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So how do
we see ourselves?
We are a 'broad' church and
include people with a wide range of Christian beliefs. We don't expect people
to accept a list of doctrines - or a creed. Membership follows a confession
that Jesus Christ is Lord. We enable questioning, open-minded people to
discover for themselves the significance of Jesus Christ.
How do we see our Mission?
In Harrow,
we offer worship and preaching each Sunday. We also keep our doors open
through most of the week when hundreds of people come to our coffee mornings
- some with burdens to share. Many youngsters come to our youth organisations
while we also help at the Welldon Community Centre (Ecumenical). We expect
our members to be 'missionaries' in their everyday lives.
We have a commitment to see
that people are housed. For the elderly we have a close association with a
sheltered housing project begun by the church in the 1960's and now run
ecumenically in Harrow. We have assisted the
Harrow Churches Housing in providing accommodation for the young.
Outside Harrow,
we support the Baptist Missionary Society, Baptist Home Mission, Christian
Aid and a range of other charities (many with profits from coffee mornings).
We have links with people serving with YWAM in Mali,
with Mercy Ships and with the Dohnavur Fellowship in India.
Why Baptist?
As Baptists we believe
that faith in Jesus Christ is a matter of personal response. When the time
comes to make an open demonstration of our love for and commitment to Christ
and his work we join the church through baptism. You will find our baptistery
to the left of the main doors into the church. In Baptism we are totally
immersed in water as a sign of our total commitment to Christ. We believe
that this method of entry into the church (initiation ceremony) was the one
used most commonly in the times of Jesus' first disciples and clearly
demonstrates what commitment to Christ means. However, we are happy to
welcome into our membership those who have been baptized in other church
fellowships, as believers or babies, on a profession of faith.
How do we see the Bible?
We all take the Bible
seriously - but while some will interpret it fairly literally others will
feel that the deeper meaning may be lost in too literal a reading. We try to
view the book as a whole in its historical context and would think it
dangerous to use arguments based on one text.
How are we governed?
We are led by a Minister
and deacons - we don't have elders. We are happy for women to take leadership
roles. We are democratic and think it important that the meeting of church
members should make all final decisions on important matters concerning the
life of our church.
How do we view other
denominations?
We have very good
relationships with the other churches - Anglican, URC and Methodist, Roman
Catholic and Elim - in Central Harrow. We
have united services and events, study together at Lent, witness on Good
Friday and work together for the Welldon Community Centre, Christian Aid and
St Luke's Hospice.
How do we see other
religions?
We respect people who
have personal stories different from our own. Because we are sure of our own
faith we are happy to meet, to share and learn from people of other faiths.
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For inquiries about the faith and life of Harrow Baptist
Church contact the
Minister at bobgardiner@yahoo.co.uk
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