1. Exploring the Steps towards new Partnerships in Mission

2. Workshop Outline Part 1 – Re-capping the work done in the Consultation Fora and at Delegates Dinner - The autonomy of the Baptist church? - Levels of Involvement & Examples Part 2 – Equipping your Leadership team to explore new partnerships - Some steps in a process of exploring new possibilities for your church

3. The autonomy of the Baptist Church? An urban (and rural) myth! Some alternative perspectives: Biblical Historical Practical

4. Group Questions What could be the advantages of my church joining forces with another local church? What are the main hurdles we’d need to overcome?

6. Starting a Partnership – Internal Qs 1.What is our mission as a church – what is God calling us to do in the local community? 2.What is our greatest need in order to do effective mission? 3.What is our greatest asset? What do you have to give/share with others? 4.Is the congregation ready for/willing to change? (see Readiness for Change questionnaire) If not, what do you need to do?

7. Starting a Partnership - Further Q’s 5.What is your circle of Influence? ie. how far do people already travel to come to your church? Or, how wide an area is your mission serving? 5km 10 km 20 km 50 km radius? 6.How many other Baptist churches are within that circle? 7. What do you know about those churches? Have you relationships with any of them?

8. Starting a Partnership - Further Q’s 8. Are there any you feel drawn to - to make initial explorations about possible partnerships? 9. Why do you feel drawn to these? Is there theological compatibility? Do they have a similar concern in mission or a complementary one? Is their worship style similar to yours? Do they have a similar or different demographic which is appealing?

9. Next Steps – Meeting Together 1.Meeting between leadership teams – a meal together aimed at engaging relationally – telling each other the story of our churches and our hopes and dreams for current mission.

10. Praying and listening After the meeting, make spaces for quiet reflection on the time and for listening to what God is saying What were the key resonances in our stories and hopes? Did anything emerge that made us think there was something we could do better together than alone? What could we best share/ assist with? What excites us? What are we fearful of? Do we want to meet again? Can we develop a set of next questions to explore?

11. Further meetings Second meeting(s) – beginning to explore the key questions – 2-3 from each church at each meeting. Always ensuring there is space to connect relationally – maybe hear 2 individual’s stories each time and their sense of God’s leading. Do some bible study together on relevant passages, as these activities are critical to building a foundation for sharing mission and ministry.

12. Further prayer and listening What is the most helpful thing we can do together? Continue as we are? Support each other’s current mission? Support another community venture or church in the community? Begin a new mission venture? Plant a new faith community? Share an admin team? Share a ministry team? Amalgamate our resources by selling one property and moving in together?

13. Some Golden rules Take time – don’t rush into things Get to know and value the other people, both at leadership and congregational levels Ensure good communication and transparent process, internally as well as externally Be open to God’s Spirit taking you in new directions, previously unimagined – see the exploration as a spiritual exercise and be alert to God’s promptings. Listen. Keep mission uppermost – Seek first the Kingdom of God…..

14. Mergers There are more specific questions that need to asked when 2 or more churches are considering a merger, where one identity/property may be lost. See new Paper – Template for churches considering Mergers or Partnerships Also Better Together. Making Church Mergers Work by Tomberlin & Bird, 2012