The reforms arise out of a year-long review which was initiated by financial concerns but which has been undertaken with a much broader remit to establish structures more fitting for mission in the 21st century.

At the heart of the changes is a new way of working together between the national office in Didcot, the regional associations and the Baptist colleges to support churches. The changes are designed to enhance the inter-dependence between churches, associations and members of specialist teams.

As a result there will be downsizing of the national office in Didcot, with some work taken on by associations whilst removing duplication of activity carried out both in Didcot and the associations.

At Baptist House (Didcot) the number of staff will be reduced by 14 full time equivalent posts from 46 to 32. The current five departments will become three new specialist teams. Finance and Administration including the Baptist Union Corporation (legal and property matters) will become the Support Services Team. The Ministry Department, responsible for the training and accreditation of ministers, will become the Ministries Team.  Faith and Unity, Mission and Communications Departments will be merged into a new team called Faith and Society. 

The role of General Secretary, currently held by the Revd Jonathan Edwards, will have a new job description incorporating many of the tasks done by the current General Manager Richard Nicholls.  A nominating group has been established to look for a new General Secretary.  Both of the current roles will cease at the end of July 2013, but Richard has agreed to serve as Transitional Manager for a limited period whilst the new arrangements are put in place.  Council expressed their love and prayers for Jonathan and Richard at this very difficult time.

A new leadership team, the Baptist Steering Group, will replace the Senior Management Team at Baptist House and will be responsible for implementing the strategy of the Union that has been agreed by Baptist Union Council. The group will include the new General Secretary, the leaders of the new teams at Baptist House, representatives from the regional associations, Baptist colleges, BU Trustees and BU Council. 

An accompanying group will meet with the Steering Group three times a year to provide different viewpoints from across the Union. This group, whose membership will be refreshed regularly, will include the President of the BUGB and at least two people from a black or ethnic minority background, two people under 40 and two women.

Part of the money received by the Union from its members through the annual 'Home Mission' appeal is dispersed as grants.  Grants are awarded to support a minister's stipend or mission project in situations where these posts and projects would not otherwise be possible. This has been done centrally at Baptist House but will in future be administered through six association partnerships.  In these partnerships two or three associations will decide together who is awarded grants in their regions.
 

Other reforms agreed at BU Council included reducing the size of Council and making its role more strategic, encouraging the establishment of networks of Baptist churches and a reduction in the number of committees reporting to Council.

The decisions come after a year of prayer, consultation and discussion to 'discern the mind of Christ' as to the future of the Union.  It has been prompted partly by a deficit in the Union's finances but also in response to the 400th anniversary of the Baptist denomination in the UK and the desire to know which direction God was calling Baptists to follow in the future.

The vision behind the changes, arguably the biggest for a generation, is for the Union to be a more flexible movement, that can adapt to new mission challenges and opportunities in today's society, where support is given and decisions made as close to the local church as possible.

During the Council meeting presentations on the urgency behind the reforms was highlighted by the Younger Leaders' Forum, who spoke on New Models of Mission and a report given by Ian Bunce, Head of the Mission Department, entitled Mission and stopping the decline of the church.

'Are we prepared to lose what we've got in order to gain what God wants us to have?' Ian said.  'As God sent Jesus into our neighbourhoods, so he sends us. The challenge for us is about releasing people into our communities.

'We need to find a new ecclesiology and practice, beyond the church and Sunday gathering, towards a shared life and community that empowers whole life discipleship, where together we engage in the mission of God in his world.

'Church in the future will look far more messy. We don't need uniformity, we desire a culture where diversity is celebrated.'

Jonathan Edwards commented, 'This is a very painful time but it is clearly right for the Baptist Union to make serious financial cuts.  My colleagues and I at Baptist House have all done our work out of a profound sense of God's call, and we appreciate the sensitivity and support of the denomination as we seek to discover his will for our future.

'My visits around the country constantly remind me of the energy, initiative and deep commitment of churches, colleges and associations to share in the mission of Christ.  Amidst the challenges there is a great deal to encourage us and I look forward to seeing the way in which God leads the Baptist family in the coming years.'