“Scottish Baptist Theological Study Group” – who are they when they’re at home?

In yesterdays post (below) I mentioned the inaugural meeting of what I called 'The Baptist Theological Study Group'.

A fuller post at the College blog prompted several questions from Margaret which make it important to clarify what is envisaged. Here is Margaret's comment / questions, and the response I posted on the College blog. I am answering only for myself as the occasion is being organised by Andrew Rollinson – but in our conversations about it I have a good idea of what Andrew is envisaging and hoping for.

Margaret

"What's the Scottish Baptist
Theological Study Group? Where and when do they meet? Who is "in the
group"? How do you get to be "in the group"? Just curious….."

My reply

The
name is provisional Margaret – and likely to change because it's hard
to avoid words like 'group', 'society', but they have a kind of closed
feel to them that is entirely unintended.

The initial meeting was set up by Andrew Rollinson, our Ministry Advisor at the Baptist Union of Scotland, by an email
circular inviting expressions of interest – not sure who was on that
first list. But the intention is to get such a discussion forum under way and make it into
an inclusive place for creative reflection, responsible discussion and
respectful listening about issues and themes important for the ongoing
life and health of Baptist thought and practice.

At this first meeting, as well as the lecture, we hope a broader
discussion will help clarify what we want to be about, and how best to
develop through thoughtful, informed discussion together, Baptist ways
of thought and practice that arise out of such a process of theological
reflection.

So I guess the invitation is to all those who are open to and
supportive of the intended ethos of "an inclusive place for creative
reflection, responsible discussion and respectful listening about
issues and themes important for the ongoing life and health of Baptist
thought and practice". At this stage it is only being initiated – what
it becomes will largely be determined by those who want to make this
journey together.

My personal conviction is that such a shared journey can only be taken if the journey itself is inclusive and welcoming, accessible and jargon free, contextually sensitive but challenging, and therefore enabling practice which arises out of shared learning 'in the school of Christ'; and that such a journey of learning and discovery means our willingness to travel together in conversation, companionship, and commitment to live together  'under the rule of Christ'. 

Hope that helps with the 'just curious' questions –
for which many thanks!