PLEASE NOTE Material published in The Gathering Newsletter is the property of its authors, who are members of The Gathering. If you wish to download the material from any issue, it is polite to ask our permission first. Editor: Ray Hobbs
A new feature of this issue is a correspondence column, which we have called IMHO, (‘net-ese’ for ‘In my humble opinion’). The previous issue contained a commentary which sparked a response from the current President of the BCOQ. The response is printed here , with his permission, and it is hoped it will generate an intelligent debate about the nature and direction of the broader organization of which most of us are still a part, the BCOQ. Further responses are invited. Ray Hobbs
‘CIRCLES OF CARE’ - A MODEL FOR A CONGREGATION’S CARE-GIVING MINISTRY Robert A. Bond "Circles of Care" is a model borrowed and adapted from correctional services chaplaincy in Canada, now successfully applied to congregational care-giving in two Welland-and-area churches. A review of the model, and of the Welland experience, allows reflection on "Circles of Care" as a vehicle of congregational ministry. The correctional
services application of "Circles of Care" sees an intentional, voluntary
community formed around a soon-to-be-released sex offender, which a "Circle"
of folk will continue to journey with the "ex-con" for months, sometimes
even years, out in the world. By regularly/frequently gathering to listen,
reflect, care, and hold accountable, the "Circle" performs various roles.
Sometimes it advocates for the previous offender within his larger community.
Sometimes, it necessarily (and appropriately) confronts the previous offender.
Always it works for every party to stay grounded in reality; to strive
for justice, mercy, and restoration. This
The new application
of the model, in Welland, responds to individuals with obvious need for
community involvement and care who, nonetheless, have far too little of
it. The possible scenarios are numerous: people discharged from hospital
and requiring help (e.g.: shopping, bill-paying, house work, yard work,
transportation, etc.); seniors no longer completely able to
People join a
"Circle" as volunteer caregivers because of skills/gifts they have to offer,
ability to be 'client-centred', and willingness to "love their neighbour".
To explore the kinds of skills/gifts characteristically involved, consider
having to make a response to a person-in-need who is receiving adequate
medical and counselling services, but is lacking
"Circle of Care"
volunteers would have to include folk who - by experience and ability -
can resource the person-in-need in all these areas, helping the person
to find her/his own way. It might also be discovered that this "Circle"
needs to include someone who can drive the person to go shopping and to
appointments, and someone who can talk on the phone for a few minutes
Stages of activity
within a participating congregation would likely include
In Welland, the
"Circles of Care" initiative has been spearheaded by the Pastoral Care
Services Department of the Welland County General Hospital. This came about,
with the approval and support of WCGH senior administration, because it
is recognized that many people get discharged from hospital into situations
less than adequately resourced, and therefore
The second "Circle" responds to a direct request for help: It cares for an elderly woman who is housebound so that her adult daughter, the primary care-giver, can get out for an hour or two each Sunday. The third "Circle" is based in Fonthill Baptist Church; it supports a woman with chronic health issues, now bereft of both parents (folk who had lovingly protected and 'done for' her). The "Circle" is comprised of a nurse, a retired teacher (who mentors her in business, finance, law, and household management), the leader of the Church program which is one constant outside involvement throughout the woman's life, an old family friend (who shares in remembering the family's story), and the minister (who pastors them all). All three "Circles" demonstrate how the Church (as represented/embodied within the "Circle" itself) is a locus of healing/wholeness, not only for the 'identified client' but - truly! - for "Circle" members who find themselves so capably ministering out of their God-given skills/experience and so intimately and graciously connected with others in ministry. Thus far, "Circles of Care" are indeed functioning as the healing, teaching, communion-building, system-challenging, gospel-spreading Jesus of Nazareth led us to expect of the body of Christ. It is such a blessed thing. [1] REPORT OF THE BPFNA SUMMER CONFERENCE, JULY 1999 Between July 19th and 24th this summer, the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America Summer conference was held on the UBC campus, Vancouver. Over one hundred and twenty were in attendance, and the event activities - worship, discussion, Bible Study, preaching - all centred around the theme of ‘Upon This Rock’. A sub-theme for the conference was ‘Building a Culture of Peace’. The event was extremely well organised, thanks to the tireless efficiency of Le Dayne McLeese Polaski, Managing Director of the Peace Fellowship. Adults and children were