Pastors & Leaders eNews - August 2022
Dear friends,
This Friday 2nd September 8 women and men will be set apart for accredited ministry within our movement, and 16 people who were accredited last year will have the chance to catch up on the in-person celebration that was not possible in 2021.
We thank God for each and every one of these people and their journeys of faith, calling and resilience, and pray His abundant blessing on them!
As Baptists we are convinced that each and every one of us are called to follow God and participate in his Kingdom’s work. In fact, God himself in Christ has prepared this journey for each of us! (Eph 2:10). No calling is more important than another; we each have vital roles to play on God’s mission in the world.
Within this context, the call for some is specific to leading in Jesus’ Church. Discerning and following that call is not simply something that ‘happens’ – it takes openness and obedience, and a community of encouragement and discipleship around a person.
As we look around our movement and in the light of our Gen1K Vision the need for godly, growing leaders is as real as ever. Will you pray for the release of more and more leaders for our churches, including those that are yet to be planted? Will you ask God to show you who you could encourage to pursue a journey of development in Christian leadership? And also perhaps will you, like the prophet Isaiah, be willing to say “Here am I, send me”!
Blessings,
Steve Bartlett
Director of Ministries
Helpie FAQ
August 2022
We are very thankful to God for Phil Evans joining us in the Ministry Standards Team as our Persons of Concern Case Manager (part-time). Phil was up until recently the Senior Pastor of Hawkesbury Valley Baptist Church, but now is working in this movement wide role to help support our churches in extending God’s grace and providing meaningful and appropriate ways for known offenders to participate in Christian community. If you need further information regarding this important work, please don’t hesitate to contact Jonathan Bradford, Ministry Standards Manager via standards@nswactbaptists.org.au or our confidential Initial Contact Form at https://nswactbaptists.org.au/ministry-standards/. More information on the Person’s of Concern process is available at our website www.creatingsafespaces.org.au/resources/ model document 16 (PDF Brochure).
We are very excited and give thanks to God that the Creating Safe Spaces training is now available in Korean and Chinese language. This includes both the online module and the face-to-face workshops. For further information, please visit our website www.creatingsafespaces.org.au where you can also make a request to host a workshop. You may be aware of individuals or churches that would benefit from being aware of and being able to participate in this training. Your assistance in spreading the word is very much appreciated.
We continue to receive Safe Church Health Check applications from churches across our movement. Thank you to the people who are working hard on behalf of their churches to submit these applications! We currently have 31 churches that have passed the Safe Church Health Check with a good number more well on the way to completion. If you require further information on the Safe Church Health Check, please visit the Creating Safe Spaces website Safe Church Health Check page https://creatingsafespaces.org.au/schc/ or alternatively you can call James Oosterveen, Safe Church Coordinator at the Baptist Ministry Centre on 9868 9212 or schc@nswactbaptists.org.au.
We currently have a volunteer role available within the Ministry Standards Team one day per week. Please see the details in the Join our Team section below.
Are you planning on launching a new youth ministry in 2023? If so, BYM would love to support you. We’re currently looking to partner with churches as they prepare and launch new ministries. We hope to offer support and resources to ensure your ministry is healthy and sustainable into the future.
If you would like to connect in this way, contact us for more information. Email rstuhr@nswactbaptists.org.au
Welcome home to Yarra Rossa!
After many years of prayer, planning, construction, and more prayer, BaptistCare proudly opened its new retirement living community called Yarra Rossa in Red Hill, Canberra on Friday, 22 July.
BaptistCare and the Baptist Churches of NSW/ACT have a long history with the land on which Yarra Rossa was built. In 1961 a group of dedicated Canberra Baptists approached the Baptist Homes Trust (now BaptistCare) and shared their concerns about the growing need to care for the frail and elderly in Canberra. At the time, there were no aged care homes in the ACT and no provision for seniors who could not care for themselves.
And so began the story of Morling Lodge. The Baptist Churches and BaptistCare worked together to build a state-of-the-art aged care home in Red Hill that delivered a practical expression of Christ’s love for people in need.
BaptistCare opened Morling Lodge in 1968 with over 30 residents. Demand for Morling Lodge grew, and the home had over 100 residents at one point. The home was officially closed in 2015 in preparation for building the retirement living community on the same property.
BaptistCare is excited to finally have people return to this property with so much connection and history to the Baptist denomination. The original and ongoing purpose of the site has always been to care for a community of people. As residents slowly move into their new homes at Yarra Rossa, BaptistCare is honoured to once again care for people on the land of the first aged care home in Canberra.
Thank you to all the people and churches who prayed, volunteered, and gave resources to Morling Lodge and now Yarra Rossa. We are so grateful for your generosity, time and prayers.
