Two days in the vicinity of West Bromwich with several hundred Baptists. And it was a good two days.
The highlights...
As always, it's about catching up with people I haven't seen for a long time, sharing joys, sharing sadness, sharing food, sharing laughter, sharing grumbles. This year, as an experiment, we were at a venue where we could all sit down together to eat... there were challenges of long queues (though not if you had special dietary needs - result!) but these enabled conversations. It was good to see so many people sample Caribbean food (even if I couldn't due to intolerances) and we were well served indeed.
The focus on Mission was good, and the stories engaging. Did I discover anything new - no, I didn't, but probably others did. It will be interesting to see how the theme develops over the next couple of years, as my main criticism would be that it was all a bit simplistic and lacked nuance (apart from one speaker).
Of course the In Memoriam is special, and every year there are more and more names of people I know... this year notably Rev David Baker, my predecessor at 'Dibley' and Rev Dr Brian Haymes, who retired just a couple of miles from where I am now. This year the ages of the people weren't included - which felt like a miss, not a major one, but I find it interesting. Still gives me pause that one day I'll be on that list...
And the joy of the Handshakes - this year again seeing people who I interviewed for training, some as much as a decade ago, fully fledged and flourishing.
A special mention must go to Lynn Green for her closing address, which was full of hope and encouragement... that almost two-thirds of Baptist churches, of all kinds, are stable or growing, and that the age profile is, generally, lowering, feels good. I loved her emphasis that there is room for for all shapes and sizes of Baptist churches, and that we should encourage one another... My interpretation of this is: yes, small, traditional, liberal, affirming, Baptist churches, you matter, are loved and have something special to bring to this crazy, mixed up family!
The Grumbles
These are perennial - I suspect that the organisers can spot my feedback form a mile off!
The sung worship is too loud and too samey... and some of the language and theology is questionable... I was especially struck that we sang one lovely song with a verse praying for refugees in boats, and then a few minutes later singing that our praises are water to drown our enemies... erm didn't Jesus say something about loving enemies and praying for those who persecute us. Looking around the auditorium, the level of active singing wasn't great, which is sad, because when Assembly sings, it really sings!
Some more thought needs to be given to trauma informed practice - one speaker gave a content warning, another who ought to have done didn't (possibly didn't even realise they should have), and there was what felt like a scramble to rally Regional Ministers (who may or may not have been equipped) to offer to listen to and pray with anyone affected. Hopefully we can learn from this and do even better next time - it's important to hear these stories, but we need to make it as safe as we can for all who participate.
And then I just wish more people would go and get involved... it's all to easy to say 'the date doesn't suit me' or 'the theme isn't interesting' or 'it's too far away' (I was the person who took sixteen hours on several trains to get there one year!) or 'I don't like the music' (I don't usually!) or whatever. This is our family. These are our siblings. I am the annoying maiden aunt who brings sucky sweets, the stroppy cow who critiques the language... if there is space for me, there is space for you!
It was good to be there - and I have registered my interest for next year already.
