CBOQ Assembly 2018 Summary

CBOQ ASSEMBLY 2018

SUMMARY

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Eph. 3:20-21

H

ow good is imagination?

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Church that reflects who God has called them to be.

Can you imagine a church where the Sunday Schools are bursting at the seams? God can do more. Can you imagine a church that teenagers are eager to go to because they feel like they really belong? God can do more. Can you imagine a church that welcomes newcomers to Canada, visiting international students and single parents? God can do more. Not just a little more— immeasurably more—according to his power that is at work in us.

And we have inspiring young people, don’t we? I was able to meet with some of the younger members of our family of churches here this year, and I find myself greatly heartened and encouraged by their faith and energy. I hope you were, too!

Together, we were blessed to enter into deep worship led by Drew Brown, and learn from Chap Clark and Tim Day, leaders of deep passion for reaching young people with the love of Christ and equipping them with the tools they need to take the reins of the Church.

My imagination was expanded at Assembly. I hope yours was, too!

We are poised on the edge of what God will do next in today’s young people. How will we respond?

There is a temptation to be fearful.

But perfect love casts out fear.

There is a temptation to try and force them into our mould. We can attempt to pour new wine into old wineskins, but instead, let’s listen to the words of Jesus and let the next generation help shape the

We Baptists have never been on exactly the same page, but we are all living from the same Book.

Even if we disagree, we know that we are united by the love of God, the redemptive power of Jesus and the restorative presence of the Holy Spirit. We all care about the future of the church. We all

want our children and the children in our churches to grow in their love of Jesus and to reflect his character and glory in the world that they inherit.

I have a great imagination. I believe you do, too. I am excited for the ways that God is about to do immeasurably more through you and the next generation of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.

We can be that church. The time is now. We are ready.

Thank you for coming. Thank you for being a lifelong Kingdom learner. Thank you for living out your call in your community.

Strength and peace to you all,

Executive Minister Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec

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Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies; Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness; Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings; Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute; Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin.

Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!

Psalm 150:3-6 (The Message)

CBOQ 6:19 RUN/WALK CLUB

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THURSDAY

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ssembly 2018 began on Thursday, June 7, with Executive Minister, Tim McCoy. Tim introduced our worship leader, Drew Brown, who led us in a time to pause and breathe, and then got our blood flowing in worship.

submitted within the CNCA-specified time frame. The opportunity this presents is that going forward we will have all the motions distributed to our churches before Assembly, so that we can come fully prepared for discussion. The Board will prepare a complete update on our procedures and share them with all our churches by the end of 2018—well in advance of the deadline for motions at Assembly 2019.

It was a great way to begin because the morning session was hopping!

We also received an update on the Heather Rumball, the outgoing pres- work of the Advisory Team put toident, opened Assembly with a warm gether in follow-up to the First Bapwelcome. As we commenced the tist Church, Orillia, motion from Asbusiness session, she announced that sembly 2017. The Advisory Team’s it had recently come to light that our mandate is to formulate observations past practice of inviting motions from and recommendations to the board as the floor is in conflict with the require- CBOQ churches face challenging soments of the Canada Not-for-profit cietal issues.

Corporation Act (CNCA). We learned The team has met for two full days of this subsequent to the printing of the discussion and review and will prohandbook. The CNCA statute stipu- vide the board with their recommendlates that motions must be present- ed edits and changes to the “This We ed between 150 and 90 days before Believe” document. Over the next Assembly to be considered from the two years, the team will be reviewing floor. As a result, delegates were not and creating documents that will reable to make a motion at this year’s source churches.

Assembly as described in the handbook, but are able to make a motion We also approved the Young Adult at a future Assembly if the motion is Delegate Amendment, which demon-

strates our corporate commitment to include the voices of the next generation in our decision-making.

For those of you who were present last year, you may remember some discussion around restricted funds.

To address this, we had a special presentation by Bernie B. Baptist in a short video. You can see the video and read more about restricted funds at baptist.ca/restricted-funds.

“Doing the hard work of reaching the next generation will require us to be more dependent on God.” —Tim McCoy Bob McCarty then gave his remarks with humour and wisdom intertwined, and shared some important lessons gained through experience, risks, disappointments and a sage father.

The afternoon began with us hearing from our partners, CBWOQ and McMaster Divinity College. CBWOQ is 1. When we face our fears that we can’t comprehend, our first in the midst of a full year that has response should be to run toward included initiatives like Soul Sisters, our Heavenly Father... So many Room to Pray, Lydia’s Daughters and things we fear are lifeless fears. more. They also are looking forward 2.

