New Church in the Highlands ...Take stock Part One

A brief look at the Baptist Witness and increase in particular for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Brian Robertson

Background

With some years working in the Highlands, then away and back again several times, I have had the opportunity to be in church circle and observe the changing state over a 25 year gap.

During that time I have been in leadership in Alness, Thurso, Perth, Dingwall, Pitlochry and now back in Perth. In two of these situations I was privileged to see a fresh growth in maturity and numbers in the Church. I have also spent time South of the border and seen other church situations. I draw on this experience with also my Baptist origins in Stirling to comment on the Highlands and Islands work.

But before that, it is important to consider the current situation in the Western world.

Why must the Western Church study Culture today?

• Because of the incarnation. Jesus did it.
• Cultural understanding is essential as good mission practise
• Christendom and Modernity are in rapid decline
• The West is in the midst of a huge cultural shift
• The Church is in decline (numerically)
• Current church practises are cultural accommodations to a society that no longer exists
• Primary modes of communications in the Western world and culture have changed.
• New culture means new organisational structures are required.
• The “Boomers”(over 46's) are the last generation happy with “modern Church”
• Increase appeal of Spirituality derived from other religions
• Many Christians no longer follow the religion of their parents' 2^nd generation not coming through!

However it would be worth the Baptist community considering the future “state of play” so that we can be effective where we are in the changing world. This, with the Spirit of God blessing the plans, and activity could turn the community around and increase the Kingdom. This is particularly relevant to the Highlands who, as a new generation, are looking for spirituality but all they know is Presbyterianism.

The days of Sankey we know are over but, so too, the days of Hillsong and other Modern large praise events are probably on the decline.

Some churches are doing a “new” old church, when maybe the answer is a “new” new church!

I sense with others that the new generation of believers are looking for reality in Christian practise, no religiousness, more reflectiveness, less clutter and a strong “missional” discipleship under the code name in America of “Spiritual Formation”. (“Google” Spiritual formation!)

It is not a simple matter of the Church re branding. The changes in culture have been too great for church to change in “window display”. Recall in the past the printing press and the education of the community linked to the church. The corresponding requirement for an engaging church in the community, that is not a sub-culture, but is, or changes, the culture is clear. This has not to be a liberal or compromising stance but rather relevance, rediscovery,and, in fact more biblically based mission. The “Hillsongs” mega churches might not survive even if they don't ever make an impact in Highland Scotland.

The church needs to be looking at ways to deal with those who want to be submerged in the culture and not seen to be different from others and to the individualists who make a stand on their pet conviction. A tough task. Yet I think there are those being groomed by God for the job, some closer than you think.

What is happening

Pockets of interest have been formed who want to move towards a commitment together. In November 2007 15 were baptised as believers in Brora- did the Union know? Were they invited?

There are “Baptistic” gatherings in Castletown, Dornoch, Lairg, Brora, Tain.....

Thirty years ago it was impossible to think of a Baptist Church in Dingwall , yet it has been constituted for more than 10 years. In fact there is another “baptistic” Church in the town.

Stornoway, New Elgin, Argyll, and Fort William have glimmers of hope. Kinlochbervie has like-minded folk.

Possible future

So how does the Church invest in the future in a new church framework that caters for the Highlands and Islands? How does the Baptist Union look at the Highlands?

Is it a duty we better do something or is there a burden to help those who want to press their heads above the Presbyterian plateau? How do Scottish Baptists facilitate the “promotion” of “baptistic” gatherings in areas where Scottish Baptists are simply not known? Especially when these groups have not considered all the Baptist principles that Baptists adhere to. How does a Union accommodate Baptistic groups still on a road of discovery, without it looking like the Union is shoving the group through a Baptist programme, like a mincing machine with groups coming out with the same inclination at the end. North of Inverness Baptists are placed in the group of “strange” people like Mormons and JWs.

How does the Baptist Union promote to non-baptists that there may be similarities in thought?

There are many in the Highlands who watch God TV and want to participate in modern worship. Many have moved to settle in the Highlands with a wider church life experience.

 

I carried out a small survey with a group in Brora who were considering setting up a fellowship. They marked high, Worship, and regular Communion - Baptism was an agreed assumption - their conviction was “believers baptism” .

Reasons for a Baptist Church - Brora feedback Oct 2006

  

Missional

In an age after the post-modernist the structure and effective communication of the Church to the unchurch, requires a total re-think. This is particularly hard for the Highland Presbyterian churches who work from a dated template that in some quarters has lost its relevance. Activities to the unchurch that worked say 20 years ago will not work these days. While the message must stay the same, and there was a danger in the 1970's that the method change messed up the message (not a problem now), the presentation must be appropriate to the audience and age. In a culture of switches, electronic media, i-pods and downloads, there is a clear need for a professional presentation to the masses that engages them before they even enter a church building.

When the large PLC market a new brand or product there are hours and hours of getting the message across and the need for the product goes before the product launch. The hype for X-box 360 started before a box had been created.

I would suggest that today the norm should be power point presentations to support the preaching and words for all praise on visual screens.

