Affiliation, Baptist Values and Marriage – Process update and Call to Prayer
Annual Assembly Date Variation
Hi everyone,
You may recall that an update was sent out following our November 2022 Assembly regarding the ongoing process of discussion around Affiliation, Baptist Values and Marriage.
The update shared that in light of where the process got to at the end of that Assembly, and the results of the survey of delegates done after the Assembly, a small group of envoys had been appointed to meet with a range of leaders and church representatives across our Baptist Association. The purpose of these meetings is to identify and explore any further potentially fruitful and practical ways the in-principle decisions that have so far been made regarding Affiliation, Baptist Values and Marriage at the November 2022 Assembly may be applied. Assembly Council will then update our movement again ahead of the May Annual Assembly.
The envoy meetings have already commenced and will take place through to the end of March. They will be led by Tim Dyer, an experienced mediator and trainer of our church consultants. Others in the envoy group, all with consulting and/or mediation experience and committed pastors and leaders in our movement, include Rev Keith Jobberns, Rev Jennifer Sumpton and Andrei Mocanu.
Coming together for prayer
It is essential that we continue to cover this journey in prayer. We encourage you to pray individually as God prompts you. So we are calling the movement together for prayer at two online prayer gatherings leading up to The Gathering/Annual Assembly.
Thursday 30th March (8pm to 8,45pm)
Thursday 27th April (8pm to 8.45pm)
Further information and registration details will be circulated soon.
The Gathering/Annual Assembly – date variation
There are multiple significant matters to be discussed at our Annual Assembly. In addition, the Assembly forms part of The Gathering – our movement-wide event for Connection, Celebration and Collaboration. In order to provide the needed time for all these things, Assembly Council has taken the decision to extend the time of this event.
The Gathering (incorporating the Annual Assembly) will now take place during the day on both Friday 5 May and Saturday 6 May. The implications of this for both the main venue and regional venues is currently being worked through and will be finalised by the time the Assembly is officially called in early March.
Rev Jamie Long
Assembly Council Chair