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Update 47 page 2.

Council of Reference

Roger Godin and John Hartley

BI has changed substantially in the last 20 years. Baptismal issues are not a synodical issue as they were in the 1990s, and the liturgical revision is temporarily complete! Nor is there any call for the conferences we used to run annually - we now need to talk to others, not to each other! We are now primarily a resource organisation.

Hits on our web site continue to confirm the vital need for BI, and the knotty questions of Christian Initiation and making provision for the favourably-disposed “christening request” enquirer continue to be lively topics of discussion in churches and among clergy. So we believe there is still a place for BI in a world with many other competing calls on our time and attention.

There is still a need for BI. But how shall we run it?

The constitution calls for a “committee”, and with this issue of Update members will find an invitation for nominations and some details of what is involved. We are delighted that Colin Buchanan will be continuing as President in his retirement. The committee will continue in existence, if only for legal reasons. At the most recent committee meeting we gave some attention to the practicalities of running our organisation. Here’s what we think:

We have not had new volunteers to join the committee for several years. We feel this is not because of lack of commitment to what BI stands for, nor is it a desire to avoid responsibility. Rather, it’s the mechanics of meetings. The time and expense required to travel across the country for a meeting is out of proportion to the benefit of attending it. Perhaps the internet has been the final nail in the coffin of the committee meeting: modern technology allows us to transmit documents almost freely at the push of a button, and we can be consulted and express our collective views without leaving our homes.

With this in mind, we would like to set up a “Council of Reference” to act as a wider committee without meetings. Membership would not be onerous, and would primarily involve giving advice on some of the more tricky web site enquiries (according to experience), consultation on some policy matters, on press releases and use of our funds and maybe pastoral support to a local member on baptismal issues. Obviously we would welcome articles for Update, and occasional at- tendance at the (far less frequent) committee meetings.

We are actively approaching some members to be on this “Council of Reference” - but it may be that you, dear reader, know of someone who could give service like this? If so, please tell us.

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This web page was last updated on 16th May 2004.