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  • Thorny Topics Well Handled

    To my shame, I have only just opened and read the lastest BMS Mission Catalyst which explores some areas that all too often are hushed up, ignored or pronounced upon: questions around human sexuality and what 'good news' looks like.  It doesn't give you any neat answers, rather it leaves you with things to think about.  Three articles on Christians who are LGBT, three on Christians in Marriage/Cohabitation and a couple on Christians and pre-commitment/ceremonial sexual activity.

    Where there are two Baptists there will be three opinions, which, for me, is part of the delight of who we are.  We may not agree with everything that's said but this is a gracious attempt to handle some thorny topics well.  The issue can be read online (follow the link above and scroll down to the issue labelled 'Sexuality') and every BUGB/BUS/BUW church ought to have copies.

    I hope the copy I've just read can find its way to our noticeboard, and will be read openly and honestly.  Above all I hope that we will learn to see everyone as God does and not assume that we have the right to judge anyone.

    If I can be a bit picky, I think something on singleness and celibacy (and I don't mean a list of thou shalt nots) might have been helpful too - once again we are the forgotten third of the church - but it's easy to criticise what is basically very good.

    Thank you BMS.

  • "It'll be a Fortunate Church...

    ... who gets her."  So said one of my ninety somethings yesterday about the student who was doing her Board of Ministry 'assessed preach' with us yesterday.  She was very brave having me plus a retired Baptist minister in the congregation (our two regular retireds were both away) as well as her known about (though anonymous) assessor and, as it transpired, another member of the BoM who was visiting family.

    The service was carefully and skillfully constructed, the sermon thoughtful, the intercessions inspired and the delivery warm and encouraging.  I had heard this woman preach via our 'podcast' back in January and been impressed; in the flesh she was even better.

    Any of us who've done BoM/Min Rec assessed preaches, college assessed preaches or Preaches With a View/Sole Nominee know how nerve wracking these experiences are.  That she succeeded in leading us in worship, that she was still smiling at the end, that she's coming back next week... these are indicators of her calling.

    God bless you F.

    PS Why are the assessors almost always men in grey suits?!