Rod Robson, the Chair of Assembly Council, brings you this update from their last Assembly Council gathering on 8 June.
It’s been a busy few months since my last update in April. I’ve been travelling around the country for the Regional Hui, where we’ve brought you a white paper discussing proposed changes to the Baptist Union Constitution for consultation. If you didn’t make it to a Regional Hui, there’s still time to read the consultation documents and email feedback.
Assembly Council met again at the beginning of June. I am sorry that this update is so late; my bad.
As part of this meeting, we approved the 2024 annual stipend increase and a new option for a salary model to be used. Looking after our pastors and being good employers are important. Let’s approach these conversations with a spirit of generosity.
One thing that we discussed was the importance of Church Committed Giving (CCG). This is a contribution amount requested from each member Baptist church annually in August. These contributions are the main source of funding for the resources and support that come from a national level. We have a significant number of churches that do not contribute in this way. If each of these churches gave even $500 a year, it would allow more resources and support to be provided. Can I ask your church to prioritise this contribution (and the contribution to your Regional Association) this year? This is one of the ways that we are whānau together.
The search for a new property for some of our key Baptist entities (the National Support Centre, Carey Baptist College, Arotahi, and the Northern Baptist Association) is continuing. A range of buildings have been considered, and the Assembly Council is being kept up to date with progress.
Ongoing work is happening to establish what the relationship between Assembly Council and the Māori runanga should look like going forward. This, along with the continuing Te Tiriti journey reflected in the Treaty Affirmation Statement, continues to be important for the Assembly Council.
We spent significant time at the June meeting thinking strategically. Our National Leader Charles Hewlett facilitated some discussion around the challenges that are facing Baptist churches. We are keen to be on the solution side, thinking creatively about how we can continue to shape our future together as a movement with a focus on mission. These conversations will continue to unfold, and we are looking forward to National Hui at Rangiora Baptist Church in November, where there will be space to explore some of these in practical ways.
Assembly Council will meet again at the beginning of August, one day of which will be a strategy retreat alongside Charles’ National Lead Team and the Regional Leaders, and one day which will be working through the usual business agenda. Please be praying for us (31 July and 1 August) during this time together.
Photo: Assembly Council meeting in February. (No photos from June).
