The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) is to change some of its structures and ways of working as it seeks to become a more mission-focused movement.

That's the outcome of the specially-convened Baptist Union Council, which met on Wednesday and Thursday.
Council had been asked to consider a range of proposals and recommendations brought by the Futures group.

The proposals were formed to provide a new basis for BUGB to go forward, and were focused on the underlying vision 'Growing healthy churches to participate in the mission of God', the centrepiece of a set of values and principles agreed by Council at the start of the session.

The changes include the formation of Association partnerships, which were commended by the Futures Group.  

How Home Mission grants are managed and allocated will also alter. As from 2014 they will be directed by the Association partnerships rather than through the National Resource and Grants Committee.

There will be a re-organisation of the National Resource in Didcot, with the creation of three new specialist teams and the closure of five departments.

The proposals also included provision for a new national leadership team, though the exact wording and details of this has yet to be decided.

Council discussed the proposals in some detail depth over the two days and the document was approved in principle.

The Futures Group has now disbanded. BUGB trustees will now create detailed proposals based on these recommendations and other work now being undertaken.These proposals will be put to the vote at November's Council.

The Revd Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said, 'I am very grateful for the prayerful support of Baptist brothers and sisters for our Council.  

'We had momentous issues to face and difficult decisions to make but we were acutely aware of God's presence with us and, as we go forward, we are confident that he will lead us.  

'At the start of Council I referred to Abraham's faith, and urged members to be similarly full of faith.  Like Abraham we are not exactly sure where we are going, but we are confident of a God who will not let us down.  In getting to this Council we have climbed a mountain.  

'It has been hard work and has demanded the best of us.  However, I am acutely aware that we have yet more mountains to climb as we prepare for November Council.  

'I urge our Baptist family to continue in prayer for us so that we will be in a position to make appropriate decisions in the autumn, so that we will continue to be an effective mission movement.'
 
A more detailed report will appear in the next Baptist Times Weekly Round-up.

More details about the values underpinning the Futures process and what has so
far been proposed can be found here:

http://www.baptist.org.uk/about-baptists/bugb-futures/861-our-vision-for-the-future-of-the-baptist-union.html