Information can be found on the following:
Leadership
Family means loving and
forgiving. At Bristo, we aim to cut down on formal meetings
- we have no committees - and stress relationships. We have
a small leadership team presently made up of a pastor and seven deacons. We have no written rules or
regulations! We hold church meetings only when we need to.
We emphasise the importance of seeking the Holy Spirit's
leading, doing what pleases Father and what's true to Jesus,
as the Bible teaches.
Members
Membership:- What does it
mean to be a member of a Baptist Church?
A Baptist congregation is a
gathered church of those who voluntarily commit themselves
in Jesus' name to join a particular group of Christians for
fellowship and mutual support. In this way we can grow
together spiritually and mature in the faith as we seek to
reach out and witness to others.
The basis of
membership
Membership of Bristo Baptist
Church consists of :
(a) full members and (b)
associate members.
At present we have around 50
full members and 30 associates. Full members are those who
have professed repentance and new birth in Christ and have
witnessed to that faith through baptism by immersion as
believers. Associates are those who are also regular
attenders and support the church but have not been so
baptised or, for some other reason, do not wish to become
members.
Responsibilites of
Membership
Baptist Churches are
autonomous independent congregations responsible under the
authority of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy
Spirit for all matters of faith and practice as revealed in
the Holy Scriptures. Full membership of Bristo Baptist
Church carries with it the following
responsibilities:-
(a) Calling a
pastor.
(b) Considering and deciding
upon applications for church membership. These are
determined individually after due enquiry as to the
candidate's spiritual state.
(c) Election of deacons, the
spiritual and administrative overseers of the church. Only
full members can stand for election.
(d) Deciding on matters of
policy as required through the Church Meeting.
Congregation
Our congregation may be
quite small but it is very varied. We have people from all
walks of life, and almost all continents. Our age range is
from the long-retired (until recently we had a centenarian)
to the newly born. Most people are young to middle aged
families or couples, but we have a good proportion of
singles and others too. We have a small but growing number
of children and we cater for the very young with a
crèche at morning celebrations on Sundays. Like most
Baptist churches in Edinburgh the congregation is a
'gathered' one from all parts of the city (and beyond) but
fellowship is warm and friendly. On the second Sunday of
every month we share in a fellowship lunch after morning
service - do come and join us!
Cell
Cell is the basic unit of
Christians living and sharing together. These meetings are
for sharing and supporting one another in applying Biblical
teaching to our lives. Cells are the basic unit of our
church life. They meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
evenings.
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