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Posted by Ruth on 17 January 2012
On Saturday, the church was full. There was a service to induct the new team leader for the London baptist Association Regional ministry team. It was a great service, with representatives from Baptist churches across London. All sorts of highlights, but one thing that was said has echoed around my mind since then; there are over 300 Baptist churches in London, with a constituency of between 50000 and 60000 pepole worshipping in these fellowships. That’s a tremendous number of Baptists.
One of the aspects that we love about Bloomsbury is its international nature - the way in which, as a congregation, we have the chance to welcome people from all over the world, and draw on the richness of the world church. There is more - much more - we could do to make this even more real in the way we worship and organise ourselves, but just by meeting people, sharing meals, getting to know each other we are immeasurably enriched.
But I just wonder if we are missing something in our lack of contact with our wider Baptist family in London. There are all sorts of ways of being Baptist reflected in our London churches, and all sorts of really exciting things going on, from working with asylum seekers to hosting shelters for the homeless to providing support for families and creating safe places for those who are battling addiction. And the churches around the Association are multi-cultural in ways that make us look monochrome.
In May this year the Assembly of the Baptist Union of Great Britain is meeting in London. One of the day conferences that form the centre pieces of the Assembly is happening here at Bloomsbury. Other meetings are taking place in other churches around the Association, and the main meetings are at Central Hall Westminster. And - sadly - at the moment, we don’t have delegates for Assembly. This is very sad. On our doorstep is the chance to meet with Baptists from around London and from around the country, to hear some of the things that are going on, to have the chance to learn about some of the challenges and delights that people are facing in different places, and to offer our insights and wisdom to others.
Please think about it - and if you want to know more, check this website
http://www.baptistassembly.org.uk/home.asp?id=1
or talk to me about it. I’m going - but I would rather not go alone.
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