Please watch the YouTube video for more information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcH1_mfV4WY Those forming Pathfinder Church Northstowe come from all Christian traditions and from none: together they are pilgrims on a journey, asking questions and exploring the connections they find between everyday life and their spirituality and faith. At the heart of this new church community in Northstowe is a recognition that people are seeking to follow The Pathfinder, Jesus Christ. What unites them is much stronger than their denominational backgrounds: it is a rooted, growing, and transforming faith based on an encounter with the ancient God who still changes lives today. Their vision is to be people who are praying, exploring and sharing. The Pathfinder Church is part of the Church of England, living out a commitment to be “a visible Christian presence in every community” and working closely with representatives of the Eastern Baptist Association and The United Reformed Church Eastern Synod, …
The name of the Rev David Mayne, Lead Pastor at Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church (STBBC) in Essex, was brought to a General Meeting of the Eastern Baptist Association (EBA) on 16th July 2023 and the meeting voted to call him to serve as the new Regional Minister Team Leader for the Association. David will join the EBA team in November, and will serve alongside current Regional Ministers Rev Claire Blatchford, Rev Gale Richards and Association Secretary Hayley Beckett. At the General Meeting, all those involved in the appointment process, from the EBA and the wider Baptist Union, were thanks for their contributions, and the wider Association community were thanked for their prayers. The meeting heard how the appointment panel and then the EBA trustees unanimously decided to propose David for the role. David has been at STBBC for twelve years, and before this he served for six years …
The Eastern Baptist Association is calling a General Meeting to be held on Sunday 16 July 2023 at 7.00pm on Zoom. The purpose of the meeting will be to hear the outcome of the Regional Minister Team Leader interviews and vote on the nomination being brought by EBA Council. (the team leader appointment is made by a majority vote of those attending the meeting) Each church in membership of EBA is entitled to 1 representative able to vote per 100 members (we suggest this is your minister or church secretary or another member of your leadership team). In the same way that church meetings do, we need a quorum and so please prioritise nominating a representative from your church. (Instructions on how to do this have been emailed to churches).
Report from EBA Council May 2023 The meeting was held on Zoom, all trustees were present, and we began with a time of open prayer. Binny Jaichander, a deacon from Braintree Baptist church, had shown an interest in being on the trustee board and had attended the council as an observer for the last two meetings. Council members voted unanimously to co-opt Binny onto Council for a two-year term. The Secretary reminded the Council that we now have a total of 3 co-opted members out of a possible 5 allowed within our constitution. The Home Mission Resilience Task Group has been formed and their first meeting is planned for early June. Letters were received from Churches for discussion and prayer. The council’s response will be drawn up by appointed trustees and sent to the respective churches. We paused to pray for each of the churches and all concerned. Richard (EBA …
