This is a traditional ‘Letters to the Editor’ for the people in our union of 240 churches across New Zealand. For more about this: baptist.nz/mailbox. Mike Crudge is Communications Director at the Baptist National Support Centre in Auckland. He is also part of Royal Oak Baptist Church.
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Hi there Mike and team at the Baptist publications,
I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of the recent podcasts by Steve Worsley [Church and the Climate Crisis] and also the links to the Eco church. Steve Worsley makes a strong case for why we as Christians and the Baptist church need to engage actively with the climate crisis. I also wanted to write to say “Awesome!” and “Can we have more on how Baptist Christians can change the way we do things?” on the topic of Climate change.
I am part of a household that lives car-free. We are aged 16 to 89 years old. But it is hard work, and nearly every church in Aotearoa NZ reflects the dominant culture around which is completely car-centric.
I am a member of Ilam Baptist church in Ōtautahi, Te Wai Pounamu, and we have a really strong, committed group of cyclists turning up every Sunday. In fact, arriving at church, there are often 20 bicycles leaning like dishevelled grasshoppers on railings and walls, with an occasional bike trailer too. But I know this is not the case in many churches. Most Baptist churches can be recognised by their large car parks filled with cars on a Sunday morning.
Often, there are meetings at night on the far side of town that are hard work to get to by bike or bus. Church camps can be challenging to reach. Often, people drive to church and back with just a few seats used. Many churches assume car ownership and budget for car parking options, but rarely engage with cyclists/ bus routes and people who get to church on foot. This is a missed opportunity and a failing of our prophetic calling.
At the same time, I can definitely notice that cycling can be a reflection of privilege. For me, being able to cycle means I have health, strength, the resources to buy a bicycle and the skills to commute in the city. There are definitely some groups who are disadvantaged by our structures in Aotearoa, which makes active transport more challenging, eg, disabled people, elderly people, those with limited resources and those who haven’t had the example of their parents as cycle riders. Yet while we can’t all use active transport, most of us can. Why are churches so thick with car parks, so car-centric, and why are cars the default for church goers?
I would love to see Baptist churches pull together more coherently to champion and take on more leadership in the area of climate justice. How cool would it be if Baptist youth groups made it part of their Christian witness to be out in force at the School Climate strikes? Could Christians be leaders rather than silent in climate action? Could the Baptist denomination lead Christians in acting for climate justice?
Your sincerely,
Kaaren Mathias, Ilam Baptist Church
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The following email is from a previous ‘Pondering’ opinion piece contributor, who has submitted a second opinion piece that hasn’t yet been published.
Dear Editor
I am grateful for your desire to promote balanced discussion.
Thank you for sticking your neck out once in publishing my “Keeping Tiriti Hikoi on Track”.
I am sorry for the flak you are getting.
I appreciate your concern for “people who don’t behave well with differences.”
But there are other concerns
1. Why do you allow the ill-behaviour of some to deny others the opportunity to be more informed?
2. When much of the problem we face is caused by ignorance and unwillingness to be informed, why would a Baptist Platform, of all media, continue to shy away from facts?
So even though your cross has its thorns, please publish “Which Treaty” in full.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Jensen, Snells Beach Baptist Church
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Kia ora e te whānau,
Over the past 2 years, I have had the privilege of getting to know Brian Cochran as we served together on the Arotahi Mission Council. I was thrilled to read the recent article “A Match Made in Heaven” on the Baptist website (baptist.nz/a-match-made-in-heaven), which highlights a powerful partnership formed between two Baptist Churches.Their collaboration is an example of how we can thrive when we put others’ needs above our own.
As a Millennial committed to our Baptist movement, it is sad to see many of our Baptist churches seemingly becoming inward-focused due to being stretched. My childhood experience of Baptist Churches was one that mostly focused on two areas: Mission & Young People. However, my experience in the past 15 years is that many Baptist Churches have experienced significant numerical decline but are trying to hold on to all of the property we have at all costs. That cost has often been decreasing mission and children & youth funding, as without realising it, we have become focused on keeping the lights on and two ever-increasing areas of property expenses & compliance.
If we stay in our autonomous silos, we run the risk of being known primarily for patching leaking roofs and mowing grass for Jesus.
I want my 4-year-old daughter to have her childhood memories of the NZ Baptist movement being known for:
- Living For God – 1 Peter 4:1-11
- Imitating Christ’s Humility – Philippians 2
- Following the call to Mission – Matthew 28:16-20
- Proclaiming good news for the poor and setting the oppressed free – Luke 4:18-19
It’s inspiring to see two churches taking these values to heart. If we can have more partnerships like Tauranga Central Baptist Church & Bethlehem Baptist Church have done, I believe New Zealand will be a better place, and so will our movement of churches. Let’s build on this momentum and do more of this across the motu. Let’s use our collective strength for “gospel renewal.”
Ngā manaakitanga,
Bradley Nicolson, Oxford Terrace Baptist Church.
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Got something on your mind to share?
Send an email to: [email protected] or post a letter to: Baptist NZ Letters, PO Box 12 149, Penrose, Auckland 1642.
We will occasionally collate a selection of letters to share with the wider Baptist family.
- Limit your letter to around 300 words (we may abridge if longer).
- Follow our guidelines for articles, opinion pieces and online comments.
- A writer’s full residential address is required on all letters, including emails, and a phone number (this data will not be published).
- Indicate which New Zealand Baptist Church the writer is a member of (this will be published).
- Pen names or pseudonyms are not accepted, and titles won’t be used.
- The Baptist National Support Centre communications team reserve the right to edit or decline letters without explanation. Please note: there is no actual ‘Editor’ position as there was in the past.
Photo credit: overlayed image of the ‘Mailbox’ column in the last newsprint version of The Baptist magazine, December 2014, over a photo of a desk.
