In this bi-monthly column called Missional matters, Julian Doorey explores a mix of peace, justice, community and witness. He and his wife Claire served in Bangladesh with Arotahi/NZBMS for 13 years. They worship at Caversham Baptist Church in Dunedin.
Where are the Baptists?
I have always been perplexed by the invisibility of Baptist community services in the public arena. By comparison, others such as the Salvation Army, Presbyterians and Catholics have visible strong denominational community service identities. This raises the question: Could New Zealand Baptists develop a publicly recognised national community services brand? Before launching in, I use the ‘Community Services’ term, to include a range of supportive community social, economic and environmental activities.
A personal journey
As a new Christian at Spreydon Baptist Church (now South West Baptist Church) in the early 1980s, I encountered a very unique theology of mission, best described as ‘(w)holistic’. Evangelism, social justice and openness to the Spirit - all in one. A strong focus on both church and community, local and global – pervaded all.
While studying at BCNZ (now Laidlaw) in the early 1990s, our student group volunteered at Auckland City Mission. I heard that ‘Baptists were one of the largest providers of mental health community services in New Zealand.’ True or false? If true, why the secret? Why had Jo Baptist and Jo Public never heard this?
Working for thirteen years in Bangladesh with New Zealand Baptist Mission (now Arotahi), our partner was Bangladesh Baptist Church Fellowship. BBCF adopted (w)holistic mission, and was structured to focus on both (1) Strengthening church congregations, and (2) Supporting local communities. They implemented poverty alleviating community development through Baptist Aid, Medical care, Schools, Hostels and Scholarships.
Returning to Dunedin in 2015, I found several active church denominational community services - Presbyterian Support Otago, Anglican Family Care, Catholic Social Services, Methodist Mission and Salvation Army. All had - clearly recognisable denominational identity, strong branding, public-facing websites, community service names, and strong recognition by government, funders and media. Budgets range from about $1 million to $50+ million per year. By contrast Baptist community work through local churches was largely invisible outside their neighbourhoods.
Does this matter?
The absence of a nationally recognised Baptist community services presence has consequences. It can create the impression that Baptists focus primarily on personal spirituality and internal church life rather than wider needs in society. For some observers, practical service is a key demonstration of Christian faith. When that service remains hidden, so does the public witness.
The lack of visibility can discourage Christians committed to poverty alleviation, social justice or environmental causes. They may find a church home elsewhere. If churches do develop independent community services, they have few opportunities to learn from or share resources nationally. Members miss out on learning vital skills to use later with overseas partners who implement (w)holistic mission.
I’m aware that the Baptist national office has had part-time community ministry resource roles in the past, but not now. In the current void, I doubt we would know the activities, scale and value of Baptist community services across New Zealand. Likewise, government agencies, funders and media can’t identify our services or national value. Jo Public cannot easily discover Baptist community services on offer - they’re essentially hidden.
Why has this happened?
Several explanations are possible. Baptist ecclesiology or church structure is an issue. Baptist distinctives of local church governance, voluntary association and lack of national organisational authority, make it hard to have a ‘Baptist national anything’. And yet, the Bangladesh Baptist Church Fellowship mentioned previously do have national community ministries and structures.
Theology of mission is a factor. Many Baptists prioritise personal conversion and congregational health, ‘keeping the main thing the main thing’. Even suggesting the ‘possibility’ of a large national Baptist community services organisation (imagine that!) can be met with dismissal or strong antagonism.
Baptists have a philosophical aversion towards organisations and institutions. We are a ‘movement of churches!’ and suspicious of becoming ‘machinery’, the slippery slope towards becoming a ‘monument’. Community service organisations typically function with a strong organisational base and skill set.
NZ Baptists speak of ‘bringing gospel renewal to people and places in our local neighbourhoods’ - a dual focus on the person and community. However, a lack of national Baptist community services, betrays our dual aspiration. Evidence suggests we are hugely more focused on congregational health than community service.
A proposal
Having identified the issues, I propose that we operate a ‘Publicly Recognised National Baptist Community Services Brand.’ In approaching this, I assume most (all?) local Baptist churches will support some form of local community service, and the local church will maintain responsibility. Although I would love to see a national Baptist community services organisation, I’m a realist, so won’t push it here. My proposal is simple and works in 2 ways:
1. Baptist churches or their community service entities would apply to use the national Baptist community services branding logo. They would be part of the Baptist national community services network.
2. A 1-stop national website would provide a searchable directory of community services offered by listed Baptist churches or their community services entities throughout New Zealand. There could be updated counters showing things like: 2500 homes provided, 12,000 social worker visits, 17 school chaplains etc.
The branding would include a shared logo, by-line, vision, mission and values. Registration to use the branding would require a commitment to agreed basic standards of community engagement, service provision, accountability and annual reporting to collate national community service metrics and stories.
What could this achieve?
The potential benefits are considerable. A shared public community services identity would show Baptists caring for both spiritual and practical wellbeing, reinforcing an (w)holistic gospel. Participating local Baptist churches or their community services entities would exchange ideas, resources and successful models, instead of reinventing the wheel.
Annual reporting would measure the national impact of Baptist community services through agreed metrics such as meals served, counselling hours delivered, people housed, volunteer contributions etc. For the first time, Baptists, the public, government agencies, funding bodies and the media would be able to observe, measure and evaluate NZ Baptist community service delivery - in terms of activities, scale and value - locally and nationally. A strong national public presence would provide Baptists a place at the national policy table. This would also provide useful evidence of gospel renewal and public witness in the community service arena. Baptists could tell a national story supported by meaningful data.
A Baptist way forward
This proposal works with Baptist distinctives rather than against them. It is a ‘Baptist way’ of operating a national community services brand, while maintaining local church responsibility and competency. Beautiful. Rather than replacing local identities, national branding would make them easier to find, recognise and trust. The national role would provide branding, visibility, coordination, collaboration, training and encouragement.
Resources
Resources are needed to run a Baptist community services branding scheme, as with all we do. One person at Baptist head office (or hybrid) with computer skills, a desk and a chair would get it started. Currently there is no Baptist national community services manager, facilitator or trainer working in our denomination.
Organogram
Here is a simple organisational chart showing a national support role and local community service implementation roles (examples made up).
Feedback request
Baptists seek the collective will of God (the mind of Christ) about ideas and opportunities. I invite feedback on this proposal both for and against. Is there a better way to operate a publicly recognised national Baptist community services branding? Let’s hear about it. Feel free to email me, Julian Doorey [email protected]. or write a ‘Letter to the Editor’ to share a response publicly: Details on how to submit a letter here baptist.nz/mailbox/ .