To read more about Morling Lodge and Yarra Rossa, visit Our Story which can be accessed here >>
Registrations for the Forum are still open, register using this link >>
This Forum is intended to provide time for more informal discussion of important matters pertaining to the current discernment process around affiliating together in our Association. The day will commence at 10 am and will conclude by 4 pm.
The morning will include input and interaction around a few key areas of Baptist distinctives that have relevance to the current discussions.
After lunch the Assembly Council will be presenting its draft recommendations coming out of last year’s Special Assembly regarding ongoing affiliation of churches and accreditation/recognition of ministers.
The Forum is not a formal assembly and is open to anyone who is in regular attendance at one of our churches to attend.
Save The Date!
The Gathering, incorporating our Ordinary Assembly will take place on Saturday 12 November.
FORM is a place for church leaders, pastors, members of church communities, small groups, and anyone wanting to learn how to better engage missionally with their communities, families, colleagues and friends.
FORM is focused on the formation and development of your skills as well as a support network for you that will help make sharing stories about Jesus powerful and effective.
If you are thinking of planting a church, starting a new congregation, sharing your faith or would just like to know more about engaging missionally with your world, then FORM is for you.
This year FORM will revolve around Isaiah 43:19 ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing’!
As we step out of two very unpredictable years it is not lost on us that even in such times God is still at work.
It will be an experience for the whole family. It will cater for multicultural church expressions.
Providing an opportunity for everyone to hear from God
With times where all generations will gather together as well as age-specific experiences.
Translation will be provided for several languages.
Places will fill fast so be sure to register early!
September 5-7 in Seoul Korea – $50 online registration is open until the event commences!
Happening once every 5 years, our Pacific Baptist Congress is an opportunity to hear exciting and challenging news, input and equipping from across our region and beyond. For the first time this year the Congress is being intentionally held as a hybrid event, and you be part of it!
See https://www.apbf.org/congress2022/ for information, the programme and how to register. Note: NSW/ACT time is 1 hour ahead of Seoul, so adjust the programme times accordingly.
APBF is an amazing collaboration of Baptists from all over Asia.
See the latest update from APBF here >>
Come join the Association Team! Job opportunities available
Events Coordinator (12 month Maternity Leave Contract)
The Association of Baptist Churches in NSW and ACT is seeking an Events Coordinator (3 Days per week) for a 12-month maternity leave contract.
This role is full-time and is responsible for the planning and organising of Baptist Association events. Duties include:
- Negotiations with contractors and partner organisations.
- Provide input to the budgeting process and work within the confines of the agreed budget for each event
- Work with the Communications team and ministry leaders in the planning, advertising and promotion of events.
- Implement and oversee registration processes for events.
- Provide event reports and analysis.
- Manage the logistics of all major Association events.
- Assist other staff in the organisation with their events, including activities such as risk assessments, registrations, logistics, etc.
- Recruit, manage and utilise volunteers during events.
The successful applicant will be a mature and committed Christian who has a sense of calling to serve God in this role and be tertiary qualified in Marketing, Communications or Events with:
- Strong relational and communications competency and experience in negotiating/ communicating with key stakeholders
- Exceptional organisational skills
- Ability to meet deadlines and delegate appropriately
- Strong teamwork skills
- Advanced computer skills, including basic website skills in WordPress
- Familiarity with events registration software and willingness to learn new software as appropriate
- Flexibility to attend events
- Experience in developing risk assessments and COVID Safe plans
- Experience with CRM systems, Event marketing, and Event sponsorships
- Excellent administrative skills
- Advanced First Aid Certification is desirable.
For more information click here >>.
Questions regarding the role may be directed to Aaron Veart, Team Leader – Communications & Events, on 02 9868 9225.
Creating Safe Spaces Volunteer Position
Expressions of interest are now open for a volunteer position in our Creating Safe Spaces team to help local churches engage with the resources of the Association. This one day/week role will be based onsite at the Ministry and Learning Centre, Macquarie Park.
The role will involve:
- Proactively engaging with our affiliated Baptist Churches regarding Creating Safe Spaces training and the Safe Church Health Check.
- Promoting our Creating Safe Spaces training to affiliated Baptist Churches, independent churches and Korean and Mandarin speaking churches of all denominations.
- Assisting with office administration tasks
Please contact Rev Jonathan Bradford – Ministry Standards Manager for more information or to express your interest: jbradford@nswactbaptists.org.au or 9868 9200.
Morling College Principal
Morling is inviting applications for the role of Principal. The role has overall responsibility for the leadership, management and development of the College, including vision casting, networking and supporting academic excellence in the training and equipping of students for pastoral ministry, missionary service and other ministries. The candidate will need to be an ordained and accredited minister of the Baptist Churches of NSW and the ACT or capable of meeting its accreditation requirements.
