The next five years present a choice opportunity for further, exciting development of our Church in the British Isles. Progress will require considered and deliberate objectives and an action plan to achieve them.
We thank God for the achievements of the Adventist Church in the British Isles during the past one hundred and thirty years. However, every member of the Church who understands its mission knows that we have merely touched the tip in presenting the Gospel within the context of the Three Angels' Messages. We must stand upon the achievements of the past in order to reach where we know we ought to be as a Church today.
The values of the Adventist Church are values with which our society can identify. Our position on healthful living, civic responsibility, humanitarian service, weekly physical, mental and spiritual renewal as afforded by the Sabbath, having a positive perspective on the future, dealing with guilt, etc, are all matters of interest to our society. Our teachings, rightly understood, generate hope and optimism in an age of doubt, cynicism and despondency.
We have no reason to be fearful about presenting the Bible teachings on which our faith is founded. However, these teachings need to be presented as present truth. In other words, our teachings and the manner in which they are presented must speak to the hopes, needs, fears and aspirations of today’s generation.
As we look to the future, there are certain emphases that are considered indispensable to the fulfilment of our mission as a Church:
1. Spiritual Growth. A rich, dynamic and satisfying relationship with Jesus and with one another is the overarching objective of the Church. Without it there will be an absence of meaning, joy and spirituality. Also, evangelistic activities will, at best, be a chore and, at worst, absent altogether. Consequently, spiritual nurture must be an integral part of the leadership objectives of the BUC for the next five years. Spiritual nurture is the responsibility of all leaders of the British Union and all leaders in the British Union. While it is not possible to measure the spiritual level of individual members, regular personal and corporate Bible study and prayer, witnessing and humanitarian service are activities that contribute to spiritual growth. These activities need to be promoted and encouraged on an ongoing basis. Pastor Alan Hodges has been invited to serve as co-ordinator for Spiritual Nurture.
2. Knowledge and understanding of Scripture. Many are of the view that knowledge and understanding of Scripture by Adventists has declined significantly. The eagerness with which we once studied the Bible needs to be recaptured. When members understand Scripture, the basis for our core beliefs, and the prophetic role of the Church, they are more likely to share their faith and contribute to the fulfilment of mission. The converse is also true. Leaders at all levels in the British Union are invited to give this focus the prominence it deserves. One effective way of ensuring that members grow in their knowledge and understanding of Scripture is to have a special Bible Study time, possibly on a Sabbath afternoon, when in-depth work can be done.
3. Retention of youth. One of the major concerns of the Adventist Church, especially in developed countries, is the low youth retention rate. This has large implications for the salvation of our young people and for the future of the Church, which, from a human point of view, can be secured only as young people and children are nurtured to become active members of the Church. It is important that we create and maintain a climate in which our young people feel at home and valued. The Youth director and the Children’s Ministries director of the Union have been invited to make this one of their primary objectives during the next five years. All other church leaders, including local elders, are also being encouraged to make youth retention a primary focus.
4. Increased participation of members in outreach programmes. Statistics have shown that less than 20% of members are involved in evangelistic outreach. The reason for this seems to be multi-faceted. As indicated earlier, some members are unsure of the beliefs of the Church and consequently lack the confidence to share their faith. The lifestyle of some does not afford sufficient time for participation in an outreach programme. Some members are of the view that outreach is for the professionals (pastor, evangelist, elder, etc). Some think that the public is unresponsive to what the Church has to offer and therefore feel that there is no point in seeking to share their faith. During the next five years the BUC will seek to have a higher percentage of members involved in the evangelistic programme of the Church. This is to be one of the primary emphases of the Personal Ministries department.
5. Focus on the ADC and updating of Bible Correspondence School. The ADC (Adventist Discovery Centre) remains, in the opinion of many, one of the effective outreach methods in the British Isles. Many who have joined the Church over the years refer to the VOP as having played a role in their decision. The unobtrusive nature of the VOP’s approach makes it ideally suited to an age when distance learning is on the increase. The Bible Correspondence School also provides a form of outreach with which most of our members are comfortable. The BUC will seek to provide greater resources for this area of operation and intensify promotion to pastors and members. Many interests are lost as a result of poor follow-up. Consequently, careful thought needs to be given to how this aspect of the work can be improved. In addition, attention needs to be given to upgrading the content and layout of some lessons. Pastor Michael Hamilton has been appointed the new director of the Adventist Discovery Centre and Pastor Richard Willis as Course Development, Research and Liaison Officer. The Adventist Discovery Centre (VOP) welcomes members’ donations.
6. Greater involvement of the Church in the community. The Church is relevant only as it interfaces with the community. The BUC is to promote greater civic involvement. Local churches and individual members will be encouraged to participate in community projects, and provide services and support as resources allow for various groups in their community. Local churches can also team up with non-Adventist congregations to support projects that do not conflict with the values and teachings of the Church. The national Church will seek to address national issues.
7. Focus on institutions. The three institutions of the BUC represent proven methods of outreach and evangelism. The printed word, as promoted by The Stanborough Press, is still a means whereby people are brought to faith. Stanborough School gives practical expression to our belief that the objective of education is the preparation of students for service to God and their fellowmen. Seventh-day Adventists have a contribution to make to the world regarding lifestyle. The health institutions of the Church, such as Roundelwood, are designed to promote and demonstrate this lifestyle. The strategic importance of our three institutions to the mission of the Church demands that they be supported. This we will endeavour to do to the extent that resources allow.
8. Raising quality. 'Quality' is a buzzword today. Consumers look for the best quality product or service. In an age of choice, some organisations survive because the quality of what they have to offer is superior to what their rivals offer. As a Church we have an excellent message to give to the world but often we fail to impress with it because of the manner in which it is presented. If we are serious about reaching the populace in the British Isles with the Gospel, it is imperative that standards are raised and maintained in all areas of operation. The public will not be attracted to a church that is comfortable with mediocrity. Quality must be raised in the manner in which services are conducted and in the content of services. In an effort to raise quality we must also examine our places of worship, printed materials and audio-visual presentations. There are several areas of excellence in the Union. We need to ensure that such excellence is replicated throughout the field.
9. Leadership development. One of the primary resources of an organisation are its employees. Our employees are central to our operation and development. A programme of support and development is essential for those who are entrusted with the task of fulfilling the mission of the Church in its many areas of operation. A programme of in-service training for employed and voluntary leaders is to be a major emphasis of the Union. One way in which this can be accomplished is the establishment of a leadership institute. If standards are to be raised it is imperative that leaders at every level are suitably equipped. The leadership of the BUC is now considering the feasibility of setting up a leadership institute.
This list is not exhaustive, but it represents areas of our work that are crucial to the fulfilment of the mission of the Church in the British Isles. Much more will be said on these subjects in future issues. Members and church employees are invited to write to me with practical suggestions as to how we can progress the emphases outlined above. The Strategic Plan of the Union for the next five years will reflect these emphases.