Don’t let unbridled enthusiasm to their annual conference: Authentic be the only factor in achieving God; Intimate Mission. For more ingreat things for God. formation, go to baptistwomen.com 3. Finish what you commit to start, Stan Porter gave us an update on especially when others are countthe Doctorate of Practical Theology ing on you. program. McMaster Divinity College remains committed to sharing the We are grateful for Bob’s leadership good news of Jesus and providing in the year to come. solid theological instruction. To The evening plenary began with Drew learn more about MDC, go to Brown leading us in worship, praismcmasterdivinity.ca. ing the name of Jesus together. Matt We recognized those who have served as pastors for 25 years, those who are celebrating their 40th year in ministry, acknowledged the loss of those who have gone to be with Jesus and celebrated with those who have been newly ordained. Afterwards, our Executive Minister, Tim McCoy, took some time to thank our many incredible volunteers for their faithfulness.

Tim acknowledged that we are honoured to be faithful stewards of your generosity, and that our most valuable resource is you. We love receiving your prayers, but most of all we value your people.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12 God is going to go on whether we join in or not.” We have an opportunity to join God in what he is doing in young people.

There are three intersecting crises: 1. We’re losing kids 2. Rise of the “Nones” (Those without any declared faith.)

3. Kids are hurt

The statistics and evidence is sobering. “We think we can keep morality in check by keeping it hidden. It doesn’t work that way for kids,” says Chap. The current generation is the most oppressed and the loneliest.

We lose them from faith in part beWilkinson, Director of Next Gener- cause the secular world sees faith in ation Ministries, set the tone for the Jesus as one option that may work evening with a video on reaching the only for a time. We try and fix the next generation with authentic love, problems with better leaders, better and, with Tim McCoy, introduced the programs and so on, but we don’t always get to the bottom of the isplenary speaker, Chap Clark. sues. How do we draw kids into the Chap talked to us about change in Body of Christ? Kids need nurture, the church and the ways we need to empowerment and a safe place. connect with the next generation.

The next 30 years will represent the Kids long to be included. Whether largest missions opportunity in the they are 16 or 27, they want to be an history of North America. He shared integral part of a family. If they restatistics about the massive attrition sist, it’s because they have lost faith in rates of young people in the Church, adults. Even so, it’s not their job to fix as well as his conviction: “I am abso- the problem. It’s the adults’ responsilutely convinced that the kingdom of bility to initiate relationship and make a seat at the table.

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What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus We need to live into our mutual adoption in Christ as a whole community.

We need to live into the fact that we are siblings. We need to remember that chronology does not equate to maturity.

FRIDAY After worship, the day’s sessions began with learning how CBOQ leads with love. Matt Wilkinson, Director of Next Generation Ministries, facilitated the sessions with some help from his daughter, Grace.

Melody Currier, Director of Operations and Membership asked the question, “Do we know who we are?” Our churches are each islands–unique and distinct, but we are connected like an archipelago, just under the surface, by our core values—values that include the local church, mission and community.

We are our core values put into action. Just as churches are unique expressions of these values, so are their ministries. We have our own stories, connected to the bigger story of the CBOQ family. Melody concluded with a reminder that we 4

need you, our churches, to share your stories with us to encourage our family of churches.

Dallas also launched Thrive: Discover your church’s calling and flourish in it, a resource to help small- to mediumsized churches. You can find out After a short video interlude that more about Thrive at baptist.ca/ showed just how much fun Avalanche thrive. In addition to Thrive, Dallas’s and Blizzard are, Matt Wilkinson team highlighted some of their other explained that every young person resources, including Accelerators and needs five adults to believe in them Caféchurch, with more to come. and invest in them to raise them up well in the church. We are raising up churches that are youth led, family WHERE IS THE HOPE? Given that this year we are focusing empowered and adult mentored. on the next generation, our CBOQ Peris Kamotho, Director of Next Generation Team walked us Finance and Administration, through an epic journey on how to focused this year on church reach the next generation. Featuring treasurers, letting us know more special guest Abby McEwan, a young about the incredible, often invisible, person from Church on the Rock, service that they provide to their Hamilton, we traveled through churches. She also reminded us about Imaginative Hope, focusing on five the upcoming treasurers’ workshop major opportunities. in October, encouraging churches to bring a young person so that they can 1. Building bridges 2. Connecting the generations be mentored in church finances.

