September 2011
TRANSFORM
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A Call to Confident Prayer
Read online at www.baptist.org.uk/transform
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Baptists Beyond 400 Friday 4 May – Sunday 6 May 2012 Westminster Central Hall, London Please visit the Baptist Assembly website in October for more information.
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Editorial
A CALL TO CONFIDENT PRAYER When I was called to be General Secretary five years ago I made it clear that prayer would be my priority. Nothing has changed. I still see prayer as the absolute priority for our denomination. But what has changed is that after five years of seeing what God is doing in our churches I am even more convinced that this is the right message. Time and again it has been clear that the amazing creativity that I have seen has been the result of prayer, and this has given me a new passion and urgency for prayer. I call the denomination to move forward in confident prayer. We have every reason to be confident in prayer because of the nature of our God. All too often our prayers are hesitant and decidedly lacking in confidence, and the only explanation for that can be that we are looking at ourselves and not at our great God. We live in challenging times and, humanly speaking, we can easily be robbed of confidence. But not so if we keep our focus on God. Let me remind you of some of the reasons why we can be confident of God:HE IS A GOD OF FORGIVENESS – One of the most horrifying dangers that we face is that we can get used to God’s forgiveness, and take it for granted. We need to come afresh to the foot of the Cross and remind ourselves that without God’s forgiveness we are totally lost. Without his forgiveness we are compelled to drag the full weight of
our guilt and sin through life with us. HE IS A GOD OF GENEROSITY – I love those funny stories that Jesus shared with his disciples. The ones in which he suggested that although they were failed parents they would never give a snake or a scorpion to their children. Just imagine! Imperfect as they were, they would always give their children good gifts. Jesus drew the conclusion that if they could get it right, how much more could their perfect Father in heaven be relied upon to give good gifts to his children. God loves to give his life to everyone through his Holy Spirit. We can rely upon God’s generosity. HE IS A GOD OF HOPE – We live in days when it is assumed that there is no hope – and that we need to choose between different forms of hopelessness and disaster. But we have a different story. God does not give us slick solutions and promise us an easy ride but he does promise to be with us. For sure, we do not know what the future holds, but we know the one who holds the future. We can pray confidently because God is God and he will never fail us. I cannot wait to see what the future holds. I know that there will be many challenges, and many obstacles will be put in our way. But I am confident that God will continue to deal generously with us. My prayer is that every church will reflect afresh on its prayer life this autumn, and will move forward in confident prayer. Yours ever, in Christ,
Jonathan Edwards BUGB General Secretary
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Mission Ian Bunce Head of Department
Introduction As the summer holidays become a distant memory and the shops begin to fill with Christmas decorations, we are excited by the projects we have been working on for the autumn season. Please take a moment to look at them and if you want any further information please do get in touch. Christmas is coming Seasonal events in the year give churches many opportunities to connect with their community and now’s a good time to be planning ways to share the story of God’s gift to us at Christmas. To help you with this we have produced a new ‘Christmas Crossingplaces’ Mission File which is available to download free of charge from the ‘seasonal resources’ section of our Mission Files library www.baptist.org. uk/resources-events/missionfiles.html. It includes a variety of suggestions that have come from individuals and churches who have tried them out in recent years: • Read about the community choir set up by Ashley Baptist Church in New Milton last Christmas which increased its contact with locals and enabled them to tell the Christmas story in a fresh way. A video of minister Alison John talking about the community choir is available on the website. • Find some great ideas for engaging with all ages, from toddlers to seniors. • Make an impact in your community with initiatives like a Giant Advent Calendar, Community Christingle service, Christmas Tree festival and Get in the Picture.
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Last year, 76 towns across the UK took part in Get in the Picture. The idea is simple build a nativity scene, get some dressing up clothes, put it in the town centre, shopping place, school fair (or wherever you can!) and get passers-by to dress up and have their photos taken in a nativity scene. They can then download their photo from the website the next day. The initiative encourages people to talk about the meaning of Christmas, and the Get in the Picture website also includes testimonies and information about the Christmas story. Why not plan to do Get in the Picture as a cluster and share your nativity scene and clothes across a few towns? This can also be a great opportunity for ‘Churches Together’ in your area to work together and share resources, expertise and time. You only need to register your town once, no matter how many times you run the event. This year we’ve produced a new Mission File with all the information you need to get started on your local Get in the Picture event. This is available to download from the ‘seasonal resources’ section of our Mission Files library www.baptist.org.uk/ resources-events/missionfiles.html or find
out more from www.getinthepicture.org.uk We’d love to hear from you if you, or your church, have tried other ways to engage with your local community at Christmas. Send your ‘Christmas Crossingplaces’ to us at mission@baptist.org.uk
are suitable for your whole church and we hope that you will be able to join us with your church group. •
Rural Churches Day – Thursday 20 October (Thornbury Baptist Church, Glos) Speaker Simon Mattholie (CEO Rural Ministries) on ‘Becoming your community’s heartbeat’. This day is organised jointly by BUGB and the Baptist Union of Wales for ministers and those in leadership roles in rural churches.
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Toddler Group Rocks! Day – Tuesday 25 October (Albany Road Baptist Church, Cardiff ) A day for encouraging Toddler Group leaders and helping ministers and deacons make Toddler Groups integral to church mission strategy.
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Being Church for the Boomer Generation? Conference 23-25 November (High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Herts) The Baby Boomer generation is just beginning to retire, and this conference will explore how we can engage or re-engage with this generation of people at this significant time. It will look very different from the work done for ‘seniors’ in the past.
Mission Department Events
The department organises a number of day conferences and residential events throughout the year to inform and encourage churches in mission. The newlook BUGB website has full information about each of these events, including the option to book online. Payment can be made using a debit or credit card, PayPal account, or by sending in a cheque separately after booking. Please note: some venues have limited space and places may fill up before the closing date, so we suggest that you book early! Coming up soon are: • Crossingplaces Days – Saturday 1 October (Colchester Baptist Church) and Saturday 12 November (Burton Latimer Baptist Church) These days give you an opportunity to be inspired to make a difference for God where you are, looking at evangelism in a different way. They
For more information, and details of how to book for these events, please see www.baptist.org.uk/events.html
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Ministry Paul Goodliff Head of Department
Introduction Applications for recognition as an Accredited Church Worker are welcomed, and continuing ministerial support is encouraged. Nationally Accredited Church Workers In 2010 Baptist Union Council approved a scheme to enlarge the range of ministries that the Baptist Union recognises by accreditation to include a new Register of Nationally Accredited Church Workers. This development is a response to the wider range of appointments now being made to the staff of Baptist Churches. We have long accredited ministers who serve as pastors of local churches and for the past decade have also accredited evangelists and youth specialist ministers. These are the three categories of ordained ministry. In more recent times, churches have also called children’s and family workers, parish nurses and church-based community workers. There are also those who serve as youth workers, but who are not called to ordained ministry. Now, the Baptist Union is able to accredit these types of work too through its new Register. Church Workers of this kind are often at the interface of church and community and we believe that this recognition process will enrich and enhance the missional character of our churches. Full details can be found on our website (see below) and application to be recognised in these new categories is now open and welcomed. If you have such a worker in your church the first step, as with any call to serve Christ, is to talk to the minister, if possible, and then to the Regional Ministry team. The call will be tested by an Association MRC and then a national selection conference. Depending on their experience and 6