well-looked after throughout the week. Around the main themes Bible studies, worship and preaching were arranged. the Bible study leader this year was Glenn Hinson, Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary. His focus was on the ‘Sermon on the Mount’, and his emphasis was on the practicality of the teaching. This material was far from an impossible ideal, or even an ‘interim ethic’. It was expounded in a challenging way as practical, and necessary Christian living. The evening worship services were led by Andrew Donaldson, of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and the preacher for the occasions was Barbara Bishop. Barbara combined narrative, autobiography, Biblical exposition and challenge in a very creative way. She linked her and her family’s past at Paradise, Nova Scotia, and the stones left there, with the rocks and stones and villages of the Biblical story. Although history offers us roots, and a sense of belonging, it also offers us bleak landscapes, violence and injustice. The reminiscences are redeemable through the Gospel and Gospel living. A stunningly effective part of the worship was the offerings of liturgical dance by Jessica Hastings Sehested. Her gift was beautiful. Several workshops were held throughout the week on a large variety of topics related to faith, living and peacemaking, and one of the most interesting dynamics in the conference was the distinctiveness of the (predominantly) two cultures present, the Canadian and the US. One of the evening plenary sessions was devoted entirely to the telling of the distinct stories of Canadian and US Baptists. Ignorance of one by the other forms a barrier, creates frustration and ometimes false expectations. This session, organized and chaired by Jack Smith, was a helpful one with over sixty people in attendance. This was my first summer conference of the BPFNA, and it was an enriching and positive experience. Summer conferences are not times for major policy decisions. Many likened the experience to a revival, or a camp meeting. The metaphor is an appropriate one. It is here that fellowship was strengthened, inspiration and support offered, stories were told, and many prayers were offered. One concern with organizations such as the BPFNA is the ‘next generation’. It was reassuring to see so many younger people in attendance at the summer conference, and to hear and see their commitment, creativity and spiritual maturity. As I write this report an image in etched in my mind. It was in this morning’s Globe and Mail, of two young people from Sierra Leone - one whose hands had been chopped off by ‘freedom fighters’ in that country’s civil war. Sometimes we are reminded that the world we live in is not a nice place to be. Gospel peacemaking is all the more necessary. For the insights, the inspiration offered to me by the summer conference of the BPFNA, I am deeply grateful. Ray Hobbs,
THE "BIG BIG F" Isobel McGregor Fifty years ago, in my sheltered Baptist childhood, I only knew one bad four-letter word – the "big big D" of Gilbert and Sullivan fame. In my twenties I occasionally heard the s-word, the p-word and very occasionally the f-word. How times have changed. When I was a pastoral care worker at a Nepean High School 15 years ago, hallway talk was peppered with four-letter words. Some youths (male and female) were even able to cram more four-letter words in one sentence than the sum total of all the other words. For better or worse, this pastoral experience completely desensitized me to four-letter words. Now I barely notice them. Recently I became aware of a new f-word that seems to be viewed by some as even more shocking, more disgusting than the original f-word. Maybe that's because it is twice as long. It has eight letters, starts with "fem" and ends with "t". I was puzzled as to why this word seemed to arouse so much negativity, especially among my church friends (come to think of it, I don't have many unchurch friends so it may not be a fair comparison). Consulting Webster's
Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary I read "feminism...
So far, so good. Nothing too disturbing about that, surely. I recalled with gratitude the suffragettes who risked reputation, ridicule and abuse in the first half of this century in order to promote women's status to "persons" in the eyes of the law, and their right to vote. Then I consulted
my son for some psychological insight. He said university polls have shown
that the two most hated groups on campus were homosexuals and feminists.
So it wasn't just my church friends! That was some relief, though it still
didn't answer the basic question, "WHY?". So I started asking around: "Why
is "feminist" such a bad word?" Here are some of the "reasons" I gleaned
from my informal survey:
This random sampling
puzzled me even more. Any feminists I know are intelligent, conscientious
family members and community workers dedicated to seeking justice and dignity
for the downtrodden and maligned of this world. Their focus is on women
and children, who happen to make up the bulk of the exploited people on
the planet. The "bad apples" comment made the most sense – as with "Christians"
who promote gay bashing and other forms of injustice.
