The Draft Constitution continues to be revised and there is a more recent revision now available on the BU Convention website dated 16-03-2012. If you intend participating in the 2012 Assembly please ensure that you are up-to-date by visiting the Convention website regularly between now and Assembly on Saturday 31 March (13 days time).

The latest revision (02/03/12) of the Draft Constitution is now available at the BU website. Initial response: I prefered the previous version. The 1979 Statement of Beliefs has a reduced role and force. Further the Assembly Council itself can now impose affiliation covenants without reference to Assembly. The changes are indicated with red text. The BU website includes documents explaining the draft and the changes introduced thus far. 

The draft of the new Baptist Union constitution has been out a few weeks now. We welcome the constitution clairfying the role of the doctrinal basis and statement of beliefs of the Union. It is appropriate that if central leadership, management and accountability is strengthened, then the draft constitution should also strengthen the role of the common convictional core of what it means to be baptist...

Just in case you missed it the draft BU Constitution has been put on the BU website - you'll need to know how to log in (an open secret to all true NSW & ACT Baptists!) to the administration section and look under 'convention'. It's worth reading along with its supporting documents. It will be voted on at the upcoming Annual Assembly, which is on its new early date - March 31 2012, Pennant Hills Baptist Church.

In the latest BET Newsletter David Starling & Matthew Arkapaw have provided us with a number of key reflections on the Directions 2012 Governance Proposals that will be under consideration at this month's Annual Assembly. While appreciative of much of what's being proposed, BET wonders whether the appointment of college faculty and the membership of the Committee for Ministry should be retained by Assembly and not scrapped as proposed by Directions 2012? Further, if the ramped-up Executive, now re-named the Assembly Council is to be given more comprehensive powers, then shouldn't Assembly itself be given more comprehensive ability to review Council's actions? Download Issue 4 and Issue 6 of The Lever for further background and perspective on the Directions 2012 process. Read the latest BET Newsletter, reflect, pray, prepare and come to Assembly (Parkside Church, 22-23 July).