qualifications, the next step may be to gain a theological qualification (minimum Level 4, Certificate in Theology, or the first year of an undergraduate degree) to add to the professional qualification they will bring with them (such as a social work degree for church-based community work, a nursing qualification for parish nurses or a teaching qualification for children’s and families workers). The first selection days are booked for 2012, so applications should not be delayed if they want to be considered next year. www.baptist.org.uk/church-workerinformation.html Continuing Ministerial Support We place a great emphasis upon supporting Newly Accredited Ministers with mentoring, and many, having appreciated the support that this has been, ask ‘where next?’ when they become fully accredited. We believe that support in ministry should not end with the transfer to the Fully Accredited List on the Register of Nationally Accredited Ministers. A download from the website of a leaflet entitled Continuing Ministerial Support will give you full details www.baptist.org.uk/ useful-information-for-ministers/findingsupport-in-ministry.html but I want to focus upon three dimensions of a much broader array of supportive structures. Various forms of professional relationships are described: life-long mentoring, professional supervision and spiritual direction. However, the one that may well prove to be the most popular is peer supervision, not least because of its relative economy. Two ministers agree to be trained in supervising one another’s work, meeting at regular intervals to do so, and this is already working well in the Yorkshire Baptist Association www.yba.org.uk/about/
structure/ministry/. Clearly there are no costs to this kind of supervision except time and travel. We hope to have this available throughout the associations within 18 months. A second aspect that is readily available is simply to meet in a cell group or lunch group with other local ministers. More intimate than the Association Ministers’ Meeting, perhaps, and probably smaller in size, it enables friendships to grow, prayer to be offered and mutual support to be given. In both of my pastorates, in Streatham and in Stevenage, I benefitted from such relationships and since leaving college I have met with a small cell group regularly throughout the years. This has been such a life-line that I cannot commend it highly enough. Increasingly common now is membership of what are generally termed ‘new monastic movements’. The most widely adopted by Baptists at present is the Northumbria Community, http://northumbriacommunity. org/. But there has also developed the strongly missional edge of the Order of Mission based at the Philadelphia Congregation of St Thomas Crooke’s in Sheffield, an Anglican-Baptist LEP http:// www.missionorder.org/. In the early stages of its formation is a distinctively Baptist order, with its focus upon ministry, at the moment without a name nor website, but with over 50 people interested, and its first convocation planned for October 2011. More details about this can be found by emailing me at pgoodliff@baptist.org.uk. These ‘new monastic movements’ have little to do with wearing a habit but everything to do with developing and sustaining the godly habits and spiritual disciplines that are vital for effective ministry. Some even have
found ‘old monastic movements’ helpful with both Franciscan and Benedictine ‘Third Orders’ offering a place that a few ministers have found of help. A recent series of articles by Stephen Roe in The Baptist Times portrayed the similarities between Baptist polity and the practice of St Benedict. I am of the opinion that every Baptist minister would benefit from some form of continuing support, and maybe more than one. Whatever it takes to sustain godly ministry with mission at the heart of its DNA, find that support and ‘run with perseverance the race that is set before us’ (Hebrews 12:1), so that we might ‘set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.’ (1 Timothy 4:12) Preparation for Retirement The BU is still offering its popular and widely appreciated pre-retirement conference for ministers, which they and their spouses are invited to attend up to four years before the planned date of retirement. The course is open to both accredited and unaccredited ministers. Many different topics are covered, including housing, finance, health and spiritual life in retirement. Approximately half the cost is met by the Ministry Department, and it’s hoped that churches can help with the remainder. (In 2011 this was £120 per person). Bookings are currently being taken for a course at The Hayes, Swanwick, on 5-7 November 2012 and courses at High Leigh on 4-6 June 2013 (almost full) and 3-5 June 2014. For further information contact Ian Millgate in the Ministry Department, imillgate@baptist.org.uk or 01235 517705. 7
Faith and Unity Introduction The Faith and Unity Department has recently said goodbye to our Head of Department, Graham Sparkes. At the time of writing, we are still going through the process of appointing a new Head. Please pray for the staff of the Department as we work through the challenges of this time. Women in Ministry Surely the issue of women in leadership in Baptist churches is settled, isn’t it? After all, women have been serving as pastors of Baptist churches since the 1920s, and continue to do so today. And there exists a seemingly ‘thoroughly Baptist compromise’ which allows those congregations who choose not to call a woman on theological grounds to continue as members of the Union, exercising the freedom enshrined in the Declaration of Principle that ‘each Church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws.’ There have been female Presidents of the Union, a female Deputy General Secretary, and female Regional Ministers. So, what’s the problem? In spite of these positive examples of women achieving a number of ‘high-profile’ roles within the denomination, the statistic remains that in October 2008 only 11.6% of currently serving Baptist ministers were women. This figure speaks of a far deeper issue, one which goes beyond ordained ministry, of the roles which women and men are required to play within Baptist congregational life. ‘That women are not yet permitted to take their proper share in the life and work of the church is, to our thinking, a relic of barbarism’ The Baptist Times, 1901 (Quoted in Smith, 2005: 29) 8
Paul declared in Galatians 3:28 that ‘there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus,’ and the Baptists declared in 1926 that ‘In Baptist belief and practice sex is not a bar to any kind of Christian service’ (The Baptist Times, 1926). And yet these visions for radical equality between the sexes remain a long way from reality in many of the churches of the Baptist Union. A new Reader, The Story of Women in Ministry in the Baptist Union of Great Britain is now available from the BUGB. This recounts the history of women in leadership amongst us, including the significant debate that took place at Council last year. Order a copy from the BUGB Online Store www.baptist.org.uk/ resources/bugb-online-store.html Peacemaking Sunday 2011 A comprehensive set of resources for the Sunday nearest to the United Nations Day of Peace is available to download from the BUGB website. Join with the many churches up and down the country who will be praying on 18 September, and refer to this resource whenever new waves of conflict devastate communities. The prayers, by Baptist, Methodist, and United Reformed contributors, are accompanied by a Powerpoint sequence of images which link the peace theme and the intercessory
prayers, a specially commissioned hymn by Alison Micklem, and biblical reflections on the common lectionary texts for the day. www.baptist.org.uk/social-and-politicalissues/peacemaking-sunday.html Close the Gap This initiative, created by Church Action on Poverty (CAP), enables both individuals and churches to make an impact on the yawning gap in income between the poorest and the richest people in our society. Within the developed world, the UK’s ‘Gap’ is second only to Portugal’s. 3.5 million British children live below the poverty line whilst, every week, new millionaires capture more than their fair share of the UK Nations’ economic cake. See: www.church-poverty. org.uk/act/closethegap/onesocietyvideo This tragedy affects the social and economic health of everyone. The CAP campaign asks for pledges of prayer and actions, and provides ideas, prayers and news, hoping that hundreds of churches across the country will be galvanised into joining in this struggle for justice. For more information, visit: www.church-poverty.org.uk The Gathering
Consider a world where inequalities don’t exist. A world in which women and men of all ethnicities are in healthy relationships. Consider what such a future might look like for our union - men and women of all cultures working together to create justice and equality for all in Christ Jesus. Then join The Gathering, share your stories, listen to others’ perspectives and together create our vision. Join us and help shape the future of our union - moving closer to making racial and gender justice for all, a reality.