Isobel McGregor is a member of Bethany Baptist Church, Ottawa A HYMN TO THE LOCAL CONGREGATION Barbara Bishop Knock me over with a feather. Recently two women, separately, walked into my office and asked to be baptized. Each has a sense that now is the time to offer her life fully to God, and each wants to make this public offering of her life, and to trust God to work in it. The strategy? The program? The evangelical powerhouse that brought this about? It was, simply, the local congregation. Alas, it was not my brilliant preaching. But then again, neither was it an Alpha course, nor an Omega Bible Study, nor anything other than the wonder of meeting God , in this place, through these people. One woman spoke of feeling drawn in by the welcome here, the lack of judgement, the inclusiveness. She can get in. The other spoke of how it inspired her to see people working together. She can help. Each feels that here she can know God. Through the congregational ministry of this church, they are working out their salvation, in fear and trembling and wonder. They have not ticked off a box or prayed a Jesus prayer. They are actually wondering, a lot, who Jesus ultimately will be in their lives. All they know is that here, and now, they feel called to offer all of their lives to God in the Christ they are meeting. I hear these days a kind of denigration of “bricks and mortar” ministry. I happen to think that our churches need bricks and mortar, that our churches need to be places- meeting places, places of worship, places where we make memories and take in nourishment for body, mind, and spirit , where we seek healing, and find what we need to help us to do our ministry. I think people are hungry for such places. The rage for parachurch and entreprenuers and “ministry” that is not anchored in a congregation seems rather foolish to me. Without community discipline, how could we study scripture? Without community sanction, how could we hold one another accountable? Without community support, how can we survive this very mean world we live in. Ingenuity and enterprise are not bad things. But either the gospel is a scandal or it is not. And I am not sure that anything but the gathered community knows how to live in that scandal. People who go off on their own can get pretty scary. Today I heard Ursula Franklin tell religious and political leaders that a system that is morally wrong will be practically dysfunctional. It is my hope that the Gathering of Baptists will find ways to affirm and encourage the ministries of our congregations who struggle to find their way in the midst of political and religious systems that dismiss, exploit, deceive, or ignore them. I think congregations are about as important as things get, at least in God’s eyes. I thank God every day for the privilege of serving in one of them. Barbara Bishop is Pastor of Woodbine Heights Baptist Church, Toronto, and current Chair of the Gathering Steering Committee. MATTERS CHARISMATICAL Daphne Hunt What is a "manifestation" of the Holy Spirit? If I say I have experienced "manifestations of the Holy Spirit," why do people look at me as if I were an alien abductee claimant? When I was in high school, my older brother and his friend Brian and I sat in the living room discussing the topic of speaking in tongues. I vehemently denied Brian's position that one needed to speak in tongues to enhance one's relationship with God. During that discussion, I forgot when I was in grade six, my teacher, also a member of my church, invited her students to see a local evangelist where there were healings, tongues, modern music and people being "slain in the spirit." There, I responded to the altar call and tumbled blissfully to the floor when the evangelist barely touched my forehead. Less than a year after my discussion with Brian, I was in at a special service at a Pentecostal church, at the front hearing myself speaking words I didn't understand, but I was certain came from elsewhere. After several spiritually dry years, experiences such as tongues and being "slain in the spirit" surreptitiously invaded my private worship. I read huge chunks of the bible in one sitting and I sought out others who could "corroborate" my experiences. Finding no one, I shared these with my pastor whose response was to the effect, "I have no idea what you are talking about, but I can tell it has made an indelible impact on your life and I have seen the positive results. God continue to bless you!" In 1994, there was the explosion of the "Toronto Blessing" at the Airport Vineyard Church. I spoke to several who attended services there and told me they felt uncomfortable and even downright terrified by the whole adventure particularly "carpet time." I decided to check it out myself. One Saturday night I found myself in the midst of thousands of others searching for hope, healing and holiness. I felt no discomfort, but joy, though I wouldn't make my church home there. I felt no fear, but peace, though I would be extremely careful about bringing new Christians and non-believers into such an environment. However, I received a personal message and, like countless others, did some time on the carpet. In attempting to come to terms with my own experiences, I placed these things in two categories. The first category are those experiences and behaviours which follow an expected norm, having an obvious motivation and direction. For example, one person may say they felt moved by the Holy Spirit to help someone in need, to encourage another, to express joy through tears or be given a sense of peace during a worship service. The second group of experiences or behaviours are those which fall outside an expected norm, those which do not appear to have any sort of motivation or to have any particular directed action. For example, speaking in tongues in a worship service, dancing, being "slain in the spirit," having knowledge acquired by supernatural means or instantaneously being physically healed. I read New Testament
references on the work of the Holy Spirit in search of pat answers. Finding
none, I acknowledge this: the meaning of a manifestation of the Holy Spirit
to me, it is everything from janitorial duties performed in church buildings
or elsewhere, when no one else is around, to the very public miracles and
wonders of healing in church services.