We are seeking an outstanding candidate with prior experience of significant leadership, demonstrating competence gained through a depth and breadth of relevant academic and ministerial experience. The person will have a strong and mature personal Christian faith. It is essential that they affirm the faith statements of the College, its values and strategy. They will be visionary and innovative in approach, with the capacity to lead the college, through increasingly complex times, to embrace the God-given opportunities before us and sustainably extend its impact into the future.
Ideally we expect that the future Principal will be presented to the Assembly of the Baptist Churches of NSW and ACT in May 2023 with an appropriate starting date soon after.
Details on how to make an application and about the role are provided in an Information Pack.
Potential applicants wishing to obtain an Information Pack are invited to contact Paul Campey, Partner, Resolve Consulting Group
For more information click here >>
Come get a FREE snapshot of what coaching is and does – one of the easiest ways of raising new leaders up, making your 1:1 chats more effective and encouraging, and filling your rosters so you all can start getting stuff done.
Imagine the possibilities! Leadership is the ability to take responsibility with a servant heart. Coaching asks simple questions – like “What could you do about that?”. It shifts people from depending on you for answers, towards taking ownership and leadership in the situation. They see a problem, and say, “Hey, someone needs to do something about this… I’ll be that someone.”
Ask key people in your congregation to come along – the encouragers, the talent-spotters, the ones God has given a real shepherding heart to for your congregations and communities – they’re the ones who can help raise up more leaders for you. And join us at this experiential taster event to explore coaching and see it in action for yourself:
- See how using simple questions develops buy-in, authenticity, and leadership capacity, and empowers others to step up and into Kingdom work.
- Hear from key leaders in our movement about how coaching has helped them grow their ministries and leadership teams without overwhelm or burnout.
- Learn about the pathway for key people in your congregation to become approved coaches in Baptist ministry, partnering with us and you to keep multiplying healthy leaders and healthy churches across our movement.
Hosted by Krystyna Kidson, Resident Psychologist, and the GEN1K Coaching team.
Who is GEN1K COACHING? Even when you’re tired, time-strapped, cash-poor, or need more people – we stand ready to help you recover, rebuild, and rediscover the gold God has in mind for you and your people. We are church and parachurch leaders, helping pastors and gospel workers build healthy, Christ-centred communities while modelling and multiplying godly leadership.
Safe Church Team Network Evening – Child Safe Scheme now operating in NSW
We recently hosted Janet Schorer, the NSW Children’s Guardian at our Safe Church Team Network Evening.
Janet gave a presentation on the Child Safe Scheme that we as an Association of churches have been preparing for which came into law on 1st February 2022.
The presentation reinforced the benefit of a local church adopting the Safe Church Package of Model Documents and submitting a Safe Church Health Check Application.
The Exploring Mission Course
The Exploring Mission course has launched – an online discipleship course that helps you dive into context, cultures and your calling. Exploring Mission is flexible learning & self-paced.
Exploring Mission is for anyone who wants to explore questions such as:
- What is God doing in the world?
- What is my role in God’s mission?
- What does intercultural mission in Australia look like?
- Where is God calling me now?
- How can I be trained and equipped for what God has for me in the future?
Exploring Mission is for people who want to understand and support global missions, for people considering becoming intercultural workers in the future, and for anyone who wants to better engage in intercultural ministry in their local neighbourhoods and suburbs.
You can find out more here >>
Marriage Celebrant Course
On Thursday 15th September 2022, from 1:30pm to 4:30pm, we will be hosting an online Marriage Celebrant course for all new accredited and recognised ministers and all ministers who have not completed a refresher in the last 3 years.
The purpose of this course is to provide training and support to all new applicants and current celebrants conducting weddings under the Baptist Association. It will assist you in keeping up to date with all the latest government changes and inform you on how they impact our denomination.
You can find out more here >>
Morling Gender Dysphoria Forum
Gender, gender identity, and gender dysphoria raise important questions that Christians need to carefully consider and respond to with wisdom and faithfulness. What is the relationship between sex and gender? How do we understand those terms? How do these complex questions relate to what it means to flourish as people in communities? What light do the Christian Scriptures and Christian theology and ethics shed on those questions? How can we as people of faith and as faith communities respond well to those who struggle with these issues—especially when their experience is one of distress?
Patricia Weerakoon and Andrew Sloane will address these, and other questions. Their aim is to engage with the current scientific evidence, carefully interpret the Bible, and reflect theologically on the issues. They will also seek to deal with the challenges Churches face in being truly welcoming, and not affirming (and for that welcome to be experienced, as much as this is possible).
This event will be hosted at Erina Community Baptist Church – we will provide supper for those joining us in person and are looking forward to having you join us there! This is a public event and so we welcome those interested in the discussion.
For more information or to register click here >>