3. Letting them lead Finally, Dallas Friesen, Director 4. Allowing them to speak up of Church Life and Leadership 5. Seeking biblical justice together. introduced his new department and each of his team members. His Through the process, we looked department is excited to continue to at how young people are seeking develop opportunities and resources connection, significance, belonging to help your church, along with and freedom and were encouraged coaching, events and webinars to to go back to our churches and help equip churches and their leaders. build a team to make meaningful

connections with the young people in our communities.

In the afternoon, we heard from our partner, CBM. CBM shared with us their new initiative, Sent— short-term ministry and learning opportunities. Abby Davidson, a pastor at Blythwood Road Baptist Church, Toronto, shared about her trip to Bolivia, ministering to the children of prisoners. For more information about this initiative, go to BeSENT.ca After the presentations, Drew led us in acoustic worship, including some well-loved hymns. We’ve said it before... Baptists, we can sing!

Chap spoke to us about what young people are looking for from us. The first thing is care.

He pointed out that young people (ages 10-30) need to sort out their identity, and

need to know that people care about them for more than the gifts that they bring.

The second thing they need is nurture.

We must nurture the vulnerable. We need to fuel a warm community. And, if we’ve experience the joy of Christ, it’s important to show it on our faces.

Beyond warmth, young people need empathy. We don’t need to pour into kids, we need to listen to them.

The third thing they need is autonomy, including leadership opportunities.

Chap’s instruction to us was this: “You treat the 15-25

year old like a peer, but you lead them like an adolescent.”

Most of all, we need to be a family so that young people feel like they belong. We need to change the church to make it a welcoming place, and we need to take Jesus seriously so that young people will, too.

Chap shared with us the story of how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as a model of servanthood. His invitation is for us to “take up the towel” for the younger generation for Jesus’ sake so that the next generation will know him and participate in his great kingdom.

Alvin Lau wrapped up the afternoon in a time of prayer, confessing the ways that we have failed the next generation and asked us to think about the young people we influence.

We then lifted up those

Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be Let that goodness like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to Thee Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above.

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young people in prayer, asking God to help us to care for them in the days ahead. Finally, we prayed out loud—simultaneously— for the next generation.

In the evening, we celebrated. We gathered for worship, and heard Tim McCoy’s remarks. Tim reminded us to let the joy of the Lord be our strength, and to let it show on our faces. He encouraged us to consider our posture and discipline in prayer.

He encouraged us to get into our prayer posture, and remember those we are called to serve in prayer.

After that, we got to hear the stories of some of our incredible youth leaders. We learned about the impact of experiences like Avalanche and 6

Blizzard. We met people who were members of CBOQ youth groups who now lead in CBOQ churches.

These young leaders clearly love the young people they serve. We heard from campers and camp staff about how much it means to them and their faith to be involved with camp.

We heard about the Spark Initiative, and the incredible people who are making a positive impact in their communities because of this initiative through entre preneurship and being given permission to take risks.

We shared communion, honouring the death and resurrection of Jesus that draws us all together. We are all gathered around one table, serving the same Lord. We ended the evening with worship. What an amazing family this is!

SATURDAY Saturday commenced early with learning sessions. Topics included things as diverse as mental health, intergenerational worship, the church in China, sexuality, the Reformation, HR procedures and more. We trust it was a fruitful time.

After the learning sessions, we gathered together for worship with Drew Brown, then welcomed our second plenary speaker, Tim Day. Tim shared with us about how our world is rapidly changing and asked the question, “How does God lead the Church to adapt so it can effectively share Jesus’ message in a new and complex world?” We reflected on how Paul and the early Christian leaders carried Jesus’ message to Rome. We discovered an adaptive church embraces new leaders, new language, new approaches, and new levels of working together. We also considered emerging opportunities for working together to engage our communities.

After our final worship time with Drew Brown, it was time to say farewell for now and head home. We are grateful to all of you who attended CBOQ Assembly 2018. We hope you felt welcomed. We hope you felt God’s presence among us. We hope you left a little richer in love and wisdom. May the Lord bless you as you return to your churches to shine the light of Jesus in your communities.

Next year’s Assembly will be on June 13-15, 2019! We want to see you all there, along with a young adult delegate from your church family!

For more highlights go to baptist.ca/assembly!

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NEW! Flourishing in your Calling We believe that every Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec congregation is called to Thrive.

We want to help you discover or rediscover what God is calling your congregation to and to help you flourish in. God is calling each and every one of our congregations to know God’s call for them and to live that out.

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CANADIAN BAPTISTS of Ontario and Quebec 5 International Blvd Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 416 622 8600 • cboq@baptist.ca baptist.ca