President's diary - July 2024
Monday 1st July
While I was still part of a church in Bristol, our pastor suggested that we form discipleship triplets and, even though I’ve moved away, I continue to meet with two old friends. We talk together about the things going on in our lives and try to be open and accountable about the different decisions we take. Sometimes we meet to talk, sometimes to meet and pray, and sometimes we get together on a Saturday to enjoy an activity. Among other things, we’ve been go-karting, clay pigeon shooting, to watch football and cricket, and to a flight simulation centre.
I’ve learned that I’m quite good at watching, not disastrous at karting or shooting, but should not, under any circumstances whatsoever, be asked to land a plane. Today we just met for a chat, and so no lives were in danger.
Wednesday 3rd July
One of Becca’s goals for my retirement is to get me out of the house and one strategy for this to encourage me to play golf. On the whole, this is probably good for me but very bad for golf. I’ve taken some lessons and I’ve been to the driving range, but my performances continue to be hopeless.
Today I met up with a couple of former students for a game in Taunton. I think they regarded the whole thing as a form of revenge for the marks they got in college.
Thursday 4th July
Back to Bristol again, this time for a meeting of the West of England Baptist Network Ministerial Recognition Committee. We were reviewing the progress of our Newly Accredited Ministers, thinking about those expressing a call to ministry, and interviewing a candidate to be a Recognised Local Minister. In lots of ways, this was very encouraging. We have some great new ministers in our area which is a hopeful sign for our future.
Sunday 7th July
Like the trip to Bloomsbury last weekend, this Sunday involved an invitation to speak at a Church Anniversary service. I’m grateful for these invitations because there seems to be something very Baptist about these celebrations of the local church.
Last week the church was 176 years old, but today in Magor in south Wales, the church is marking its 208th birthday. I was invited to speak on their motto text for the year; ‘On him we have set our hope’ (2 Cor 1.10). It was a joy to share something about the way that having hope in God’s future can change the way we understand the past and transform the present.
In the spring I was asked to speak at two 200th anniversary services in churches in rural Somerset locations. There were about 50 people at one of them with lots of smartly dressed women and nearly all the men were in jackets and ties. The hymns were led by a beautiful pipe organ.
At the other there were about seven times that number with a band and a range of ages. Both were wonderful things to be part of and I was struck again by the variety of churches within our networks. You might have expected that rural churches in Somerset of the same vintage would have lots in common. In one sense they do, but on other levels they seem very different. Yet God is clearly at work in both.
Tuesday 9th to Wednesday 10th July
Occasionally people ask to see me to talk about their sense of calling while sometimes friends I’ve known for a while come to see me and take me for a coffee and talk about their ministry. On Tuesday I travelled to Bristol to meet someone from another country who thinks he might be called to work within our networks here in England. Today a good friend dropped by to talk and to invite me to speak to his team later in the year. I’m never too sure that I’ve got much to say that’s useful but perhaps I’m the one being ministered to in these relationships.
On Tuesday evening, I received a call from one of the young leaders in our church. He is planning to start an association internship scheme in the autumn. He asked if I would be willing to be his mentor. It’s good to have an opportunity to make a practical contribution to the support of the next generation of leaders for our churches. It’s one of the themes for my year as president, it was something I took seriously as a pastor and as a college principal. I’m glad to have some practical involvement now I’m retired.
Sunday 14th July
This morning, we attended our home church in Burnham. The newer members of the congregation, the church leaders and anyone else who could blag a place, were all invited to a barbecue at our pastor’s house. It was a beautiful day, and the garden was packed with people of all ages.
Our minister and his wife did a great job in catering for us all. In anticipation of the Olympics, I was awarding medals to those who had the misfortune to be sat near me. There was a gold medal for someone for going up for a third helping, another for the least amount of salad on a plate (none), and one for managing to get an Everest of food onto one plate.
It's wonderful to be part of a church with committed, vibrant leadership and a wonderful range of people.
Wednesday 17th July
I had another couple of former students come to visit me today to make sure I’m on something approaching the straight and narrow. One sat with me in the garden and drank coffee and later the other joined me for a light lunch in one of the many local cafes. We talked about the issues they are facing in their churches, and they were kind enough to listen while I talked about the ways I am trying to be helpful to the union in my role as president.
This evening was a special treat as I was invited by meet online with some members of the Baptists Together Young Leaders Round Table and with some of the members of the team of younger leaders who visited an EBF event in Norway. It was great to sense their enthusiasm, and I was grateful for the opportunity to meet them and to pray for them at the end of the meeting.
My mind went back to a point in ancient history when I was one of two ‘young or emerging’ leaders from the Baptist Union churches to be invited by our then General Secretary, David Coffey, to an event in Prague. It was a significant moment for me. In case you’re wondering, the other person invited was our current General Secretary, Lynn Green.