The Gathering 2011
Date: 15 October Registration from 09:00 Venue: Brixton Baptist Church (Kenyon), Solon Road, Brixton SW2 5UY Main speakers: Pat Took (BUGB President) Anthony Reddie (tutor at Queens College and author) Cost: £15 Register and see the programme on line: www.baptist.org.uk/events.html
This year’s Gathering is a collaborative engagement with the Women’s Justice Committee, and is entitled Shaping the Future. The conference, hosted at Brixton Baptist Church on 15 October, will consider what the BUGB could
look like if men and women from all cultures work and relate on an equal footing. Pat Took, President of BUGB, and Anthony Reddie, tutor at Queens College and author, will assist our conversations, and worship will be led by Ronnie Barham and others. To register online visit: www.baptist.org.uk/events.html We Belong This year’s We Belong conference, organised with HEBA, will explore The Case for a Multicultural Church. Recently the term multicultural has been criticised and undermined, in many circles it is regarded as an unsuccessful government project. But should this critique be levied at the church as well? And what should a multicultural church look like? What are the complexities involved in developing and sustaining a healthy culturally diverse church? These are just some of the questions that Pall Singh, Anthony Reddie, Ruth McCaughren, and Susan Stevenson will help delegates consider on 25 November at Central Baptist Church, Birmingham (09:30-17:00). For more information contact Janet Farnsworth on jfarnsworth@baptist.org.uk Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer 7 November 2011 This year the In Step with the Spirit theme continues with a focus on the Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness, prepared by the Caribbean Baptist Women’s Union. Over the past few years the Caribbean Islands have been affected by a series of natural disasters such as hurricanes and an earthquake in Haiti, which have left thousands orphaned, homeless, grief-stricken and traumatized. These disasters occur in
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Faith and Unity vastly different places and among different populations, yet they share a common factor: during and afterwards, women and children suffer the most. Material will be available to help guide our worship, our praying and our reflecting. Go to www.baptist.org.uk/ prayer-download.html or request a paper copy from Janet Farnsworth on 01235 517726 jfarnsworth@baptist.org.uk . Last year we sent £1990 to BWA as donations from the Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer. LEPs and Baptist Ministers Pension Fund All churches in membership with the BUGB should have received a Pension Bulletin dated March 2011. This document explains the current situation of the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund in relation to the major review of the Pension Fund carried out over the last two years, and the problems that have been identified due to the government regulations around defined benefit pension schemes. The BUGB has recognised that the situation of LEPs is of particular concern due to the increased likelihood of there being a long gap between ministers who are members of the BMPF, and therefore the increased likelihood of a ‘cessation event’ being triggered. Indeed, the rotation of ministerial denominations in LEPs is one of the strategies considered important for ecumenical growth, and so a long gap between Baptist ministers is to be valued. We are anxious that difficulties with pensions arrangements will not put Baptist ministers at a disadvantage in working in LEPs, that Baptists will not be put off joining an ecumenical partnership because of these issues, and that LEPs who have a Baptist minister do not find themselves facing excessive additional burdens.
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Consequently, a briefing paper has been produced and has been widely circulated to
ecumenical colleagues. It is also available on the BUGB website: www.baptist.org.uk/faitha-unity-frontpage/fandu-news.html The BUGB is committed to helping churches through the issues and will be glad to help with any concerns you may have. Please direct any questions to Philip Putman via bmpfenquiries@baptist.org.uk Political Party Conference Leaders from the Baptist Union, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church will again be joining with leaders from the Salvation Army and Society of Friends in a delegation to the autumn Conferences of the three main political parties. By attending some of the sessions and meeting with MPs, the delegation is able to demonstrate the support of the churches for those involved in the political process. We warmly invite members of local churches to attend the prayer breakfast meetings arranged with the Christian groupings within each party: Liberal Democrat - Tuesday 20 September (Birmingham). 7:45-9:00 at Birmingham Christian Centre. Labour - Tuesday 27 September (Liverpool). 7:45-9:00 at the Friends’ Meeting House. Conservative - Tuesday 4 October (Manchester). 7:45-9:00 at Living Oasis Christian Bookshop. For more details about the meetings please contact Rosemary Kidd on rkidd@baptist.org.uk
Around the Union Central Administrative contact: Stephen Copson 01462 442548 stephen.c@centralba.org.uk On 18 June around 160 people gathered for the Annual CBA Assembly and AGM at Loughton Baptist Church, Milton Keynes where Pat Took, President of the BUGB spoke on ‘Living Together in Love’. On 14 August the Radio 4 Sunday Morning Service came from Mount Pleasant, Northampton celebrating the 250th Anniversary of William Carey’s birth.
East Midlands Administrative contact: Rebecca Nicholls 0115 981 8645 administrator@embaptists.co.uk An exciting autumn ahead…a third Regional Minister joins the team, new ministers moving into the association, many as Newly Accredited Ministers. Our mission strategy continues to develop with an ongoing conversation across the association about how we inspire and invest in leadership. The Baptist churches of Leicester are beginning to reflect the diversity of the city. Pastor Paul Lohan has been inducted as Lay Pastor of Carey Hall which is now a Tamil congregation, Belgrave Union has a vision for being an international church and conversations are being held with the congregation at Uppingham Road about being led as a majority black church.
Eastern Administrative contact: Hayley Beckett 01263 826377 secretary@easternbaptist.org.uk Our Mission Strategy Group launched the Lighthouse Churches Project at our recent assembly in Norwich. The project is designed to enable churches to share resources, expertise and experience for mission opportunities in their community. Plans also include the training of volunteers as interns in mission situations within local churches. In partnership with SEBA, LBA and Spurgeon’s College we will be running a pilot scheme for a course for Core Leaders in the autumn (details will be available soon).
Heart of England Administrative contact: Karen Martindale 0121 472 4986 mailbox@baptist-heartofengland.org HEBA’s AGM in June was held at the BMS International Mission Centre, where the Chapel was packed for a very positive and encouraging meeting. Alan Pike and John Levick were re-elected as Moderator and Treasurer respectively. Keith Judson, Team Leader, gave a well received address: `Preparing for the future’. Another popular event was a Church Officers Day on 9 July, designed to help Secretaries and Treasurers in particular. Over 50 people booked in to meet Richard Nicholls (BUGB General Manager), Amanda Allchorn (BUGB Head of Communications) and Malcolm Broad (BUGB Treasurer) at Smethwick Baptist Church.
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Around the Union London Administrative contact: Paul Martin 020 7692 5592 paul@londonbaptist.org.uk
North Western Administrative contact: Mandy Howarth 01942 221595 baptnw1@aol.com In 2011 we have adopted for our association theme ‘Generosity and Grace’. Many of our churches have responded positively to the invitation to reflect on the values and ethos that we seek to promote and reflect as local Christian communities. This theme continues at our September Forum meeting at which we will welcome BUGB President Pat Took as speaker, along with Graham Sparkes as he takes up his new role in the North West. We also look forward to re-launching our Young Adult mentoring programme now under the new title ‘Relish’.
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Northern Administrative enquiries: 0191 273 7641 admin@thenba.org.uk Pat Took was the speaker at an enriching Association Assembly in May. Preston Grange Community Church, formerly a daughter congregation of Whitley Bay Baptist Church became an independent church in June. The spring saw the first association
mission teams visit Lithuania and Texas. The association is involved in a process of collective discernment under the title ‘Expect’. This will be the main theme of the next assembly on 5 November when they will be exploring what it means to expect to meet with God in worship, engage together in fellowship and collaborate with one another in mission.
South Eastern Administrative contact: Steph Tidy 01444 233431 admin@seba-baptist.org.uk
South Wales Administrative contact: Jackie Godding 02920 491366 office@swbabugb.org.uk Mainstream Wales took place in June with Revd Carl Beech of CVM (Christian Vision for Men) as the speaker. We met at the Rock UK Summit Centre in Trelewis. Momentum, The Baptist Assembly in Wales, saw around 160 Baptists from South Wales Baptist Association, Baptist Union of Wales and BMS World Mission joining together. The theme was ‘Everybody Building’ and in keeping with the topic of building, our regional ministers appeared on the platform wearing hard hats. Presentations focussed on mission, comparing what is happening around the world in parallel with mission news at home.
South West Administrative contact: Chris Wooding 01392 433533 chris@swbaptists.org.uk We had a great evening in May with over 80 ladies coming together for our ‘Stepping Up’ event aimed at challenging and encouraging all women with the potential for Christian leadership. We are now seeking a venue in the northern end of the association to run a similar event. We continue to explore church planting possibilities in the Redruth area of Cornwall and hope to shortly be able to appoint a church planter for that locality on a ‘house for service’ basis.
Southern Counties Administrative contact: Keith Hawton 023 8041 0691 k.hawton@scba.org.uk There are lots of initiatives bubbling up! A team in Hampshire undertook Open the Book training recently to become story-tellers. They will have the exciting opportunity to tell the (whole) Bible story to over 300 children. We are also working together to make the most of the Olympics with More than Gold. Ian Bunce will be inspiring us to continue to develop mission at our Leaders Day on 17 November and beginning in January 2012 there will be a series of day workshops designed to equip women in leadership.
