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Welcome to The Gathering of Baptists
The Gathering of Baptists was initiated in the early 1990s with our first “official” Gathering in October of 1993. It was founded by concerned Canadian Baptists, lay and clergy, within the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec, who felt a need to maintain contact with others who hold to similar principles and understanding of what it is to be "Baptist." The mandate of the Gathering of Baptists is to create open discussion (for exploration and correction) in our search to think, to love and to minister in harmony with God's will. |
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What do we do?
Membership and Board of Directors
You too, may be part of the Gathering of Baptists; discovering together why we feel so strongly about our commitment to historic Baptist principles, and our freedom to struggle and grow. Membership Membership is a statement of your concern and prayer support, and a means of helping to defray the costs of printing and mailing. The annual $20.00 household membership also helps with the expenses of the twice yearly meetings. Our Membership contact is Gary Caldwell, Secretary. He can be reached at: [email protected] Payment is to "The Gathering of Baptists" E-transfer to [email protected] or physically mail to The Gathering of Baptists 2464 Concession 2 West, Lynden, ON, L0R 1T0 For further information on the Gathering of Baptists please contact: Blade Eady (Moderator) [email protected] Board of Directors Blake Eady, (Cayuga - Moderator) Fred Demaray, (Ottawa) Gary Caldwell, (RR 1 Lynden - Secretary & Treasurer) Lee Ann McKenna, (Mono Township) Lorne Ogden, (Vancouver) Dave Ogilvie, (Burlington) Debra Nicholson (Guelph) Ron Getz (Port Hope) |
What is our purpose?
Based on these values, members of The Gathering share a mission to seek, provide, protect and foster: DISCERNMENT - under the leadership of God's spirit. JUSTICE FOR ALL - which is the foundation of peace. AN EVANGELICAL PEOPLE - sharing our faith stories. A NON-JUDGMENTAL FORUM - promoting discussion of doctrinal and ethical questions and social issues. AFFIRMATION AND PROMOTION OF EQUALITY - which includes gender equality, in all aspects of our lives. AN ECUMENICAL SPIRIT - and its prosperity. ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE CBOQ AND CBM - so that Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec and Canadian Baptist Ministries strive for the same values and mission. If you honour these values, you will feel at home with the Gathering. As a community of Christians we endorse and uphold such historic Baptist principles as:
PROCLAMATION OF JESUS' GOOD NEWS - God calls all people to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope, healing and wholeness, social and economic justice. SERVANT LEADERSHIP - Following our Servant Lord. SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION - Freely working with other believers who might express the Gospel differently. FREEDOM OF INTERPRETATION - Led by God's Spirit, each one is free to interpret the Scriptures. RESPONSIBLE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION - Learning characterized by reverence for Biblical authority, and which respects open inquiry and responsible scholarship. AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION - Under Christ's authority, each local congregation shapes its own life and mission. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE - Opposing efforts by either to use the other for its own purpose. |
What Makes us different?
If you honour these values, you will feel at home with the Gathering. As a community of Christians we endorse and uphold such historic Baptist principles as:
PROCLAMATION OF JESUS' GOOD NEWS - God calls all people to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope, healing and wholeness, social and economic justice.
SERVANT LEADERSHIP - Following our Servant Lord.
SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION - Freely working with other believers who might express the Gospel differently.
FREEDOM OF INTERPRETATION - Led by God's Spirit, each one is free to interpret the Scriptures.
RESPONSIBLE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION - Learning characterized by reverence for Biblical authority, and which respects open inquiry and responsible scholarship.
AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION - Under Christ's authority, each local congregation shapes its own life and mission.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE - Opposing efforts by either to use the other for its own purpose.
If you honour these values, you will feel at home with the Gathering. As a community of Christians we endorse and uphold such historic Baptist principles as:
PROCLAMATION OF JESUS' GOOD NEWS - God calls all people to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope, healing and wholeness, social and economic justice.
SERVANT LEADERSHIP - Following our Servant Lord.
SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION - Freely working with other believers who might express the Gospel differently.
FREEDOM OF INTERPRETATION - Led by God's Spirit, each one is free to interpret the Scriptures.
RESPONSIBLE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION - Learning characterized by reverence for Biblical authority, and which respects open inquiry and responsible scholarship.
AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION - Under Christ's authority, each local congregation shapes its own life and mission.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE - Opposing efforts by either to use the other for its own purpose.