Baptist Steering Group

General secretary Lynn Green shares key messages from the March 2015 meeting of the BSG

• “The closer we come to the cross of Christ, the closer we come to each other.” (1925 Life and Work Conference)  Dianne led us in worship and prayer, helping us to focus on the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
   
• During our time together we gave attention to some of our key projects: The Baptist Together Mission Forum’s survey of the health of our churches, the Ministries project, The Loaves and Fishes project and Pensions.  We particularly considered how we plan and co-ordinate the consultation phases of these projects so that churches are not overwhelmed with too many requests for information all at once.
   
• We were grateful to God that we had achieved a balanced budget for 2014, whilst also noting the challenges around Home mission giving.
   
• Again, we listened carefully to the concerns of the LBA Directors about the process of consultation surrounding our consideration of the Same Sex Marriage legislation and the communication of the place we are at present.  This prompted helpful discussion and we agreed how further consultation and communication might take place.
   
• We gave significant time to reflecting upon how we can “feel like one team” in our new ways of working and how we deepen trusting relationships.  We agreed that we needed to bring all team leaders together (Regional, College and Specialist) to explore this theme further and work out together what more we can do in this area. 
   
• We recognised that our resources for safeguarding in Support Services were insufficient for the task and we unanimously agreed to make the current half-time role, full-time.  We also committed some short term resources to the historic review process to ensure that we can complete this work in a timely manner.
   
• Stephen and I shared about plans for the Assembly and responded to the FAQs that are being heard.  Regional teams were urged to book in and to promote the Assembly on their website in particular please!
   
• We used the 40 Days of Home Mission material to pray for our churches.
   
• We agreed that we would continue to hold BSG meetings around the Associations and also include Baptist House as a venue twice each year.  The aim of this is to build relationships and engage with churches around the country.  We aim to meet with all Associations over the next three years.
   
• We were pleased to hear about the forthcoming meeting between Specialist and Regional Team Leaders to begin to discuss finding “family” solutions to the Pensions deficit issues.
   
• I shared that the verse from Isaiah 43:19 had been given to me yet again, underlining that sense that God is wanting to do a new thing through us.  Also the image of the ship emerged again in this meeting and, furthermore, was given to me independently again in January.

Lynn Green is the General Secretary of our Baptist Union