Who are we, and how did we get here?
A chance meeting in a Christian Bookshop in Boldmere was the starting point for an exciting journey, culminating in the formation of a new Christian Fellowship in Banners Gate. The ensuing conversation, back in 2006, led to hiring of the Westwood Hall and proceeded to discussions about other possible collaboration.
The two parties involved were members of Streetly Community Baptist Church and Banners Gate United Reformed Church. Both churches had reached a point in time where a radical review of future mission in the community had become essential.
The URC had buildings but a small and ageing congregation. The Baptists did not have their own building, and were hiring rooms for Sunday morning worship at a local school. Sunday evening and mid-week activities were being held in rooms hired from other locations, including the URC. The Baptist congregation was roughly double the size of the URC congregation, and with a considerably wider age profile.
After much heart-searching, and with great regret, the URC announced a decision in May of 2007 to close the Westwood Road church at the end of December that year. However, soon afterwards, exploratory talks about the possibility of closer ties began. In the autumn of 2007, church meetings of both congregations gave authority to a small team of church leaders, including the URC Interim minister, to meet together and investigate the potential for some form of joint work and witness. Closure was suspended for 3 months.
By early February, with input from Ecumenical Ministers from both denominations, the leaders were able to recommend that the two congregations should vote on a motion to begin moves towards the establishment of a Local Ecumenical Partnership, based at the URC premises in Westwood Road. After much prayer and discussion, the motion was approved in February of 2008 by an overwhelming majority of both churches. The URC closure decision was rescinded.
Although it may take some time for the formal establishment of the Partnership, joint worship, mission and other activities have already begun.
A chance meeting in a Christian Bookshop in Boldmere was the starting point for an exciting journey, culminating in the formation of a new Christian Fellowship in Banners Gate. The ensuing conversation, back in 2006, led to hiring of the Westwood Hall and proceeded to discussions about other possible collaboration.
The two parties involved were members of Streetly Community Baptist Church and Banners Gate United Reformed Church. Both churches had reached a point in time where a radical review of future mission in the community had become essential.
The URC had buildings but a small and ageing congregation. The Baptists did not have their own building, and were hiring rooms for Sunday morning worship at a local school. Sunday evening and mid-
After much heart-
By early February, with input from Ecumenical Ministers from both denominations, the leaders were able to recommend that the two congregations should vote on a motion to begin moves towards the establishment of a Local Ecumenical Partnership, based at the URC premises in Westwood Road. After much prayer and discussion, the motion was approved in February of 2008 by an overwhelming majority of both churches. The URC closure decision was rescinded.
Although it may take some time for the formal establishment of the Partnership, joint worship, mission and other activities have already begun.