One cannot consider the "neglecting the saints .." as a constructive way forward but new ways of communicating new ways of fellowship are inevitable for future generations. 

 

Electronic communications

Role of Internet-Hyperspace is not as relational as face to face.

There are many Internet Churches throughout the world and, although this form of fellowship is good, it does lack the personal relationship with the face to face. Scottish Christian website is a solid communication assisting the church. Interestingly the logs linked to the website have a large number of Scottish Episcopalian contributors. I wonder if this is a denominational preference or an aspect to the age of the ministerial staff. It might also be that one individual had an influence on other clergy colleagues. Nevertheless the use of logs is widening the communication among themselves, their sheep and the wider bloggers. One American church leader said “I engage with the community. If they want to hear me preach, I preach on my blog!”

North East coast revival 1921 Scotland

There is a link to an old post and conversation about Baptists in Caithness here.

Kessock last month

The North East coast revival in 1921 shows the spread and catalytic effect from a work. it started in Norfolk in 1921 and spread to Caithness Scotland the the travelling movement of the fishermen.

The following extracts from the Northern Times shows the spread down the coast as far as Ross-shire in a matter of weeks. 
 

	Northern Times
26/1/1922	30 converts from Helmsdale visited Brora and conducted service at the Fountain and the United Free Church
02/02/22	Revival spread to Golspie. Positive article of Gods Goodness and YMCA helping young converts.
23/02/22	Revival in Wick “The revival in Wick is still progressing John Troupe's presence was an additional attraction, He is now almost well after his illness, but still to refrain from much exertion....one of the converts a young man died recently after a short illness, the Hymns and prayers also bearing pathetic terms. A solo sung by Miss Lara Rosie was much appreciated.”
9/3/1922	Reference to Hymn singing conflict.
23/3/1922	Letter to editor of enquiry as to use of Pitgower Hall for meetings Revivalist meetings (with hymn singing) got use of hall but not the Free Presbyterian s
30/3/1922	Page 5 Canadian writer to paper recalls a “time of refreshing” in Rogart 50 years earlier 1870's when there were 70 converts.
6/4/1922	3 weeks mission closes by Mr Dowie in Brora- moving to Golspie
20/4/1922	Page 4 col 3 Evangelistic meetings Golspie YMCA - Mr Dowie Aberdeen. “Presentation to Mr Dowie at fisherman's Hall Brora presented with a roll of treasury notes from the public of Brora. In reply and thanks “requested the revival meetings continue under Rev Thomson.”
13/7/1922	Mr Mackenzie in Embo People from Helmsdale going to take revival meetings in Balintore.
3/8/1922	Brora news: Rev Thomson Ill Messrs Fraser Stewart and Robertson close two weeks mission in the Fishermen's Mission.

Several leading revivalists took part in this work.

Jock Troupe, Mackenzie and Dowie.

Thomson: Rev Donald, United Free Church settled previous year Feb 1921.

In a few months revival has come right down the coast.¹

 ^{Helmsdale harbour}

Brora News.

Presentation to Mr Dowie, Evangelist – at the usual Evangelistic Meeting held in the Fisherman's Hall, Lower Brora on Saturday evening. Mr Dowie of Aberdeen who is now leaving the District was presented with a roll of treasury notes from the public of Brora, as a token of esteem for the helpful addresses he delivered at the recent revival meetings in their midst. The Rev D Thomson in making the presentation on behalf of the subscribers thanked Mr Dowie for his valuable services both at the Open Air Meetings and elsewhere. Mr Dowie in reply said that this came unexpected but he hoped they had derived some lasting benefits through the Meetings held in the past and that they would continue to hold them under the guidance of the Rev Mr Thomson and helpers in the future.

Special Easter Communion – As the result of the revival meetings held in their midst, a scene unparalleled in the history of the Parish, if not in the Highlands, was witnessed in the Clyne United Free Church Brora at the morning service on Sunday last. A special Easter Communion was held at which the Rev Mr Thomson, Minister officiated. There were 195 persons partook of communion, the average communicants number about 100, but on Sunday there were 80 new members belonging to the United Free Church– 30 belonging to the Free Church who partook of it for the first time. As the revival only started after the New Year it speaks volumes for the good work done for the Master that so many young people belonging to different denominations should sit down together for the first time. The scene was a most inspiring and impressive one and will long live in the memory of all who witnessed it.

Here again we have a record that most locals of Brora would not be aware of, and, only a generation from the events. This revival started in Norfolk and moved to Aberdeen then Wick. It is encouraging to see many denominations including The Assemblies and Salvation Army involved. 

There were other times of revival to touch Caithness in the Church’s history. Perhaps most notably was that of the 1920s when the ministry in singing and preaching of Jock Troupe, of the Salvation Army, saw Churches, including Wick Baptist Church, and places like the Braehead and Market Square in Wick, packed out. It cannot be denied that the Church as a whole in this country has declined in numbers since those days but many believe there are signs of change.(52)

1Northern Times, 20 April, 1922 – p8. Col 2.