Having recently returned from a week on the Leeds to Liverpool Canal at the tranquil maximum pace of 4 mph I find myself once again ruled by my diary and my next appointment.

We seem to excel, or at least I do, at being able to constantly see and be challenged by all that still needs to be done. However, having the opportunity to be sedate for a week has reminded me that God has a purpose for my life which doesn’t need to be frantic to be effective.

Taking the time to reflect on God’s purpose for my life is always rewarding because I am reminded each time that I need only be who I am … God chose me!   

In among the rush and the endless deadlines the words of Jesus in John 14:27 come to mind  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

Alan Pike, Minister of George Road Baptist Church, Erdington and Moderator of the Association.

Over recent months I have found myself reflecting again on how I have changed in my thinking, understanding and journey as a Christian believer. I can look back and see how from those early days as a young teenage Christian within a local Anglican church, I have been on a faith journey right through to where I am now as a Christian within the Baptist family and engaged in a form of ministry I had never imagined myself doing. There have been times of sincere and confident acceptance of the very heart and truth of the Gospel and times when I have been confronted with doubts. There have been life experiences that have led me to the brink of despair whilst other moments have been ones of great joy and delight. This for me is living the life of a Christian, life in all its fullness, with an assurance that somehow God has been, and still is, engaged with me on the journey.

Among our Gospel Values must be that of inclusiveness.   According to John’s Gospel God loved “the world” and therefore sent His Son, and according to Paul we are “all one in Christ Jesus”. Therefore those who aspire to leadership among us need to be inclusive people.  Over the years Churches have colluded with society’s tendency to divide people. There were invisible barriers put in place that blocked the progress of women and black people.  We have reserved leadership to middle aged people and failed to make provision for disabled people.

Yet our Gospel values tell us that everyone matters to God.  If that is true then we have to reflect that in how we live.   We need to make sure that space is made within our leadership teams for those who are different, whatever forms that difference takes. The purpose is to make sure that the potential of all God’s people is realised, but also to make sure that the decisions made by God’s people are informed by the full range of life experiences, as well as the Biblical models and the outcome of our prayers.

We must also ensure that our life practice reflects our values.  We need in leadership those who have a concern for poor people. We need to be active on behalf of those who have little, who are homeless, unemployed, lonely and in poor health. We must be advocates for those who are at risk, children, asylum seekers, elderly people, in fact for all those who are marginalised and discriminated against.

Those who are the servant leaders among us need to be those who can sense the plight of others and create a welcoming environment for them.

Barrie Smith

Recovering our pastoral vocation

Every month I send out a list of pastoral vacancies to Ministers seeking settlement and others wondering about their future ministry. Many of us find waiting difficult, not least for guidance. Modern communication undoubtedly makes this even harder as we come to expect instant answers and results. God doesn’t work that way, does He?