West of England Administrative contact: Geoff Starling 0117 965 8828 office@webassoc.org.uk On Thursday 21 July the WEBA Executive and staff team met to discuss “How do we become a ‘missional association’?’ This year we held four ‘3 in 1’ events launching our two year theme, Encouraging Missionary Disciples. At each venue Nigel Coles called churches to consider their response to Matthew 28:19 and explained his hope that there will be 10 cluster-based ‘3 in 1’ events in 2012 as that response grows.
Yorkshire Administrative contact: Deborah Gamble 0113 278 4954 debbie.gamble@yba.org.uk There is much happening throughout the association and its churches underpinned by our Confidence vision. Our desire is to intentionally enact hope as people of faith and as such we are involved in a reflective conversation looking at fresh ways of expressing leadership in smaller churches. We are also engaged in a conversation with leaders from our larger churches in Yorkshire and exploring creative ways of working together right across the association and supporting each other in mission.
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Staff News National Graham Sparkes
We were very sorry to say goodbye to Graham Sparkes at the end of June. Graham joined the Baptist Union as Mission Adviser in May 1998 and then became Head of the Faith and Unity Department in 2004. We will miss his expertise, clear thinking and sense of humour, but wish him well in his new role as President with the Luther King House Educational Trust, based at the Northern Baptist Learning Community in Manchester. Colin McDermott Colin McDermott left the Mission Department at the end of August. He began work in the Ministry Department as Enrolment Administrator whilst Yvonne Voyce was on maternity leave. He then took over as Project Development Coordinator in the Mission Department in September 2008. He has brought a wealth of experience to the roles, for which we have been grateful. Colin’s wife, Alice, begins ministerial training in Scotland in the autumn and we wish them both well for the future. Jayne Lonsdale Jayne joined the Finance Team in March 2007, primarily to oversee the Union’s Gift Aid service to churches, but added to this the work of the Baptist Union Corporation Deposit Accounts and Trust Funds. Jayne has now left the Union’s employment and will be missed. 14
Bob Hilton has now taken over the work that Jayne had been responsible for, so please contact Bob with any queries regarding your church’s Deposit Account or Trust Fund and any Gift Aid queries on 01235 517724 or by email at rhilton@ baptist.org.uk. Regional East Midland: Revd Mike Fegredo joins the EMBA team this autumn as the new Regional Minister (half time) with some responsibility for the smaller churches within the association. Mike is Pastor of Ruddington Baptist Church in Nottingham where he has ministered for the past 17 years. Eastern: Norman Tharby was appointed at our assembly as our new Moderator of the association. From the middle of September Richard Lewis, one of our Regional Team, will be taking part in a three month exchange with an Australian colleague for his sabbatical study leave. Congratulations to our Association Secretary, Hayley Beckett, on the birth of her daughter recently. Heart of England: After a six-month consultation the Strategic Review Group are due to report to HEBA’s Board of Trustees in November. This project has aimed to assess the impact of HEBA’s Regional Ministry re-organization in 20067 and offer suggestions about working patterns if improvements can be made. North Western: We have been delighted to welcome Rachel Oatridge onto the Association Team.
Rachel will be working part-time offering some much needed administrative support. South Wales: Andy Hughes is on sabbatical from September to November. West of England: We wish our administrator Geoff Starling and his wife Robbie a very happy retirement – Geoff’s last day was 26 August. We welcome Gary McFarlane and Rob English who have now taken up the new part-time posts of Association Manager and Trust Manager. Yorkshire:
The YBA is delighted to announce that Revd Graham Ensor has been appointed Regional Minister Team Leader; he will take up the role in early 2012. We have already benefited from Graham’s excellent leadership gifting as Chair of the Association Executive and we rejoice that his gifts will be used further amongst the churches of Yorkshire. Please pray for Graham, Su, George and Lucy at this time of transition, and particularly in the later months of this year as Graham prepares to take up the post. Please also pray for the fellowship and leadership team at Guiseley Baptist Church where Graham presently serves at this time of change.
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Communications Amanda Allchorn Head of Department
Introduction The new BUGB website is a treasure trove of resources to assist you in every day church life. Here’s a snapshot of what’s available and how to find it. Go to www.baptist.org.uk and explore! BUGB Website: Resources to help you and your church Prayers of Intercession Every month on the BUGB website the Faith and Unity Department produce a download of timely intercessory prayers that can be used in your church or personal quiet time. Click on Prayer and then Prayers of Intercession New films for church services We regularly post inspiring short videos about how churches are engaged in mission and how you are supporting them through Home Mission. You can view the whole collection of our films here. Go to Resources and then click on BUGB Videos Mission Files Fact files giving you ideas and advice for a wide range of mission activities your church could engage in, from working with children and young people to the newly retired. Go to Resources then click on Downloads and choose Mission Files
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BUC Guidelines These leaflets help local churches with practical issues, legal matters, property opportunities and problems, and charity law. A vital source of important info. The big blue BUC button on
the Home Page – under ‘Featured Resources’ – will take you straight to the section. Safeguarding Get the latest advice and resources on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Go to Resources then click on Downloads and choose Safeguarding Top Tips – Communications A range of useful advice sheets on a range of communications issues at church including writing a press release, photography at church and putting sermons online. Go to Resources then click on Downloads and choose Communications Webwatch Every month we send Webwatch to over 4,500 church leaders, a guide to what’s new on the website. If you don’t already receive this newsletter, please fill out the form on the Email newsletters page so you can be added to the distribution list. Go to News and then click on Email Newsletters
The Baptist Times Mark Woods Editor
Baptist Times on the web The Baptist Times has been published continuously since 1855. We have the back copies going back to 1873 in the office, and it’s fascinating to look back and see how fashions in journalism and design have changed over the years. We’re about to change again. Our weekly publication will continue to be our core activity, but we’ll be putting much more into our online presence. With the help of the BUGB Communications Department, we’ll be launching a new website in the autumn. We’re doing this for two main reasons. Firstly, our press day is Monday, and there’s nothing more frustrating than a really good story breaking on a Tuesday. We know that our readers will have to wait another week and a half before they hear it from us, and by then they might well have heard it from someone else. So some news stories will be uploaded immediately, together with other content as appropriate. Secondly, the web offers much more immediacy and interactivity than a weekly printed paper. So we hope that a daily visit to The Baptist Times website will become a habit with Baptists, as they find out what’s being done and said throughout our denomination and more widely. What will this mean for The Baptist Times team, and for the printed edition? We’re clear that the printed edition will still be the core of what we do. Like other newspapers, it offers a different sort of reading experience. Many people just prefer to read a paper rather than look at a screen, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
Also, while some of what we produce is timesensitive, other articles aren’t. And of course, some material lends itself better to being read in one format rather than another – for instance, longer articles are read more easily if they’re carefully designed to let the eye follow text and pictures in the most natural way. So there may be some overlap, but our aim is to continue to give our subscribers value for money as most of what we produce will still be unique to subscribers. This is an exciting new development for us; please pray for us as we bring it to completion. Tall Ships Church secretaries and ministers, please make sure your young people and young adults see this! We’re offering young people aged 16-25 the chance to spend five nights on a squarerigged sailing ship. It’s a fantastic opportunity to have a wonderful seagoing experience which is physically challenging and spiritually uplifting. They’ll be with other Baptist young people, and there’ll be eight voyage chaplains who will be with them for support and reflection. I can speak from personal experience, as I’ve had two voyages myself and heard great stories of the genuinely life-changing effects they can have on young people. For more information see our website www.baptisttimes.co.uk where there’s a link to a downloadable flyer. Or please call me on 01235 515672, or email editor@baptisttimes. co.uk Mark Woods, Editor The Baptist Times
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Publications BUGB Online Store – a brand new quick & easy system Our brand new store allows you to purchase a number of publications and resources including membership cards, worship resources and helpful books like Facing a Pastoral Vacancy or Rachel Tole’s book on church administration Nothing Spiritual about Chaos. But why the change? The aim is to provide you with a quick and easy system to select, order and pay directly online. What’s so new about this store? Paying Online Paying by credit/debit card means a quicker turnaround time for processing orders. You place your order, pay for the items and a confirmation of your order is emailed to you immediately!! We then process your order, post your items out to you, and give you a quick email update to let you know the order is on its way to you. Using PayPal Online payment is carried out via PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account to make the payment on their website. All you need is your credit/debit card to hand!! When the PayPal page opens up, don’t worry about the log in area on the right. Look to the left instead. You’ll see the various payment cards listed and a link for you to continue. Don’t have a PayPal account? Use your credit card or bank account (where available) Continue
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You can then enter your card details, verify the name and address under which the card is registered, click on the button, and finally click ‘Pay Now’ when prompted. Cheque In Advance If you would prefer to pay by cheque you still can. When you go to the BUGB Online Store to place your order, make sure you select the payment option Purchase Order (UK Only) during the ordering process. Your Purchase Order will be emailed to you. Just print a copy of the Purchase Order, return it to us with your cheque, and once payment has been received your books will then be despatched. Please make sure we receive your cheque within 10 days of placing the order otherwise we’ll assume you have changed your mind and will cancel the order. Stock
The new store displays the current stock levels so you can see the quantity of stock available for purchase.
