Baptist Assembly - Centring the Margins
28-30 April 2006, The Brighton Centre, Brighton.
The Journey
First things first - thank you for sending Karen and me to Brighton for the 2006 Baptist Assembly. It was not only a joy but an immense privilege for us to be there on this occasion and also to have the pleasure of the company of our teenage daughter Jessica for the duration.
Brighton is a long way from Gateshead, travelling by car we broke the journey both ways with an overnight stop in a Travelodge near Cambridge, staying the Saturday night in accommodation just along the coast to the west of Brighton in Littlehampton
Arriving in Brighton Saturday lunchtime gave us the opportunity to meet up with Ian Britton (official Baptist Union photographer) for coffee and a bun before leaving him to attend the Spurgeon's College annual re-union, which was held in the local Brighthelm Church. After this, we met with family members for a meal prior to attending an information/rehearsal session for all Baptist Union Accredited Ministers who were due to be welcomed and recognised by the gathered Baptist family.
Recognition
And so the evening worship commenced, during which yours truly received, along with numerous others, the right hand of fellowship and a certificate from the BUGB President, the Revd Dr Kate Coleman and the BUGB General Secretary, the Revd David Coffey. This was in recognition of my call to ministry being tested and approved by God through the crucible of the Baptist Union's Ministry Department and that of the wider Church over the best part of the last decade. This public recognition of ministers was crowned with the prayers of God's people and much praising.
Stay Focused
The BUGB President, the Revd Dr Kate Coleman, preached from Acts 10 under the heading "Stay Focused". Addressing issues of Presumption, Prejudice and Power, Kate called the assembly to "never forget that human agendas are always secondary and that discerning God's agenda is always primary". Staying focused means recognising the great paradox of the Christian faith: "that the centre of God's activity usually lies somewhere in the margins of our concerns". The challenge to deal with issues of Presumption, Prejudice and Power in our society was laid down, that we should remain focused on who we are and whose we are, so as to faithfully fulfil Christ's mission for our time.
The Loss of Children
Sunday's worship sounded an alarm call from the BUGB to churches to wake up to the fact that thousands of children are leaving our churches in the present culture, increasingly secularised climate. B U statistics were offered to substantiate the claims made the assembly was called to prayer for a reversal of this. The B U initiative "On our knees" was launched here and 11 June designated as a day of prayer for the children in our churches and communities.
On the Sofa
The assembly heard from the Revd Jonathan Edwards, the newly elected General Secretary of the B U and his family who were interviewed "on the sofa". This was followed by encouraging Home Mission news from a small community focused congregation base in Shoreditch, close to the City of London.
In Memory
One of the most moving times in the assembly was when our Lord's servants who had died since the last Baptist Assembly were honoured as their names and ages at death were held on a large central screen before the eyes of a silent assembly, to fitting classical music. Prayer followed in recognition and thanks to God for faithful lives of Christian ministry and for the families and friends of those whom they in dying have left behind.
The Lord's Supper
The Assembly reached its high point, as we participated with all those gathered in the Lord's supper, which is no mean logistical feat when several thousand are to be individually served with the elements. All was conducted decently and in order and all in the context of worship to our God.
Fellowship
The Assembly was a much valued opportunity to renew friendships, gain a different perspective of ministry and be refreshed in the assembly of like-hearted saints. For this blessing we are grateful to you all.
Yours in Christian love,
Jeremy