Photo: Vernon Wiley www.baptistbuildingfund.org.uk The Fund (established in London in 1824) provides loans to any Baptist Church for Capital Projects. The maximum loan is £150,000 per Church, interest free, repayable over ten years by half yearly instalments. At the end of the repayment period Churches are expected to make a thank-offering to the Fund - to enable us to cover administration costs and to increase the Fund so that more Churches can be helped with loans. Projects for which the Fund makes loans are usually one of three types: • Repairs and renovations to existing Church buildings including updating heating systems and conversion to 'Greener' energy New buildings or extensions • Purchase of a building for Church use Please visit our website at www.baptistbuildingfund.org.uk where you can view more pictures from some of the projects which the Fund has been able to assist. If you require further information or have any questions that you would like answered please feel free to contact our Secretary:- David Leverett FCA Crugybar 66 St Mary's Road Kettering Northamptonshire NN15 7BW Tel: 01536 522276 email: [email protected] Registered Charity No. 218823 CONTENTS FEATURES 20 9 Baptists and Life in Covenant Paul Fiddes looks at relationships of mutual trust 14 Thoughts on Covenant Catriona Gorton on walking together From signing on the dotted line to agreeing a common journey 16 Introducing Seventy-two Simon Jones explores different approaches to covenant and belonging Associations are exploring new opportunities to collaborate 23 36 18 Reimagining Membership Finding new ways of belonging 27 The Practical Building together with practical expertise 28 Churches Together Five features of churches working Covenant Leadership A Global Perspective together fruitfully Israel Olofinjana reviews the work of Sharing God’s diverse kingdom at the the Ignite project Baptist World Alliance Congress 30 Our Wider Covenant Loving your neighbour: being a blessing and seeking justice REGULARS 32 European Baptists sharing a depth Renewing the Covenant Events/Resources of unity 6 General Secretary: Lynn Green 38 Special events and resources for your church 34 Belonging and Growing Baptist People Building nurturing friendships 12 An interview with JH Shakespeare News across our Union 40 News from around our Union An interview with Chris Maggs The promises made at a child’s 39 Prayer and Worship 37 dedication 42 BMS World Mission A church or community covenant prayer 31 The Highest Goal SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Order your own copy of this magazine via annual subscription - starting with the current or next edition. Single copy subscription: £6.60 for three editions (Spring, Summer and Autumn) Multi copy subscription: £58.00 for ten copies of each of the three editions (Spring, Summer and Autumn) See www.baptist.org.uk/shop to order your subscription, or buy individual copies 3 3273 Baptists Together Magazine 210x297 [5]_Layout 1 21/11/2014 12:49 Page 1 If you’re not an expert in church insurance - don’t worry we are You can find all you need on our website to help you to protect your church and its users l Handy risk management guides including events and church activities l Straightforward risk assessment templates l Simple checklists for common risks such as working at height www.baptist–insurance.co.uk/guidance 0845 070 2223* *Lines open 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). Experts in home and church insurance The Baptist Insurance Company PLC (BIC) Reg. No. 83597. Registered in England at Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JZ. The Baptist Insurance Company PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. ‘Further up, further in’ In The Last Battle, the final novel in the Chronicles of Narnia, the Christ-like figure Aslan leads his followers into the real Narnia. As they leave the old world behind to welcome the new, a realisation dawns that this is where they belong: the children enter exhorting one another to come ‘further up, further in!’ In doing so they embark on an adventure of exploration that takes them into more truth and beauty, without denying any good thing from the past. The image of walking alongside each other to somewhere greater came to mind as the Baptists Together editorial group produced this latest edition, which explores aspects of what it means to be a community covenanted to God. Paul Fiddes points out how Baptists have historically responded to Christ’s promises to us with relationships of mutual trust. Fast forward to 2016 and, as Lynn Green explains, covenant theology underpins a key aspect of our renewed culture: in all our diversity we aspire to feel like one team. By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, we will increasingly