The 18th of November 2023 was an historic day, as the Assembly of Baptist Churches SA unanimously voted to adopt a new Constitution and new name, making us officially Baptist Churches SA & NT.
We become a movement of 89 churches, from up in Darwin all the way down to Mount Gambier. We are a diverse movement, with seven of our member churches Aboriginal communities, and eight Burmese congregations.
We have city, rural, regional, and remote churches; large and small congregations; churches with histories going back 150+ years and brand new church plants. There are 12 member churches in the Territory, 11 joining from BUNT alongside Alice Springs who were already members of BCSA.
There will be be many things to figure out as we walk together into the future God has for us, but we trust we are better together.
What Happened at Spring Assembly?
Our Annual Spring Assembly was held at Knightsbridge Baptist Church. An historic morning full of celebration and praise was enjoyed by over 120 people from 42 churches.
Melinda Cousins inspired and encouraged attendees with reflections from Joshua 24. On this significant day in our movement, we can see God’s faithfulness as we look back and remember, we can look around to who and where we are today and recommit to serving him, and we can look forward in hope and imagination at what God still has in store for us.
Three churches were welcomed into the Baptist movement: Stansbury Community Church, Adelaide Mizo Christian Church, and The Church on Albert. Matu Christian Church was also welcomed as an affiliate member.
After months of prayer, conversations and meetings, a much-anticipated vote was unanimously passed to amalgamate with the Baptist Union of the Northern Territory.
The new entity will be known as Baptist Churches of South Australia and the Northern Territory Incorporated. Look out for our new branding coming soon and be in prayer as we seek to serve, encourage, support and extend the diverse communities of our movement across SA and NT.
We were asked to pray for Baptist Care as they seek to serve the most vulnerable in the community on our behalf. There are many needs in the community service space and Baptist Care are facing significant challenges, financial and missional as well as being in search for a new CEO.
We welcomed Jasmine Berry to the Assembly board and re-welcomed Andy Edelsten, Linda Carrapiett, Nathan Walker and Kerry Davies for further terms in this area. Danielle Forsyth joined the Baptist Care Board and Marianke Thompson and Damian Garcia were also re-elected.
Melinda’s DOM report was full of information – church and pastoral updates, staffing changes, Redress, the reconciliation taskforce and the new Aboriginal Ministry Support Fund, History projects, Company of Grace, ABM National Council, Baptist Insurance, Converge and changes to M&M camp.
After a delicious morning tea supplied by the folk of Knightsbridge and the Baptist Care AGM, those gathered were heartened and encouraged by stories from Knightsbridge Baptist, The Port Church, and Adelaide Mizo Christian Church. In our usual custom, delegates then gathered into small groups to pray and thank God for His never-ending goodness.
The whole morning was an informative, encouraging, and wonderful time of blessing and unity as we gathered and shared together. We hope you can join us next time for our inaugural Autumn Assembly in May 2024 as the Baptist Churches of SA and NT (BCSANT).
