First, some miscellaneous notes: I have had a fair amount of feedback on the Creeds and Statement of Faith discussion. It is a discussion, not a denominational trajectory, on the radar of the Board and Senior Staff but initiated by me and I take responsibility for facilitating a lively debate, not for pre-determining its conclusion. I expect the first round of discussions will continue until the end of the year. Responses have ranged from “Statements of Faith (yes!), Creeds (no!)”, to “we’ve done this work before”, to “let’s talk”, to “why we are doing this?” and finally the soul who pleads for the voice “outside” the community that was both prophetic and provocative. So far so good!
This News and Notes covers how my time was spent last week and the week that this newsletter straddles.
On November 4th my wife, Kerry and I set out for Alberta. On Sunday, November 6th I set out from south of Calgary on my own – Kerry rejoined me in Banff on Monday– to preach in Claresholm (by the way, Fort MacLeod is a great place to have breakfast at 7 in the morning). Dennis Stone and Patrick Hazelwood along with this very diverse church welcomed me into their midst. I really enjoyed my time with them. After the 9:30 service at Claresholm – a place that you’ll hear more about in video clips in the New Year – I headed up to Gull Lake for the dedication of their new Retreat Centre. The evening included over 90 guests, and even had a waiting list! Among the guests were benefactors, volunteers, old campers, staff (including Todd & Cindy McLaren and Jeff & Kristy Dyer, with Jeff helping emcee) among others. There were board members and too many others to mention, but I can’t leave out the presence of a very tasty whole roasted pig (who was, sadly, nameless) and Faye & Bob Webber who organized the evening. I was asked to speak at the event for one very simple reason: I became a Christian at Gull Lake at the age of 9 in 1964. The evening was great! I found myself very moved by the experience of going back to my spiritual roots. Gull Lake Camp has excellent plans, dreams and hopes for the future. Check out their website for news and inspiration – www.gulllakecamp.net
The Banff Pastors’ Conference has occurred every November for thirty-five years. It has been a cooperative event between The Baptist Union and the North American Baptists, although the realistic partnering of the two has become a question mark as the latter’s participation has dropped below 20% of the total enrollment.
My profound thanks goes out to Jack Borchert and Linda Kilburn for organizing us this year. They posted a lot of committee time with the NAB’s and built on a legacy that Gerry Fisher has greatly contributed to. Dawn Johannesson also contributed greatly to our time of “ordering”. Sam Breakey helped lead our first evening in prayer. Sam Chaise, the Baptist Union President and Pastor from Olivet, did a moving and profound work with the worship. Brian Stelck presented on behalf of Carey and Ryan Sato gathered the youth workers together for a late evening time of encouragement and discussion.
I want to write for a moment about the miscommunication in our literature for the conference. The Baptist Union of Western Canada recognizes, affirms, calls and ordains women to the gospel ministry. We have elected from amongst us a variety of moderators to lead us in our denomination. Those moderators include Linda Kilburn and shirley bond both of whom are well known amongst us. We have entrusted the leadership of our denomination on a national & international level to the late shirley bentall, who was a former president of cbm and served us in an exemplary fashion. We are in debt to these women, to those who preceded them and to those who will follow. I take full responsibility for any communication that used terms like “pastors and wives” as a generic phrase when it fails to include and affirm men who are the spouses of pastors and especially women who are dismissed by the term, when the phrase “pastors and wives” can only be hurtful and unhelpful. Enough said. No more miscommunication in print or in principle will take away from our work together in the future. If you have comments on this, then call me directly at 604-225-5903.
The only flaw that the Planning Committee can be accused of is having two gifted speakers in Nancy Ortberg, a former Willow Creek Staffer, and currently a consultant, and Tom Cowan from First, Vancouver. The problem is you wouldn’t want to miss a session (it cut down on free time for some) and the stimulation coming at you was overwhelming.
Nancy spoke on: “Leading a Catalytic Church”, “Transformational Community” and “Reaching the Post Modern Generation”. Tom spoke on a general theme of “Behind Closed Doors: What Pastors and Spouses never talk about”.
Nancy was big picture, strategic and had lots of practical ideas. Tom was biblical and ruthlessly pastoral, asking about the choices we make in ministry which affect ourselves, our health, our families and those we minister to.
Both sets of talks are on the website for you to download – www.buwc.ca
The new website was unveiled by Steve Fisher to great applause and cheers. Please log on soon. On November 15th we’ll begin our Resource Centre online, check with Pam Stevenson if you have questions.
This week I’ll be meeting Reg Bibby, the sociologist of Canadian Religion, with other Baptist leaders in Edmonton on November 14 and 15. On the 17th I’ll be in Toronto to attend the Church Planter’s symposium with Dan Watt. On Saturday I’ll fly to Winnipeg for Sunday services at Maples Evangelical and Bethlehem Aboriginal Fellowship in the afternoon.
Monday will see me with the Winnipeg ministerial (I have a church “intervention” on Tuesday in our constituency so I’ll have to visit West Manitoba in the winter).
The Lord is good!
The Baptist Union is diverse and about the Father’s business.
Thanks be to God.
In Christ,
Jeremy Bell
PS. Next week: Advent … Christmas Preparation