, is being held at Romford Baptist Church. We are looking forward to a variety of seminars throughout the day and a keynote address by Revd Jonathan Edwards, BUGB General Secretary.

Heart of England16 May: The Regional Ministry Team continue their series of Sunday evening celebrations. Primarily for the Black Country Group, this service will be hosted by Bilston Baptist Church.

12 June: This year’s Family Day will be at Madeley Academy in Telford with the theme ‘God’s World, God’s Mission’. David Shosanya from the London Baptist Association will be the main speaker.

London24 April: Treasurers’ Training Day at The King’s Cross Baptist Church with Malcolm Broad. 12 June: The London Event at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church. Worship, seminars and the AGM.

13 June: The London Event at Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street. An evening celebration when Revd Dr Pat Took will be the preacher.

North WesternVetting & Barring training evenings:20 April: Dovedale Baptist Church, Liverpool22 April: Bury Baptist Church, Bury26 April: Sion Baptist Church, Burnley

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the Baptist Union of Wales and BMS World Mission. This is a gathering of Christians from across Wales to worship, fellowship and share the word with one another.

South West2 May: SWBA Annual Meeting from 15:45 at Catherine Street Baptist Church, Plymouth.

Southern CountiesThe SCBA are currently finalising arrangements for three Leaders’ Training Days in 2010. These popular events are scheduled as follows:10 June: Speaker: Michael Ramsden (Zaccharias Trust)7 October: ‘Relationships & Sexuality’ (part 1) with Rachel Gardiner from the Romance Academy11 November: ‘Relationships & Sexuality’ (part 2) with Richard Hardy from Care for the Family. Further details, including times and venues, will be available shortly from Keith Hawton (Association Administrator, SCBA) at k.hawton@scba.org.uk

West of England23 April: Pastoral Leaders day on Mentoring with Rick Lewis.24 April: Re:source Bristol Bike Ride.9 May: WEBA 3 in 1 Event at Gorse Hill Baptist Church, Swindon.23 May: WEBA 3 in 1 Event at Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol.

YorkshireSaturday 12 June: Our YBA Assembly & AGM will be held in Huddersfield with a special focus on launching our new strategy. A ‘Market Place’ will be an important part of the day as we share together good news and practice across the association.Growing Women Leaders - this topic is an important one for the YBA. During 2010 and 2011 we are continuing a series of events entitled ‘The Seven Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership’. With Revd Dr Kate Coleman and our Regional Minister, Revd Jane Day, we are inviting women to join us for this series. Further information is available from Jane by email onjane.day@yba.org.uk

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• Legal expenses up to £50,000

• Free Sentinel® card protection with contents insurance

Plus, take out buildings and contents together and get a 10% discount, and you’ll get free Sentinel® card protection when you take home insurance.

on 0845 070 2223 and quote BUGB1 or for more details visit www.baptist-insurance.co.uk

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