Status Update The new store enables us to give you a quick email update to let you know the order has been ‘Shipped’ and is on its way to you!
Home Mission From one church secretary to another
As Baptists we look to the local church for support and inspiration. For most of us this is where we found faith, heard the gospel preached, professed our faith in baptism and shared in service and witness. “You are the Body of Christ” says the Apostle Paul, “members of one another”, and we understand this primarily in terms of our own church. Our recent Heart of England Baptist Association ‘Church Officers Day’ was a very good opportunity to engage in wider fellowship to learn about our individual church situations – all of which vary in size, location and outlook. For me it was indeed a privilege to speak about the difference a Home Mission Grant can make in supporting a local church, as our small fellowship had previously been in receipt of one. With the support of a Home Mission Grant our church was able to appoint a part-time minister over 20 years ago. The church membership grew and some years later we were able to appoint a full time minister. Home Mission is promoted throughout the year here at West Bromwich Baptist Church, in the West Midlands. At least once a year we have a Home Mission evening were we show the latest BUGB DVD and then discuss issues raised in the film. The varying mission situations are most encouraging and eye opening. Earlier this summer the 2011 BUGB
DVD Be the Centre - crossing places in action was shown and was very well commended. I would encourage every church fellowship to take a peek at this initiative which has received help from Home Mission and the Baptist family. It is the culmination of faithfulness in prayer and sacrificial giving of the members of a Baptist church in Berkshire, whose vision for mission has created a crossing place between the church and the local community. In my role as Church Secretary it is essential to communicate to my local church all the relevant information from our association and the BUGB; to keep them informed through our weekly bulletin, monthly messenger and face to face reminders. In keeping our folks informed it will encourage them to have a vision for a changing church that knows that sometimes God chooses to lead us by a way we have not been before. I have a vision for a sharing church, where folks know their responsibilities and love to share with others the resources God has given them. I thank God that he calls us to be a Missionary Church where mission is at the heart of our life of worship. Where we know our world, and serve its peoples, and serve by word and deed as a sign of the Kingdom of God. I love to attempt great things for God and expect great things from God. Sarah Thomas, Church Secretary West Bromwich Baptist Church
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Home Mission From one church minister to another
One of the most tragic things in life is to have a dream, gift or talent and never get to use it and die with it, no wonder the cemetery is one of the richest places to be found with buried unrealised dreams, gifts or talents. If you have not heard of Susan Boyle then welcome to planet earth. She rose to fame achieving a long term dream of using her gift, her talent of singing before an appreciative audience. The realisation of her dream came through the support and exposure of a TV programme Britain’s Got Talent, without which she would not have realised her dream. In a way Home Mission is a spiritual way of saying Baptists Have Got Talent. Ideas and ministries unique to individual callings and giftings have come to fruition through Home Mission. Here at Hivings we had a dream to change the perception of young people. In this day and age young people do not see the church as good news and relevant to their dreams and aspirations. We wanted to change that, our dream was to show young people the church still is good news whatever age, race or gender you are. The realisation of this dream could only be made possible through the support of Home Mission. So we applied for a Mission Project grant and set up a youth club and football club. The football club is not a traditional football club – it is one that has fluid membership which fits in with young people’s lives today. It also encourages leadership as the youngsters are encouraged to train 20
with the Football Association to become young coaches. This in turn means they are employable because they hold an FA level one coaching certificate. This is a basic qualification for sports work in any institution including schools and fitness clubs. How can this not be good news to any youngster who has been suspended or has dropped out from school and feels unemployable? The transformation between the ‘before and after’ encounter with the church is clearly outstanding and in the words of some of the young people ‘life saving’. At the moment we are working with 60 youngsters meeting twice a week for football and we have the youth club on a Friday. All of this has been possible through the support of Home Mission. If it was not for the support of Home Mission for the church, there would be no full-time minister here either, and clearly dreams would have remained dreams. Have you got a dream which you think is central to your church moving forward or to your church reaching out to an ignored sector of your community? Then perhaps you should be speaking to one of your Regional Ministers to see if Home Mission could help. And to the churches and individuals who give so consistently to Home Mission, I want to say ‘thank you’ for making our dream come true, and may the God who gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater continue to bless you so that you might continue to be a blessing to others, like my church. Shalom. Sam Owoo, Minister Hivings Free Church
Finance Philip Putman Head of Department
Introduction The Finance Office has seen a couple of changes in staff over the last couple of months and they are settling into their roles well. The staff are available to assist churches and ministers with many topics ranging from loans and gift aid to pensions and deposits. Taxation queries are often forwarded to the Honorary Taxation Advisor, Philip Cooke, and many of the frequently asked questions appear in this and every issue of Transform. 2011 Home Mission Stipend The Trustees have fixed the Home Mission Stipend for 2011 at £19,650, an increase of 1.55% on the 2010 Stipend. The Trustees took into account various factors including the current inflation factors such as RPI and CPI, together with average wage settlements in the UK and of course the economic climate. Treasurers should also note that the value of a Manse for Pension Fund purposes is £5,915 per annum as from 1 January 2011. This increases the amounts that churches and ministers pay as pension scheme contributions, and significantly increases the benefits which will be received in due course from the fund. 2012 Home Mission Stipend The Trustees have fixed the Home Mission Stipend for 2012 at £20,000, an increase of 1.78% on the 2011 Stipend. The Manse Value used in the pensionable income calculation for ministerial members of the Baptist Pension Scheme has been set at £6,000 from 1 January 2012. Deposit rates The Baptist Union Corporation currently
(from 1 November 2009) pays interest at 0.80% on money deposited by churches in the Baptist Union Loan Fund. The current rate is advertised each week in The Baptist Times. The deposits assist the provision of loans to churches, and are welcomed by the Corporation. Loan rates The Baptist Union Corporation is willing to lend at 3.50% (from 1 November 2009) to churches buying, extending or renovating buildings or manses, subject to suitable repayment arrangements being in place. This rate is also subject to change in line with national interest rates. The current rate is advertised each week in The Baptist Times. Mileage rates Earlier this year the Government announced an increase to the recommended mileage rates as from 6 April 2011. For the first 10,000 miles in each tax year, the rate is 45p and for mileage over 10,000 the rate is 25p. Charity Numbers Many churches assume that as they are in membership of the Baptist Union they are able to use the registered charity numbers for the Baptist Union Corporation and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. This is not the case. Churches that are regarded as ‘excepted charities’ under section 3(5) of the Charities Act 1993, as amended by the Charities Act 2006 do not have a charity number at all, and should quote the Charities Act reference above. Those churches that have registered due to their level of income should quote the number issued to them by the Charity Commission. 21
Finance
Compiled by Philip Cooke FCA, Honorary Taxation Adviser to the Baptist Union I am always pleased to receive tax-related enquiries from churches and ministers and these often prompt the topics dealt with in this column Gift Aid Relief: The March Budget statement included three announcements concerning Gift Aid relief: Firstly (as signalled in the ‘What’s New’ feature of the BUGB website) from April 2012 Gift Aid claims will have to be made online and as a first step towards this HMRC has published four new “intelligent” forms for charities to use. The forms contain automatic checks to improve the accuracy of information and reduce administrative burdens. By way of experiment the claim form is available for use for the year 2010-11 claims and no doubt some churches will have used it. It can be downloaded from the HMRC website for completion by computer (which performs some of the arithmetic) before printing and submission (for the present) by post. The website link to the relevant HMRC page (How to complete Form R68(i) Gift Aid and Tax Repayment Claims) is: www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/ complete-form-r68i.htm and the link to the claim form itself is: www.hmrc.gov.uk/ charities/r68-claim.pdf Second, with effect from April 2013 charities will be able to claim a Gift Aid style relief on small donations not exceeding £10 without the need for completing a Gift Aid declaration, but 22
