We are 5 posts into the Beyond400 project. What might we be hearing?
1. The importance of engaging with our history and telling our story - I hope that some new projects might emerge in new partnerships between Baptist Historical Society and others. The last popular (a shortish book with lots of pictures) telling of the English Baptist story appeared in the early 1990s. We are long-over due for some books and other media telling. BMS have led the way with short videos on Thomas Helwys and William Carey. We must be careful here that while we may talk a lot about history and roots, at some point, we've got some work to do, we really believe what we're saying.
2. The need to be more prophetic, creative and risky in our mission which has been summed up as 'Baptists who love'. As long as we have rich theological understanding of the word 'love' here, yes and amen. There is a feeling from some that we are risk adverse - I suggested last year we were in danger of being dull and bland - and that we don't support new forms of church.
This voice is to be expected (and welcomed) as four of first five voices are all involved in new forms of church and mission - Peter is a church planter and is key leader in the Incarnate Network church planting network; Juliet heads up Urban Expression; Chris heads up the Light Project and Carmel (I think) is about to join Urban Expression. While the fifth voice Rowena, is in a minister in more run-of-the-mill Baptist church, she is anything but run-of-the-mill!
A question: How do the those of us who are not engaged in this kind of mission respond to this voice? Will we say, thanks its a nice sentiment, a wonderful dream, but come on ... or will we say, we're not sure that all this desire for 'newness, creativity, risk' is really necessary, we're doing alright ... or will we say, it's great you're doing this, but its a bit beyond what we are comfortable with, so we wish you well ... or will we say, is there a part for us, can you help us take a risk?
A comment: There is perhaps a concern that those not engaged in this form of mission feel second-best, feel like they are not doing proper church (I know that definitely goes the other way too!) or relevant mission ... The 'pioneers' must appreciate and champion the steadfast witness of those who have sought over many years to be faithful to the gospel. I've made a similar comment before in this regard here.
3. A conversation about being inclusive. I think we should emphasize that this is two conversations, one about how do we include those outside of the church (however we define 'outside') and one about how do we include those within our churches in terms of representation, participation and voice. Some of the comments in thread sometimes collapsed these into one.
These are conversations around hospitality, power and theology.
There is a growing literature on hospitality, church and mission which needs engaging with and distilling.
Power is pervasive - many of those commenting feel powerless in the face of what they see as the powerful. The Futures Group needs to be careful not to sound condescending when they respond with 'we're listening'. While complete transparency may not be possible (for good reasons), there is a real need for openness. Equally there is more possibility and opportunity and desire to engage with the life of our Union, than I've seen before in my short experience. I hope this translates into a reinvigorated Baptist Union, which takes more seriously our life together. (This definitely seems to have been the case with the Baptist Union of Scotland).
Theology and inclusion recognises that we face some serious theological differences on some issues. There are some who feel we are moving too fast, others too slow. There are some who feel (on both sides) that there is nothing to talk about - the answers are clear - and others who feel that there are no simple answers.
Finally, there is the real sense and I've tried to make this point several times (with thanks to Tim and Clare), that as we embrace some, others will surely feel excluded. So how we conduct these conversations - at this point many will turn to the phrase 'with deep listening' - is vital for the future of our being church - patience, generosity, courage and an attention to word-care are the virtues we need to grow amongst us.
These are some of my reflections so far.
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