Partnership with Saltmine and Church @ Broad Street

Last night saw the formal beginning of the partnership of Church @ Broad Street, Saltmine and Tabernacle Baptist Church, Wolverhampton. We're working together to ensure the continuance of Christian ministry at Broad Street. Here are the words we used last night, closely sourced from Gathering for Worship.

Introduction

We have gathered to mark the beginning of a new phase in the life and witness of the Church at Broad Street, Tabernacle Baptist Church and Saltmine. We come to affirm our belief that these churches and organisations have been led by the Spirit as they have explored the possibilities of shared ministry together here in Wolverhampton. Because of that, we make this mutual commitment to each other, and to the city.

Today we have come to witness the beginning of a season of collaboration and exploration, of hope, of challenge and of renewed commitment to Christ, and his growing Kingdom. As representatives of Church at Broad Street, Tabernacle Baptist Church and Saltmine, we’ve come to declare our intention to share our strengths, our possessions, our prayers, our skills and our time together, in order that the Kingdom of God might come more fully in our city.

Together representatives from Saltmine, Church @ Broad Street and Tabernacle Baptist Church said:

Today we stand with each other,
recognizing Christ in our midst,
affirming our faith in the God who loves us
with a love that transforms us,
and who calls us to work for a transformed world.
Today we stand with each other,
recognizing Christ in each other, and in the churches and organizations we lead,
affirming the calling of the Spirit
who has brought us together this day.

Today we bring ourselves and the gifts we have, so that together we can serve and encourage our churches and community:

We commit to respect and care for each other,
to journey together,
to take responsibility together,
to seek God together,
to listen to God together,
and to work together to be Christ in this world.

The congregation responded:

Today we bring ourselves and the gifts we have,
and we also commit to serve and encourage
our churches and community:
to respect and care for each other,
to take responsibility for the people we are
and the people we hope to be in Christ,
and to seek God’s Kingdom as we make this journey together.

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