I wonder about others who feel a mystical connection to God in worship and experience visions, tongues, an urge to dance in the aisle or to be overcome and literally prostrate themselves before God on the floor. Although in our relationship with Jesus we have the assurance of the Holy Spirit throughout our lives, I believe there are times when the Spirit reminds us of Her presence in unexpected ways. In a sense, this is like the alien visitations we see played out in science fiction stories. There is an awareness of a presence inside us other than our own. This is a deep meeting with God, a profound yearning to be totally emptied of ourselves and to be full of Christ. There may be an urgency to surrender to the Spirit overcoming our bodily strength or to physically give in to actions or speech that come from someone beyond ourselves. Daphne Hunt is a member of Farmer Memorial Baptist Church, Toronto, and the Editor of the Toronto Area Association of Baptist Churches Newsletter. BOOKWATCH Many of us remember with fondness the presence and ministry of Stuart Frayne. Stuart and Eileen have now retired to Grimshaw, Alberta, to be close to children and grandchildren. Retirement for Stuart has meant, among other things, the opportunity to indulge his skills and love of writing and preaching. Last year he produced two volumes intended to guide the expository preacher when focusing on the letters to the Philippians, and to the Colossians. The books are, Preaching Colossians, and Joy: Bible Studies in Philippians. Both are privately published, and available from Suart at P.O. Box 1016, Grimshaw, Alberta, T0H 1W0. Both volumes are helpful entires into the letters, and very useful guides to preaching from these books. Language is important for pastors and other Christians. After all, we are people of the words, and of The Word (apologies to T.S. Eliot). George Lakoff (sociolinguist) and Mark Johnson (philosopher) have reflected deep and long, and have produced several books on the use of language. They are tough-going, but essential reading for preachers. Recommended are Metaphors we live by (Chicago University Press, 1980); Philosophy in the Flesh (Basic Books, 1999). Both books address the metaphorical nature of knowledge and language and, although they do not deal directly with religious issues, both are relevant to Theology and preaching. NETWATCH A highly recommended site this issue is http://www.centuryone.com, devoted to information on the first Christian century. Also included is information on Judaism of the time, archaeology in Israel, and the Princeton Dead Sea Scrolls project. The site also is a virtual bookstore with very competitive prices. NEWSWATCH William Brackney, currently Principal of McMaster Divinity College, has announced his resignation from McMaster and his move to the Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Baylor University, Waco Texas. Brackney has been Principal at McMaster since 1989, and takes up his new position in January 2000 (according to the Baylor announcement) or June 2000 (according to the McMaster announcement). Prior to coming to McMaster, Brackney taught at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and was on the staff at Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, New York. William Coppenger, President of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri, has been disciplined by the Board of Trustees for his outbursts of temper when dealing with staff members, and his use of profanity. He is to undergo some counselling for this behaviour, but he remains in his position. (Courtesy ABP Service). Five churches of the ABC-USA have been ‘disfellowshipped’ (i.e. expelled) from the organization for their acceptance of gay members. On appeal, one church was allowed to remain in the organization,. but the other four - all in California - still remain outside, and are appealing their dismissal. (Courtesy ABP Service). Correction:
IHMO - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This is a new feature of the GNL, and is included to encourage discussion on important issues related to our lives as Baptist Christians. Response to this particular Newsletter, or comment on any other topic (but please, keep it brief) will be most welcome. The Editor reserves the right to edit lengthy submissions. The following letter, however, is published as it was received. Ed. Ray, I was delighted
to receive the Summer 1999 issue of the Newsletter, and to see that someone
has taken an interest in the BCOQ web-site. The whole intent of the web-page
is to bring to a wider readership the issues that face our churches and
our denomination, but as often happens, our efforts seem to disappear into
the ether with little response or reaction. So I was delighted
I must admit
that your "exegesis" of the document struck me unfavourably; it was highly
critical and I think unfair. My understanding is that the Gathering patterns
itself somewhat on the Alliance of Baptists - yet in the same issue in
which you criticize BCOQ for its attempt to assist congregations in the
design of constitutions, you record that the Alliance of Baptists "at a
I trust that
we will have the opportunity to have your comments on what I believe will
be a much more fruitful issue - that of our effort to define core values
for ourselves - again, as we have stressed repeatedly, this is not a Statement
of Beliefs - but rather a "centred set of values - not a bounded set" of
requirements. We have examined with interest the same effort undertaken
both by the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
and have used their documents as somewhat of a pattern. Our effort in this
regard has met with an enthusiastic response from many of our congregations
and individuals, as evidenced by our confirmation
Thank you for your efforts and those of the Gathering in the encouragement of BCOQ - I look forward to being a part of the Gathering in our efforts for the building of His Kingdom. May God richly bless your service for Him Keith Hillyer
The Gathering Newsletter is published at least twice yearly Editor: Ray Hobbs Layout & Production (Print Edition): Victoria Drysdale Distribution: Barbara Bishop Editorial Board: Victoria Drysdale, Ray Hobbs, Daphne Hunt, Annette Martell, Bert Radford and Barbara Bishop as Steering Committee Liaison Feedback can
be directed to: The Gathering Newsletter c/o Ray Hobbs e-mail ray.hobbs@sympatico.ca
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