It was, I think, the Greek Philosopher Paraclitis who coined the phrase that “nothing is constant except change”. As Christians we would, of course, add “…and God”. We don’t have to reflect for too long, on our individual lives, to realize that this principle applies to each of us. Occasionally the rate of change can be quite dramatic. But, usually, it’s incremental and we have to stop and look back to realize just how much our lives and circumstances have changed.
The other day I was reflecting on the extent to which the principle of change has applied at New Peninsula. It’s as recent as 2006 that Mornington (MBC) and Southern Peninsula Baptist Churches voted to unite….and we became New Peninsula. Six years before that, in 2000, MBC experienced a major change when we moved from a fairly traditional worship centre-hall-manse property, in a suburban location, to a large factory-type building on 18 acres of Craigie Road land. At the Church Meeting which resolved to tender for the Craigie Road property someone asked why we wanted to move out into the country, away from a suburban location. One of the foundation members of MBC (probably Doug Butler) advised that, when the Church was considering buying the block of land in Moomba Street, years before, someone asked the same question!
It’s interesting to reflect on the operation of MBC in the days following the relocation. Because of the administrative load at the time, the-then Diaconate (now the Church Board (CB)) met on a weekly basis. Now the CB meets on a quarterly basis, with the day-to-day administration/management looked after by the Management Executive, a primarily-staff group. David Coyle is the only current Deacon who was a serving Deacon in those days, although he had a spell off the Diaconate in the intervening years. In the early days of Dale Stephenson’s pastorate, the Eldership was a group of three Elders – Darryl Wise, Ian Gilmour and yours truly, which met with Dale each month. Very informal. No agenda. No minutes. Just a group to support and advise Dale - a “far cry” from the 14 Elders now playing a significant shepherding role in the life of New Peninsula. Another very significant change, of course, was the completion of Pastor Dale’s pastoral ministry amongst us and the calling of Duncan to be our Senior Pastor.
Whilst our primary focus, in life, should be on the future, it’s a good thing, from time to time, to look back and reflect on the changes that have taken place and the good that has, generally, resulted from those changes.
Every blessing. And shalom!
Brian