follow his ways, which cannot be done in isolation. Further up; further in. A life with and for Freepik by Designed Christ, together. May God’s call on our lives, and our sense of belonging to a family that extends beyond our local church, be strengthened in 2016. The Editorial Group EDITORIAL GROUP: PRODUCTION TEAM: Baptists Together Stephen Keyworth Paul Hobson is produced three times per year by: Geoffrey Colmer Mary Parker The Baptist Union of Great Britain Sarah Fegredo Tracey Vallance Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway, Michele Mahon Didcot, OX11 8RT Tel: 01235 517700 Colin Norris Email: [email protected] Jonathan Somerville Website: www.baptist.org.uk Ruth Whiter Registered Charity Number: 1125912 Further copies Contact [email protected] for a plain text or braille version of any articles. For additional copies and subscriptions, see www.baptist.org.uk/shop LETTERS: For an electronic copy, see We welcome your views and ideas for future editions of Baptists Together. Write to www.baptist.org.uk/baptiststogether the Editorial Group at [email protected] or using the Baptist House address. To advertise in future editions The views of individual writers expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect Please contact Fiona on 07724 721747 or email [email protected] Facebook “f” Logo the viewsCMYK / .ai Facebook “f” Logoof the EditorialCMYK / .ai Group or Baptists Together. Photo credits: Unless otherwise stated, photos www.facebook.com/baptistuniongb @baptistuniongb are taken from Baptist Union archives Baptists Together is printed on paper which is fully FSC Certified 5 ONE TEAM Renewing the covenant Photo: Ian Britton Photo: Have we at times prized our independence over our commitment to relating to each other? General Secretary Lynn Green reflects on the aspect of our renewed culture as Baptists Together where we aspire to feel like one team I absolutely love the many aspects really believe that, as we rediscover and Together are committing themselves of my role, but right from the outset develop our sense of being one team, to relating to each other. In this issue I have been particularly passionate we will see God at work among us in we are going to be exploring what this about building a renewed sense of new and powerful ways. means for us today and in the future. team among Baptists Together. When explaining how Baptists relate together So, in this edition of our Baptists We share a common bond and to those outside our Union I am often Together magazine, we are focussing a common purpose met with incredulity. And we have on that aspect of our renewed culture If we read the Bible and look back to to laugh at ourselves don’t we? Our where we ‘Feel like one team: Celebrating our history and DNA we quickly see way of being church is definitely not diversity; valuing, respecting and trusting how important covenant relating and efficient by contemporary standards each other as we work together in team work are to us as Baptists. The and it is neither slick nor streamlined! partnerships – making sure everyone feels article immediately following this one In fact, many people I talk to are included and listened to (1 Corinthians by Paul Fiddes does an excellent job daunted by the mere 12:24b-27)’ A of unpacking this aspect of our theme. prospect of offering Baptists Together is not Biblical term for What stands out for me is that each leadership to the this is covenant. I local church which is part of Baptists more than 2019 some historical anomaly sometimes feel that Together is in one way independent, distinct charitable to be preserved; we are we forget that whilst and yet in committing to walk together bodies that network a Kingdom force in the any church can be and watch over each other we make together as the a Baptist church, the choice to become interdependent. movement known present and for the future Baptist churches What binds us together as a Union of as Baptists Together. and leaders that churches, associations and colleges I relish this challenge, however, and have chosen to become part of Baptists is our shared love of Jesus Christ and 6 ONE TEAM common mission to share his good about the liberty of the local church practical support and funding for news. It was the genius of our forebears and turned it into an unbiblical, ‘I will do others and provide a space for mutual to keep the focus firmly on the most what I like and no one can tell me what accountability. important things – Jesus and his to do’ attitude. That is not what Jesus or mission – and we continue that focus our forebears had in mind. As leaders, we are called to nurture with our vision today ‘Growing healthy and model this in those spheres that churches in relationship for God’s In the local church God calls us into.