News Archive
Challenges and opportunities for 2008
Heaton Baptist Church: Challenges and Opportunities in 2008
For those interested enough to want to reflect on this further, this
talk will be available to download in MP3 format from the website.
Introduction
I want to do something different this year – and it’s a habit I might
take up annually – by making a presentation
or speech which tries to peer into the future a little, and identify
the challenges and opportunities that all of us here at HBC will face
in the next 12 months.
It is now 18 months – not a long time - since the Elder family landed in Newcastle, and I started my ministry here in this church. Before I look ahead, let me recap on the recent past. Can I say that it was then, and is even more so now, a thrill for me to be senior leader of this church. I said recently whilst preaching that I believe HBC is enjoying the favour of God. I believe that, and yet I so believe there’s so much more to come; we serve an unquenchable, inexhaustible, awesome God. I believe that this church is on God’s agenda, and that there’s no reason we can’t see real growth, both spiritually and numerically, over the next 5 years. Here’s what gets me out of bed each morning and makes me want to come to work:
• It’s a thrill to lead a church with so many cracking people, across all the age and social spans, who are committed to living out their faith.
• It is fantastic and energising, to work in a context with such a wide array of gifting and talent, not least in the staff teams and the other leadership groups. We indeed have a cabinet team of all the talents.
• And it’s a real privilege to see ordinary people becoming extraordinary disciples of Jesus by encountering God on a regular basis. That for me is ultimately what church is all about: people encountering God. Like the chap off Alpha who had an experience of God in worship. And the visitor from South Africa who said she’d never seen anything like it before – in a good way.
• And as we’ve worked through our Big 12, there’s been that real sense that, as we embrace these values, God is starting a new chapter in the life of this church, as we re-imagine our mission and ministry on the edge of this fantastic city, in the first decade of this new century.
So, I’m encouraged, yes. But complacent; definitely not. Why am I not complacent? Because the assignments we all have from God as individuals and as a community of faith, are still so far from being realised.
So, to the future.
The challenges and opportunities of this coming year
I realise that we all face challenges in the coming year in our own situations. What follows are just some of the main challenges and opportunities – there are four of them - that we will face together in 2008 in this church. At the end of each of the four I’ve put action points. They’re there for us all to respond to.
1. Ongoing development of vision
We have just completed looking at our values. I’m of the view that our B12 are excellent core values for us to nourish, build and demonstrate together. They identify what we are as a church – they’re our DNA. But the vision conversation about the future is far from complete. Over the next 12 months, led by the Eldership, I want all of us to engage with the issues that relate to our three purposes: Spiritual maturity for all, whole-life discipleship for all, and intentional mission for all. This we’ll be doing, probably starting in the summer or early autumn, using a variety of fourum’s, including the church meeting.
What will those three purposes look like for us? What strategies and resources will we need to see them fulfilled? And how can we all both shape and own the strategies that will emerge?
For all: A commitment to contribute towards and to appropriate personally, the strategies relating to our three purposes.
2. The building project
After six years – yes, earliest conversations were at least as far back as 2002 – we’re ready to bring the bulldozers on site. Hallelujah. And, well done.
It’s looking likely that we’ll need to exit our premises, probably about the end of April. In order to meet that timeline, there’s loads to be done. But let me just say one thing about leaving our premises for 12 months. I think, though it’ll be hard work, meeting in Chilli Rd, and elsewhere, presents us with a fantastic opportunity. I think God has some new things for us to discover:
• Like the fact that people are sacrosanct, not bricks and mortar. We are a community and a movement; a living building, to use the biblical analogy.
• Leaving the building will test our unity. It will put pressure on our structures and our communication. It will mean that plenty of grace will need to be exercised, especially towards the leaders. It will mean that Lifegroups become doubly important.
• It will require all of us to stand up to the plate in terms of service, and the result will be that new gifts will be identified and released.
Normally, when churches leave their premises for a building project, it rarely is the case that there is numerical growth. Wouldn’t it be great to buck that trend. I think leaving our physical home presents us with a once-in-a-lifetime opoortunity. Let’s seize it with both hands.
For all: To make our out of building experience a real adventure, and to ensure we all ‘make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.’ (Eph 4:3).
3. Just 10/Hope 08
OK, vision buildings, what else? We have two fantastic opportunities to make strides forward in 08’ with our mission and evangelism. J. John won’t be in town next year for 10 weeks, nor will Hope 08. Let’s build on the relationships we all have with our not-yet-Christian friends, and see this year as a reaping year.
For all: To maximise the opportunity we all have through these two brilliant projects.
Ok, the last one might not capture the imagination, but in the long term, its equally important for us as a church. Of course, I’m talking about…..a new constitution.
4. New constitution
Bit of background: all Baptist churches (including ours), have constitutions, which provide a framework for our lives together. Because of new charity legislation, all Baptist churches will need to change their constitutions to comply with the law. So, what does this mean for us? Well, in a nutshell, The BU are devising a draft document, as we speak, with certain areas of commonality, but opportunities for local congregations to make choices in certain places, about our new constitution. Choices like, the method by which we appoint our Elders and Deacons. Choices like whether we will choose a system of open membership that means you don’t have to be baptised to be a member, or closed membership, were you do. What isn’t in the new constitution at all is the issue of gender insofar as it relates to Eldership.
Now, take a deep breath. The timescale for this will probably be the Autumn. I can assure you all as members of two things: 1. We’ll need a new constitution, and, 2. I will personally ensure that we establish forums for those who wan to to engage in some of the more controversial sticking point areas.
But can I ask one thing of us all on this: that this process is done with transparency and grace, and that we all keep our eye on the big picture, and that is that, beyond our personal preferences, we need to have a constitution that fits an outward facing, mission-minded, Jesus centred community of faith. We need a constitution that serves our vision, not the other way round,
For all: A commitment to engage in a process that will ensure we have a constitution that fits the HBC of the future.
Ok, I’m nearly through; I hope you’ve found that helpful. What a year of possibilities we have before us. All sorts of new adventures in God for us o be had together. I think its really exciting, even though it will be extremely challenging. Let me finish with the last scripture I read to you in last Sunday mornings preach. I think it puts all I’ve said into perspective.
Titus 3: 1-8.
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.