Update on 5 Guiding Statements

Update on 5 Guiding Statements
Coming into Harbour… Setting Sail Again

We were born to sail deep water… Following Rev. John Boyd’s retirement in 2015, FBCH docked in harbour  for a time of transition and planning for the future. We set sail again in 2019 with the 5 Guiding Statements directing our way. As we prepare for our 200th anniversary in 2027, it is time to come back into harbour, plan for the next leg of our journey, and set sail into FBCH’s third century. As we begin this process, it is a good time to remember what we have done together and where we are as a Congregation today.

Take time to review these in preparation for Congregational Collaboration sessions on May 31 and June 14 (click here for more information).

Guiding Statement One: Connect to God
It is a human characteristic to seek connection with the Holy within ourselves, within others, and within creation. For many at FBCH, a primary place for seeking this connection is the Sunday morning worship service. In addition, we would like to provide opportunities that encourage a multitude of avenues of spiritual exploration informed by the broad Christian tradition that meet the diverse needs of the larger community.

• Worship continues to be the heart of our shared life.
• We’re continuing to experiment with additional forms of worship like Sacred Silence, Sacred Sounds.
• Children’s Formation, Youth Formation, and University Formation are thriving in new ways.
• Senior Choir is growing.
• Surprise of COVID – we moved online. We are connecting with people locally and beyond our region. We have work to do to improve the online streaming quality and build community with those primarily joining online. 

Guiding Statement Two: Connect to Community
We are social beings who not only desire but require community to live and to thrive. We seek to deepen our connection among those who already participate in our common life. We also need to broaden our reach to connect with more of our neighbours and in doing so will better reflect the diversity of the surrounding community.

• We are growing as a congregation that reflects our larger community, welcoming new generations and people of diverse backgrounds. 
• We have taken several steps to strengthen our sense of community—especially on Sunday mornings. 
• We are living into Ubuntu spirituality “I am, because we are.”

Guiding Statement Three: Do Justice
From our beginnings in 1827, FBCH has sought to live out the words of Micah 6:8 “Listen here, mortal: God has already made abundantly clear what ‘good’ is and what is needed from you: simply do justice, love kindness, and humbly walk with your God” (Inclusive Bible). Building on this tradition, we seek to extend our voice and our efforts to do justice for our neighbours and for the good of all creation.

• FBCH is engaging locally with food insecurity, refugee settlement, reconciliation, creation care, and living inclusive community.
• Our various committees/teams (Outreach Committee, Refugee Committee, Creation Care Team, Youth Group) are leading the way and at capacity… the work here is not to expand our efforts, but to connect more of our congregation with existing opportunities to serve.
• To expand our reach we need to identify national and global partners whose values align with FBCH and who provide opportunities for service and transformation of our church community.

Guiding Statement Four: Financial Sustainability
The financial stability of FBCH depends on the active contributions of its participants AND on developing other revenue streams that are in line with our core values.

• Donations remain the core of our ability to fulfill our congregational calling to connect to God, connect to community, and do justice. We are grateful that our donations have held strong in recent years. 
• A primary goal following the 2019 adoption of the 5 Guiding Statements was to seek the highest and best use of our property to sustain our ministry and mission for generations to come:
  • In 2025, Armbrae Academy moved into ⅓ of our building.
  • We anticipate closing on the sale of the parsonage in the fall of this year (we cannot celebrate this achievement until is closed, so that financial breeze for our sails, for the moment at least, remains offshore).

Guiding Statement Five: Governance
Honouring the freedoms at the centre of our Baptist heritage, we practice broad-based, informed decision-making that actively seeks input from all participants. Recognizing this as a core of our shared life, we also acknowledge that our current structures need adjustments to meet the needs of a changing congregation. We will develop governance structures that seek to be responsible, flexible, nimble, and fearless.

• Since the mid-1990s FBCH has struggled with how to reform its governance structure which was built to reflect the mid twentieth-century realities of congregational life.
• In 2023 the Congregation adopted a leaner structure, with built-in turnover by combining the Trustees and Board of Management into a nine member Leadership Team (LT).
• Along with restructuring, we created a new staff position, Engagement Lead, to support the LT and our shifting volunteer structure.
• There is still work to do as we call new people into opportunities of service, but we are well on the way.