6th October 2017
Dear Ashfield Baptist Community,
We would like to share the process that we are embarking upon to discern God’s will for our church community moving forward. Our desire is that the whole congregation can participate and contribute to this process of discernment, as together we seek God for the future.
Over the past couple of years there has been ongoing discussion regarding the future direction of Ashfield Baptist and many of you have been a part of that. At church camps and the planning day at St. Mathews Ashbury in 2015 stories were shared, experiences remembered and possible plans laid out for the future. An outcome from these and the Pastoral Selection Committee process was that we would pursue a team ministry model rather than the single pastor model that had been the norm for much of the church’s history. As of July this year we have realized this vision, a key stepping stone, and a great encouragement in this journey.
In continuing this journey of discernment, we commit to being open and transparent about the process and the outcomes. We want to share some core values, or beliefs, that we are bringing to this process:
- A church is a story with a past, present and future. This church has a long history that even pre-dates the current building we meet in. There are important parts of our history which shape who we are today and who we are becoming and they must be acknowledged and honoured.
- This is a process for the community as a whole – recent arrivals, long-term members, old, young, male, female, and every culture. The long-term members bring the history, tradition and values. The more recent leaders bring connection to the current ministries. New people bring new ideas and new abilities that enable new possibilities.
- The Triune God is head of this church. This process is ultimately a journey to understand what God has in mind for us as a community and as a witness within the larger community He has placed us in. Through this process we will seek to humbly lay down our own personal agendas in order to discern God’s will and leading.
One step in this continuing process will be hearing on Sunday 8th October from Gordon Torry, one of our longest-serving members, about the history of our church. At the “Guess who’s coming to lunch” on Sunday 8th October, people will have an opportunity to share some of your journey with us, hear the stories of other members, and discuss what you value most about the Ashfield Baptist community.
During the services over the coming weeks and at our “First Sunday” lunches on November 5th and December 3rd, there will be ongoing feedback from the leadership team as well as further opportunities for input from church members. Our aim is to have a church planning day in February/March next year that will look specifically at the results of the process so far and look at sketching out an implementation plan moving forward.
As mentioned at the AGM, Glen Powell and Lydia Brichta will be assisting the Pastoral Leadership Team in guiding us in this process. As a team we hope and pray that you share our excitement about this process and more importantly about the future outcomes as we learn more about God’s heart and plan for Ashfield Baptist Church.
Please be praying with us.
Danelle and Paul