View the video where Ian introduces our vision and themes for 2023.
Continue to follow COVID Smart behaviours as singing in church increases your risk of infection and mask wearing is encouraged when you are unable to observe 1.5m distancing.
The teaching series Hope Rising - Trusting God for More will commence on Sunday 22 January.
See you Sunday!
As we commence the 2023 in person services the teaching for Sundays 22 and 29 January 2023 will be Hope Rising - Trusting God for More as we move into our theme of Building the Body.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13
David Hay sent their November newsletter
The Newsletter contains:
- News of their Home assignment
- Details of Rachel's successful open-heart surgery and recovery
- David's mother passed away in October
- David returned to South Africa and visited iKhethelo Children's Village to collect their much-awaited visas
- Christmas plans
- Return date to South Africa set for January 2023
Hi Friends,
Last Saturday over 400 delegates and pastors gathered in 7 locations around NSW/ACT for our Gathering incorporating the Ordinary Assembly.
For many people present the day was very challenging, on multiple fronts. It highlighted some significant differences of perspective in the matters being discussed. I want to honestly acknowledge the concern and the hurt that is present among us as a movement at the moment.
What Assembly Decided
We dealt with 2 significant sets of matters. The first was in respect of the representation of women. Assembly resolved to ask Assembly Council to develop strategies to address the underrepresentation of women in pastoral and related ministries. It also resolved to establish a minimum 30% quota of female participation on our councils and committees, with the requisite number of places remaining unfilled if female members were not elected to them. A further motion to establish a target of 50% female representation on these councils and committees from 2027 was not passed.
The lengthier matters before us were 22 recommendations regarding Affiliation, Baptist Values and Marriage. These motions came from Assembly Council following instructions to it from the Special Assembly in February 2021. You can find the document prepared for Assembly HERE.
Assembly dealt with the first 8 of these motions. The first motion, to make these decisions by a 2/3 majority, was narrowly lost. Assembly agreed to synthesise our 2 existing statements on marriage into a single statement. It also approved in-principle motions that churches and accredited ministers need to support our marriage statement. Position statements on Congregational Government and Local Church Autonomy/Healthy Association were passed which reflect our long-held practices in these areas. In all, the first 8 of the 22 recommendations were voted on, but we ran out of time to discuss and decide on the remaining ones.
A summary digest of the Assembly and its decisions will be circulated when it is available.
Assembly Council will also meet soon to discuss the process from here, and a further update will be brought after that meeting.
Some pastoral comments
As things stand, we sit with tension on multiple fronts. Some of us want these remaining matters to be decided as quickly as possible, others want further reflection and discussion. Differences of view were very evident in some of the votes last Saturday, and those differences are strongly held. These matters connect to deeply held values about who we are as Baptists and how we move forward. Being God’s people and finding his way forward for us here is hard, and for many of us, emotionally costly.
We wish it were different.
Yet the call is to remain committed to prayerfully and humbly seeking God’s will together. To do so honouring and respecting one another even when we differ. And to continue to believe God is with us and working his purposes through us (Ro 8:28).
We also have the privilege and responsibility to minister to one another in this season. Can I invite you to reach out to others who you may sense are feeling the weight of these matters – to listen and support. I know this is already happening to some degree. The Association is also working as we are able to provide some assistance to people to pastorally process the decisions that have been made. More information will be made available about this shortly.
And of course, let’s continue praying for one another, and for the Lord Jesus to be glorified through our life together as his people.
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 1 Cor 13:11
Steve Bartlett
Director of Ministries
18 November 2022
Tuggeranong Baptist Church partners with Olive Tree Media. Through this partnership authorised attenders at the church can access a licence to view any of their content on their individual devices.
Send your request for a licence to tbchurch@internode.on.net.
Content includes:
Faith Runs Deep - Join Karl and Jane Faase as they travel across Australia unearthing stories of faith. You’ll meet and hear about Christian leaders, missionaries, indigenous elders, sports people and armed service personnel who share stories of sacrifice, courage, forgiveness, acceptance and faith.
Jesus the Gamechanger 2 - To the Ends of the Earth - a 13-part documentary about how the gospel went from a small group of followers in the backwaters of the Roman Empire to become a global faith in the 20th century
Jesus the Gamechanger a 10-part documentary series on how the life and teaching of Jesus changed the world and why it matters
Towards Belief - Defusing the Belief Blockers of our Time - a 10-part series seeking to defuse the belief blockers of our time.
The Family Series - 10 sessions which look at the key issues facing families today
and more.
The Op Shop will be closed during October 2022.
August marks the launch of 2022's Operation Christmas Child Campaign.
This year we ask you to participate using the on-line access and, when published, we will advise the collection points when we are closer to the National Collection dates of 17-31 October 2022.
Here are the links that make it as easy as possible for you to participate in OCC in 2022.
1. Order and pay for shoe boxes (available late May) https://occdonations.samaritanspurse.org.au/product/order-pre-printed-shoeboxes/
2. How to Pack a Shoe Box https://samaritanspurse.org.au/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoebox/
3. How to Donate and Print Labels and learn where your shoe box is sent https://occdonations.samaritanspurse.org.au/product/shoebox-donations-labels/
4. Where to deliver your shoe boxes (Drop Off Locations) https://samaritanspurse.org.au/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/dops/
5. Promotional Video to show in Church https://samaritanspurse.org.au/hope-for-cambodias-children/
David Hay sent their July Newsletter with this message:
The Newsletter contains:
- News of their Home assignment
- Change of plans for Rachel who is to undergo medical treatment and delay in returning to South Africa for David and Jannene
- Visa Update - visas granted
- News of a second flooding at iKhethelo Children's Village affecting children's accommodation, power and water supplies.
August 7 “How to Be Good and Angry” Matthew 5:21-26
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
August 14 “When we Get It Wrong ” Matthew 5:17 [NIV]
17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 23: 25-28
25 ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
August 21 “Having A Spin Problem” Matthew 5:33-37
3 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
August 28 “Getting Even Better” Matthew 5:39-45
39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.