Thursday 18th July
I was first involved in a Baptist church at the very end of the 1970s. I’m very grateful that I remain in touch with a number of people from those days. There are some older friends who acted as informal mentors to me and to others. I was able to take communion to one of those couples a few weeks ago when I was at a meeting in the south west.We recently heard of the death of another of them and I’m hoping to be able to get to the memorial service.
These friendships with older disciples were such a significant part of my own development that I want to ensure that, where wanted, my generation offers the same thing to the next. I guess this is part of the reason for my desire to encourage the younger leaders in our ranks.
Anyway, that was the church where I met Becca and it’s where we were married back in 1984. We have friends our own age from those days and among them are two coupes that we go away with for a few days every year. We also meet up with them for lunch every few months. And today the six of us met at Littleton-upon-Severn.
We knew one another when we were single or newly married, when we became parents, moved away from London, and enjoyed our different careers. We are now comparing notes on being or becoming grandparents and things to do in retirement. The group is one of God’s gifts to me because they knew me before I took on the roles that have defined me for most of my life. They offer a slightly different perspective on things than others can.
Sunday 21st July
I was invited to preach at Manvers Street Baptist Church in Bath. I have spoken there a number of times over the years. I have been there as a ministerial student, as a local pastor, as a college principal, and now as president.
The congregation is usually kind to me. A couple of people reminded me of things I said on previous visits, one of which must have been nearly 30 years ago. Some mistakes seem to follow you forever. But sometimes nice things do as well.
Monday 22nd July
The West of England Baptist network held its AGM this evening and they were kind enough to invite me to be the speaker. It gave me an opportunity to address one of my presidential themes, this time the place of Scripture in our lives. My title was ‘Standing on the Promises of God’: Baptists and the Bible.
I talked about the way that, in my view, Baptist beginnings cannot be understood without recognising the significance of commitment to the authority of Scripture. I mentioned some of the ways the early Baptists interpreted the Bible and concluded with some material about the importance of understanding ourselves in theological terms.
While our trust deeds and charitable status are important, we do not see ourselves as the creation of legal documents. Our churches are summoned into being by Messiah Jesus through the power of the gospel. Before we are anything else, we are God’s. The language we use about ourselves should surely reflect this.
Tuesday 23rd July
For the last few years, I have been part of a group of men who play badminton on a Tuesday evening and then go to the pub for a drink. For a long time, it was one of my two regular activities that were not related to the church. The other was the Friday night football group. Sadly, I had to hang up my boots last July, mainly because my knees are good for nothing for up to 48 hours after the match. I miss the game, and I miss the friendship group. It was great because there were men of all ages who played. Only one is older than me but the youngest are in their late teens and early 20s.
The badminton group consists of men my age or a little older. Most of my work has been spent with people in or around church. It’s always felt important to me to have friendship groups beyond the Christian community.
Tonight’s badminton game was fun. I was on the winning side for the first time in a while.
Wednesday 24th July
This morning, I visited my mum in Oxford. She’s into her 90s and is finding life more of a burden than she would like. The only thing that really makes her happy is the thought of her great grandchildren. One of my nieces has two young children and, as I may have mentioned, our oldest daughter is expecting soon. Mum is looking forward to meeting the latest addition to her growing tribe.
After I left mum, I visited friends in the Oxford area and played nine holes of golf with one of them. My game is always dreadful but today it found a whole new way of embarrassing me. I actually played reasonably well, at least by my standards, until the ball reached the green when it was all I could do to get the ball in the hole in less than four shots. I haven’t dared examine the scorecard but I’m fairly sure that if I did, I’d discover that the majority of my shots were putts. There’s a lesson in here somewhere but I’m not sure I want to find out what it is.
Thursday 25th July
Becca and I drove to Bristol to visit our older daughter who Is now looking very pregnant indeed. We are counting down the days and finding ourselves telling everyone that every arrangement we make might have to be rescheduled if we get news that the baby is arriving. I was reminded of one of the reflections I wrote during the Lockdown.
We keep pretending that we’re in charge of our own diaries. Times like this remind me that it’s not true and nor should it be.
Friday 26th July
Today brought a Skype call with a doctoral student in Bolivia who is married to a Palestinian Christian and is working on a postcolonial reading of Christian Zionist texts. It’s not appropriate to say too much about her or her work, especially as much of it is quite sensitive, particularly in the present circumstances.
Please join me in praying for all God’s people in Israel and Palestine, for an end to the violence and for a just and lasting peace.
Reflection
I’ve never really been able to overcome the tendency to define myself in terms of my roles, whether that’s husband, father, pastor or principal. One of my fears as I approached retirement was that I might not cope well with the loss of one or more of my defining roles. I’ve found it very helpful to have slotted into the tasks of being president and so I’m very grateful to Baptists Together that you have called me to this role. It feels like God is, for the time being at least, being gentle with my shortcomings.
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