Are we Baptists too bland, too safe?

Ahead of next week's Baptist Union Council Neil Brighton offers the latest in a long running series of posts regarding the life and future of the Baptist Union in this country. This time its an attempt to imagine what the Union might look like, of what we might we desire it to look like, if it was formed today,

Neil offers this post at a time when there seems to be increasing disillusionment and anger towards the like of Council ('this is an unrepresentative body making decisions that goes against our being baptist' is the usual line) and also the Ministry Department (one obvious issue in particular). Having said that, this seems to rumble generally underground, we are not as publically rude as the C of E can be about its leaders.

I think there is a definite need to engage with the likes of Neil Brighton's post because it does get to the heart of some of issues in our life. I wonder when we look at the denominational landscape of UK whether we are becoming the 'bland, safe' denomination ... the Anglicans are always having verbal punch-ups about their life and future - see responses to fresh expressions - the Methodists and URC seem to be taking lots of risks and investing money into mission (some might suggest this is a sign of desperation). Amongst the Baptists we have recently seen 'Mainstream' become 'Fresh Streams' (please!!!), but in my opinion they are a largely minority voice, at least compared to the 1980s. Other marginal voices like Urban Expression and Incarnate have I believe something to offer, at least in developing and offering alternative ways of being church. I'm excited to see that Urban Expression is growing, but at the same time partnering with the likes of BMS.

Come on Baptists lets get life back in us. If you're angry at Council, turn up at Assembly and make yourself heard, but at same time make sure you know what you're talking about - there is load of misinformed Baptists about what Council is and does. This is partly the responsibility of the Union and Associations to make Council more transparent. Stop sniping on facebook and offer something contructive alongside the criticism.

Comments

[Keith G Jones]

I have posted a comment on the IBTS blog site as it would be too big for your little box !