subject to an overall annual donations limit of £5,000 per charity. To qualify for this relief charities will have to have been recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid purposes for three years and have a good compliance record during that period. So, it looks as though churches can look forward to a Gift Aid bonus of up to £1,000 pa (or maybe even £1,250 if the £5,000 figure is ‘grossed-up’ for basic rate tax). Further details in due course. Lastly, the maximum value of any personal benefit which a donor may receive as a result of making a Gift Aid donation of £10,000 or more to a charity, without it invalidating a claim for Gift Aid relief, has been increased from £500 to £2,500, but subject to the existing rule that the benefit must not exceed 5% of the gift. Payment of housing allowance in lieu of provision of manse accommodation: A church which does not have its own manse may decide to pay its minister a housing allowance in lieu. However, it should be understood that any such allowance is chargeable to income tax and NICs under the PAYE system as if it was additional stipend. Despite the fact that the position is clearly set out in para 1.6 of Taxation Guidelines for Churches & Ministers (document F5 on the BUGB website), the notion appears to exist in some quarters that because the allowance takes the place of an otherwise ‘tax-free’ manse this, too, is exempt from tax. I’m afraid that this isn’t the case and the cost of putting matters right can be painfully expensive! And the difficulty doesn’t end there because any reimbursement of items such as council tax, water charges or lighting and heating costs will also be taxable and chargeable to NICs under the PAYE system because the property in which the minister resides is his/her personal residence and not a church manse.
If a church-owned manse is not available then consideration should be given to renting accommodation, either from a third-party landlord or from the minister and spouse. However, it is essential that there is a lease or a tenancy agreement and, where a property is rented from a third party landlord, the tenancy must be in the name of the church and the church must also pay the rent direct to the landlord. Where a property is rented by a church it will be regarded as a manse because the church has a legal interest in the property and so payments in respect of council tax and water charges will not, like the annual value of the property itself, give rise to a taxable benefit. The reimbursement of lighting and heating costs will, however, trigger a taxable benefit, though there will be no NIC liability either to church or minister. As indicated in the Taxation Guidelines for Churches & Ministers, explanatory notes are available (upon request) in respect of the leasing to a church of a minister-owned property. Rental income received by minister for leasing property to a church: I apologise for having to stress this once again, but rental income received by a minister and spouse as a result of leasing their property to a church for use as a manse is taxable in their hands and must be included in their respective personal tax returns, subject to any claim for deductible expenses such as loan interest or property maintenance expenditure. I have been made aware of a further case where (like the housing allowance referred to in the previous note) it was thought that because the rental income effectively replaced the provision of a taxfree church-owned manse, the rent was also exempt from tax. Again, this is not the case. The effect of leasing a minister’s
property to a church is to enable the church to provide manse accommodation for the better performance of a minister’s duties, and whilst this benefit is exempted from charge to tax (in the same way as a churchowned manse), the rental income received is chargeable to tax in the same way as any other investment income. If the property is jointly owned by minister and spouse then the net rental income is divided equally between them and must be included in their respective tax returns. Relocation expenses: It is well-known that qualifying relocation expenses incurred by a minister moving from one pastorate to another can be reimbursed up to a limit of £8,000 without giving rise to a taxable benefit, but what is not always appreciated is that such expenses (which might, for example, include the rental of temporary accommodation) must be paid or reimbursed not later than 5 April in the tax year next following the date of relocation. Where total relocation expenses exceed the £8,000 limit the excess must be shown on form P11D and will give rise to a taxable benefit. Completing forms P11D: HMRC seem to be sharpening their focus on forms P11D and are therefore likely to take a stricter approach to ensuring their proper and timely completion. As you will be aware the final filing date for these forms is 6 July in respect of the preceding income tax year. HMRC has produced an ‘Expenses and Benefits’ toolkit, principally for the benefit of tax advisers, but church treasurers might find it helpful to download a copy. The website link is: www.hmrc.gov.uk/agents/toolkits/ exp-ben-frm-emp.pdf.The publication draws attention to what are referred to as ‘risk areas’ and provides helpful guidance on how to deal with particular situations. The penalties for failure to file a form P11D or making an
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Finance incorrect return can be quite substantial. Having said this, completing a form P11D need not be daunting, especially if a church has obtained a dispensation in respect of the payment or reimbursement of those ‘work-type’ expenses which are normally allowable for tax purposes. Briefly, these will usually include: travel (other than car mileage), accommodation and subsistence costs incurred on church business; office costs (postage, stationery, computer consumables etc); books and publications used in the preparation of sermons etc and hospitality expenses. [A specimen application for a dispensation is available on request.] One is then left only with making a return of any expenses or benefits which do give rise to a taxable benefit, the most common of which will be the reimbursement of manse lighting and heating expenses incurred by the minister which will need to be shown at section N of the form. The minister should include this benefit in his/her tax return (box 17 of the MoR pages) but should also claim a deduction (box 25) in respect of up to 25% of such expenses for ‘church business’ purposes. The amount reimbursed will not give rise to any NIC charge (either Class 1 or Class 1A) but I must again emphasise that if the lighting and heating bills are in the name of the church a Class 1A charge will arise and the P11D entry will then be in section K. For further details please refer to the Taxation Guidance Notes for Churches & Ministers.
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Mileage allowance: So the Budget statement did include the long overdue announcement that the Revenue approved mileage allowance for the first 10,000 of annual business miles would be increased from 40p to 45p from 6 April 2011, with the rate for any excess mileage remaining at 25p. There is widespread agreement that the increased rate still does not reflect the true cost of motor travel but
at least it helps. Provided the approved rates are not exceeded no entries are required on form P11D, but if a church (other than a Home Mission aided church) wishes to pay a higher rate it is able to do so though the excess will give rise to a taxable and NIC chargeable benefit. And finally…a reminder to Ministers about online filing of tax returns: For those who may not have caught up with the online tax return software facility offered by Keytime I would just mention once again the link to the website, www.keytime.co.uk/ ministers which should take you to the very attractive offer available to Baptist ministers. Stop Press - Gift Aid Relief Claims: Some churches have reported that the communication from HMRC advising that a remittance has been made in respect of a Gift Aid repayment claim contains an instruction that future claims should be made on a tax year basis rather than on an accounting year basis. HMRC has confirmed that this has been done in error and have apologised for any inconvenience this has caused. In order that HMRC can identify the churches involved they have requested that the affected churches write to the originating office at Bootle pointing out that the church is regarded as an unincorporated association for tax purposes. These notes are issued for general guidance only. The author or publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss occasioned to any persons acting or refraining from action as a result of material contained herein. If you are in any doubt about the correct treatment of any matter you should seek further professional advice. I am prepared to respond to questions of a general nature and my email address is: philipjcooke@aol.com. In order to avoid emails being treated as ’spam’ please state under ‘Subject’ the name of your church plus the words ‘Church tax enquiry’.
