Vision for the Church

In December 2005, the congregation met together to seek vison for the way ahead.

The following are extracts from this exciting time:

Ken presented from the Pastoral Team the following statement which could be the basis of the statement we need to present to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and other statutory or grant awarding bodies.

Vision:

Rutherglen Baptist Community Church as a Christian Community seeks to respond holistically[i] to community[ii] need[iii].

Aim: In the interest of social welfare[iv], Rutherglen Baptist Community Church will provide facilities and opportunities for members of Rutherglen Baptist Community Church , and the local community of Rutherglen, to participate in spiritual, emotional, educational and recreational development, by advancing religion and education

Supporting Statement: Rutherglen Baptist Community Church respects the value and rights of each individual[v] as stated in the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights and therefore strives to provide the highest quality of facilities and care in each and every area of its work and in compliance with all current and future legislation[vi].

 NOTES

 

 

[i]   holistically means: without boundaries, treating the whole and not just a part; seamless [ii] Community = the Christian Community i.e. the church and the local community beyond the church [iii] Matt 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth”.   Luke 13:21 – “With what shall I compare the Kingdom of God to?  It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough” [iv] The inclusion of social welfare/ religion/ education are written to comply with Charity Law  [v] Matthew 5:45  “ He sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” [vi] Hebrews 3:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority”

We have over 500 people through the church premises per week.  To be the People of God for them requires:

*      Relationships

*      Personnel

*      Resources

*      Training

As a congregation we will urgently seek ways to bring these requirements about.

We need to turn our liability into an asset… either put the premises in good order or rebuild them to current specifications

As a congregation we will urgently seek ways to deal with the building

 

 

What do we expect to happen?

  • We will see people through the door.
  • God will revive us – a new fire within us
  • God will do something in our community

When we meet people we need to speak in their language, not just in words, but in actions which speak to them (maybe even providing good toilets for them)

God says to us:   

I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE SKILLS

Where do we meet people?

On the buses

            In the workplace

                        In the schools

                                    In the pub

                                                Queuing at the shops

           Or summed up  

WHERE PEOPLE ARE

To do that we need to equip each other by

Encouragement

            Relationships

                        Support

                                    Training

                                                Spiritual refreshing

And an understanding that

THE CHURCH IS PEOPLE