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' 2nd 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!”