Pensions The consultation on the proposals for changes to the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund has closed, and it has been agreed by the Trustees of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, acting on behalf of the Baptist Union Council, that the proposed changes will proceed from 1 January 2012. The existing defined benefit scheme will be closed to future accrual of pension benefits from that date, and future pension provision will be provided by a defined contribution scheme which will be administered by Legal and General Assurance Society Limited. Work is underway on a full explanatory booklet for the new scheme, which will be sent to members of the scheme and employer churches early in October 2011. The booklet will be augmented by Roadshows between 10 October and 11 November 2011, with one planned for each association and another in Scotland. These Roadshows will be led by a representative of the Union and staff from Legal and General, and full details will be on the Union website when the dates and venues are finalised.
Members will also receive the normal stipend declaration form for 2012 during October. Again because of the changes to the scheme, it is even more important than usual that this form is completed by minister and church treasurer and returned promptly before 30 November 2011. Where a final decision has not been made about the level of the stipend by the return date (and it will be very helpful if that decision could be made), an estimated amount should be returned by the due date. The Pension Fund Trustees have decided that the deficiency contributions for the old defined benefit scheme, which the Consultation document indicated would be between 10% and 12%, will need to be 11% on an ongoing basis. However as a result of representations in the Consultation, they have agreed that the full 11% will take effect from 1 January 2013, with deficit contributions of 8.4% being payable in 2012.
Because of the new scheme, members will receive during October, a form asking them to specify which investment fund they wish their pension benefits to be invested in. The decision is needed so that the first contributions in January 2012 can be invested promptly. Members will be able to read the Explanatory Booklet which should help them in their decision, and some may choose to take independent financial advice, but they should be aware that in most cases their church treasurer is not authorised to give such financial advice, and nor are the staff in the Pensions Office at Didcot. Members will be able to change their choice through the Legal and General website once the scheme is up and running. 25
Legal and Property Issues Linda Holder Manager of the Baptist Union Corporation
Introduction We are always aware of the vital work that continues in local churches. We are busy too – and hope that our work saves time and effort for you. We have included information about Charitable Incorporated Organisations but will be working in the next few months to provide more details – especially in ways this development might help local Baptist churches. BUC Guideline leaflets The following new guideline leaflets have been published: C32 Boundaries Fences Hedges and Problems C33 Guest Congregations C34 Fellowship Funds All leaflets have been updated so that they refer to the Charity Trustees of a local church rather than using the term Managing Trustee. This brings the leaflets into line with the terminology used by the Charity Commission and in our Approved Governing Document. Further minor changes have been made to some leaflets. There are details in our BUC3 Leaflet Edition Index that lists significant changes.
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Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) Some churches have expressed an interest in this new form of charity structure. The Charity Commission has now published the first part of its guidance for anyone interested in setting up a CIO. A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is an incorporated form of charity, but is not a company. It must register with the Charity Commission but need not register with Companies House. A CIO can enter into
contracts and its trustees will normally have limited liability for the debts of the CIO. The Commission has published its guidance to enable charities to decide if the CIO structure is the right one for them, and to familiarise themselves with the guidance. The documents may be subject to change when Parliament considers the final regulations. The Charity Commission suggests the CIO will be most suitable for small to mediumsized organisations that employ staff or enter into contracts. The guidance explains the benefits for CIOs, how to register, and how CIOs should be run. The Commission has published model constitutions which the Baptist Union will consider with a view to producing a model document suitable for Baptist churches – further information will follow. The Commission’s guidance and model constitutions are available here: www. charitycommission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_ charity/Do_I_need_to_register/CIOs/ default.aspx Refuse Collection Some local authorities have attempted to charge churches for refuse collections. Where premises are exempted from business rates they should be treated like domestic households, with refuse collected free of charge, with a wheelie bin, if this is normally provided. Refuse equivalent to a ‘domestic quantity’ of around 240 litres, should be collected and disposed of by the local authority. However, a local authority may charge if a receptacle is larger than the normal size, or if there is a larger quantity of rubbish for disposal.
Legal and Property Issues Some local authorities have set internal policies suggesting that churches are not entitled to any free collections. Others will take away a limited amount of refuse, but help the local church by giving them a permit that allows them to deliver excess rubbish or recycling to a local waste centre. Helpful Guidance was issued by Municipal Waste Policy (MWP), Waste Strategy Division, DEFRA, on 12 October 2007, and still applies. http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/ waste/localauth/documents/letter-la-cwr. pdf The Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 are also still in force and here’s the link to the text of Schedule 2: www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/1992/588/schedule/1/made Any church that has problems over collection of waste should quote the regulations (Schedule 2) and the guidance. If that doesn’t does not solve the problem then please let us know. Churches with more waste because they operate coffee shops or pre-schools will need to pay for commercial collections. Each case is different so churches should negotiate with their local authority. At the time of preparing this note the Localism Bill is being considered by Parliament. It is expected that the ‘free collection’ of refuse from churches will continue.
formal decision. Difficulties have arisen for churches which have relied on initial plans to inform their responses but have later found that plans they originally viewed online have been altered. Somebody within the church must monitor the planning website so the church can respond to any adverse amendments. The local authority will not contact neighbours directly to inform them of altered plans. Sometimes significant changes are made after permission has been granted, so ongoing monitoring is important. Cheque Signatories Cheques written from the church’s bank account must be signed by two signatories. Although a bank would allow these signatories to be related to each other, churches are strongly advised not to allow two people from the same family to act together as signatories on the church account. War Memorials Trust The War Memorials Trust works to protect and conserve war memorials across the UK. It provides information about maintenance and runs grant schemes. The Trust anticipates that war memorials will be of greater interest with the forthcoming centenary of the First World War. The Trusts’ website is at www.warmemorials.org where guidance is available to download.
Planning Applications Many local authorities publish planning applications on their website. Churches should note that when their neighbours are seeking planning permission the relevant plans can be altered by the applicant at any time before the Council makes a 27
Safeguarding Alan Elson Safeguarding Administrator
E-bulk update The Churches Agency for Safeguarding embarked on a programme for the use of e-bulk (an electronic system for processing CRB applications) last year. Since then the Government has reviewed the Vetting and Barring Scheme which would have been integrated into e-bulk. As a result of this and subsequent legislative changes CAS has been advised not to do more work on implementing e-bulk as it may be significantly changed over the next year or so. I am aware that some churches use other agencies for obtaining Disclosures; some of these agencies have already joined the e-bulk service and this has led to questions being asked about why CAS has not done so. I hope this explanation answers some of those questions. Protection of Freedoms Bill This Bill contains the new legislation that will affect the CRB service. We anticipate that it will pass its Third Reading in Parliament this autumn. Once the Bill is enacted, we expect to start to receive detailed guidance from Government on how the new system will work; some of this guidance will, we believe, be specific to the Faith sector. Until then please continue as at present – as soon as news about new procedures is available we will publish it through Webwatch, Transform and on the BUGB website. Training for Verifiers CAS has already run one training course this year for verifiers and a further one is planned for the Birmingham area. If you are interested, please contact Kathryn Shaw at CAS – 020 7467 5206.
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Safe To Grow The latest version of Safe To Grow that was launched at the Assembly is available through the BUGB Online Store www.baptist.org. uk/resources . Copies are selling fast and comments have been extremely positive about content and the new style which is designed to help distinguish between legal obligation and
good practice. Many people are trying to access the new website that will be specific to our safeguarding news and changes to Safe To Grow. Work on this will begin shortly – in the meantime, I hope you are not too disappointed that you can’t access this new resource; once it is available we will ensure that we tell you in the usual ways. CRB news The CRB is concerned about ineligible applications for Disclosures. Please ensure that Disclosures you are seeking are for eligible posts under the appropriate regulations. An applicant who is on the premises from time to time when children or young people are present is not sufficient in itself. You will need to demonstrate that they are involved in the work of the relevant group in some way. CRB has asked that the word ’volunteer’ is not included in the line where the post applied for is stated. It may be that the post holder is eligible for a Standard Disclosure and not an Enhanced Disclosure. There is more information about this on the BUGB website and through the link to the CRB website. Identity fraud To help identify counterfeit documents, the CRB have launched a new advice page on their website, please go to www.crb.homeoffice.gov. uk/id Safer Internet Centre This agency has been commissioned by the EU to set up and run a scheme for professionals working with children and young people when they encounter or become victims of inappropriate or abusive use of the internet (cyber bullying, sexting, online child protection). Go to www.saferinternet.org.uk for more information. New email address Please use the new email address to contact me safeguarding@baptist.org.uk . This has been set up to remain after my retirement next year.
