04/11/2007
Christians from across Scotland gathered in Glenrothes over the first Friday and Saturday in November for the 138th Scottish Baptist Assembly.
The theme of this year’s assembly, The Way Ahead – Leading Followers, Following Leaders, featured addresses by Gary Nelson, General Director of Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM), as well as Jill Garrett, Director of Leadership Development at top-management consultancy firm, Caret. Additionally, there were talks and seminars led by various leaders from both BMS World Mission and the Baptist Union of Scotland (BUS).
Exploring the theme of effective leadership proved to be both important and relevant for Scottish churches and worldwide mission. Speakers at the Assembly emphasised the need for shared vision, flexibility and, as Jill Garrett said, “the need for leadership to become a way of life, not just a status”.
In both of his addresses to the Assembly, Gary Nelson stressed that people should “lead with their story” – challenging people not to imitate the leaders they are not, but rather to bring their own personality, gifts and personal style to the task of leading others at home and abroad.
Joining together
This year’s Baptist Assembly in Scotland was only the second joint Assembly between BUS and BMS. In their opening address to the Assembly, Alistair Brown (General Director, BMS) and Bill Slack (General Director, BUS) shared their excitement about “gathering once again to show our joint commitment to God’s work and to stand as part of the global Church.”
On Friday evening, BUS honoured retiring ministers while also recognising newly accredited ones who are soon to begin working in churches across Scotland.
BMS also welcomed three long-term workers from Scotland – Jenny and Graeme Riddell and Fiona Welsh – who will start working in Uganda and Angola respectively in August 2008.