Annual Returns Rachel Tole Grants and Database Manager Introduction Every year we ask churches to complete an Annual Return Form. As well as helping to ensure we have the most up-to-date contact details, this form also enables us to collect various statistics and information about our churches. 2011 Returns The forms were due to be sent out midAugust, so if we have you listed as a church secretary you should have received your form by now. If you are not a church secretary – then you might want to check that your church secretary has received their form. Forms should be returned in the envelope provided (or using the online process) by 7 October if at all possible. My Church Last year we were able to introduce a way for churches to complete their forms online using a specially designed system called ‘My Church’. We are hoping more churches will use the system this year as there is now a link to it on our website www.baptist.org.uk. Login details were sent with the Annual Return Forms. Virtually all of those who used My Church last year found it really easy to use as these comments indicate - “Found the system very straight forward and easy to access and complete” - “Very easy to complete and congratulations on making it easier.” How do we use the information you provide? Most of the information is entered into our database by Denise Moore our database clerk. This is then used to produce our Annual Directory and mailing labels for ministers, church secretaries, treasurers and Home Mission reps. Other details – such as website address and charity number – provide
useful information to those who use the database. Please note that this is a very secure database and only BUGB staff and some association staff have access to it. We do not sell mailing lists or labels to other organisations. The church location details are used to help us keep our church map up-to-date and your church’s attendance statistics are used if your church undertakes a Mission Consultancy. We also use the statistics to keep track of trends within the denomination. The directory contains contact details for all church secretaries and BUGB Accredited Ministers. The directory is sold to all who want to buy it – but the vast majority of people who do so are Baptist ministers and church secretaries. We also provide regular updates to the Churches Agency for Safeguarding so that they know who are the people authorised as CRB verifiers. All changes relating to these people should be notified immediately to Denise Moore – either by writing to her at Baptist House or using the email address below. Help us to help you Please help us by ensuring that all changes of minister, church secretary, church treasurer and Home Mission reps are notified to dmoore@baptist.org.uk – this includes changes of address, phone numbers and email addresses. You don’t need to wait for the next Annual Return Form to do this. If your church has not received a form this year please email mychurch@baptist.org.uk to request a replacement. 29
Events National Mission Crossingplaces Days 1 October: Colchester Baptist Church 12 November: Burton Latimer Baptist Church An opportunity to be inspired to make a difference for God where you are, looking at evangelism in a different way. Cost: £5 per person (please bring a packed lunch). Rural Churches’ Day 20 October: Thornbury Baptist Church Becoming your community’s heartbeat. Cost: £20 per person, including lunch. Toddler Group Rocks 25 October: Albany Road Baptist Church, Cardiff Making toddler groups ‘crossingplaces’. Cost: £25 per person, including lunch. Being Church for the Boomer Generation? Conference 23-25 November: High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon Engaging with the spirituality of this influential, energetic generation. Cost: £185 per person, including all meals and overnight accommodation in en-suite rooms. For more information about any of the events being run by the Mission Department, and to book, see www.baptist.org.uk/events.html or contact the Mission Department on mission@baptist.org.uk or 01235 517713
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Please book early Please book your place at Mission Department events as early as possible. This helps us with our planning, prevents us from making unnecessary cancellations, and
saves the Union from incurring last minute expenses. We appreciate your help and look forward to receiving your bookings! Please note - some venues have limited space, and places may fill up before the closing date listed.
Regional Central: 5 November: Training event for Trustees, Treasurers and Secretaries (venue tbc). 12 November: Crossingplaces Day at Burton Latimer. 19 November: Training event on Baptists and Issues of Homosexuality (venue tbc). Eastern: 24 September: Safeguarding Training held at Chase Cross Baptist Church, Romford. 8 October: Preachers’ Training Day at Burlington BC, Ipswich. The speaker will be Ian Randall. October: a six session course is planned at Shoeburyness entitled ‘How to Talk about Jesus without Bible Bashing’. Further details for these events can be obtained from the website www. easternbaptist.org.uk or any of the Regional Team. East Midland: 21 September: Lay Pastors Training & Support Day at Diseworth Heritage Centre, Derbyshire (10:00-16:00) 28 – 30 September: Ministers’ Conference at The Hayes, Swanwick. Speakers: Alison Morgan and Derek Tidball. 15 October: EMBA Safeguarding Training at Scunthorpe BC, Lincolnshire, (10:00-16:15). Booking form available via
EMBA Website 12 November: Association Day at Friar Lane and Braunstone BC, Leicester. Keynote speaker: Dr Steve Brady, Principal of Moorlands College. Heart of England: 16 October: Staffordshire 19 October: Black Country. Further mid-week Group `Conversations’ and Sunday `Celebrations’ with the Regional Ministers are planned this for autumn. These gatherings have provided opportunities for Regional Ministers to listen and to minister as churches share news and pray for one another. 5 November: Iain Hoskins from Bristol Baptist College will be in HEBA for a Leaders Day on `Young People, wise as serpents ... innocent as doves.’ (More details on HEBA website.) North Western: 24 September: Forum, Scarisbrick New Road Baptist, Southport (13:30). Seminars titles: • Living, giving & sharing as a people of God – Phil Jump • Politics of grace: Living as God’s people in today’s society – Graham Sparkes • Is Women in leadership still an issue? – Sandra Crawford Evening Celebration with BUGB President Pat Took (19:00) 30 September – 2 October: Impact Youth weekend, Quinta 6 October: Catalyst – Church Planting conference, Luther King House (12:00) 19 November: Making Mission Manageable: Exploring Messy Church, Roman Road Church, Failsworth (09:30)
Northern: 17 September and 8 October: Pastoral Care Course at Durham City Baptist Church 5 November: ‘Expect’ Association Assembly at Whitley Bay Baptist Church 21 November: Child Protection Training, venue tbc South Wales: 8 October: Church Planting 101, South Wales Baptist College, Cardiff. Priced £20 (£12 if unwaged) including lunch and other refreshments. Interactive learning and case studies exploring the basics of church planting. www.incarnate-network.eu/cp101cardiff South West: 24 September: Stepping into Leadership, Wonford Chapel Exeter. A training and reflection session for those new to church leadership. 5 November: Training and resource day for church treasurers, Wonford Chapel Exeter. Yorkshire: 24 September: Growing Confident Disciples. Led by Roy Searle at Albemarle Baptist Church, Scarborough. 15 October: The Ministry of Welcome, Hospitality & Inclusion. Led by Kathryn Morgan & Mark Hope-Urwin at Ilkley Baptist Church. 5 November: Confident Spirituality – Quiet Day at South Craven Baptist Church 11 November: Growing Women Leaders - Celebration Event. Venue to be confirmed. Further details/booking forms at www.yba.org.uk or by calling the YBA office. 31
Consider a world where inequalities don’t exist. A world in which women and men of all ethnicities are in healthy relationships. Consider what such a future might look like for our union - men and women of all cultures working together to create justice and equality for all in Christ Jesus. Then join The Gathering, share your stories, listen to others’ perspectives and together create our vision. Join us and help shape the future of our union - moving closer to making racial and gender justice for all, a reality.
The Gathering 2011
Date: 15 October Registration from 09:00 Venue: Brixton Baptist Church (Kenyon), Solon Road, Brixton SW2 5UY Main speakers: Pat Took (BUGB President) Anthony Reddie (tutor at Queens College and author) Cost: £15 Register and see the programme on line: www.baptist.org.uk/events.html