STRUCTURE & ORGANISATION

Introduction
If you are new to Rayners Lane Baptist Church (RLBC) you may like to know how it works. This leaflet is intended to help you understand some of our procedures. Inevitably, any explanation of structure and organisation may sound a little formal. In general, however, RLBC functions very informally, as arrangements are made in a friendly way by fellow-Christians who know each other well. We hope that you will find the atmosphere welcoming and friendly. If you have any points you wish to raise, please speak to any of the individuals whose names are listed below.

Background
The Church was founded in 1934, and has occupied its present site since that time.

The name ‘Baptist’ indicates that the church practices the baptism of Christian believers by total immersion, following what we believe to be the New Testament pattern. We do not baptise or ‘christen’ babies, as is done by our friends in some other Christian churches.

Like most, but by no means all, Baptist churches in England, RLBC is a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The Union is a voluntary association of like-minded churches. It does not have any authority or control over the activities of RLBC, which is a congregationally governed, independent church.

The Church Meeting
The church seeks to serve God by conducting its affairs in accordance with His will as revealed in the Bible. Inevitably, however, there will be occasions when it is not immediately clear how biblical principles apply to particular situations. In addition, sometimes there will be practical matters to decide which do not involve any issue of principle.

Our system of congregational church government means that the ultimate decision-making authority over such matters rests in the hands of the church meeting, which consists of all members of the church. Decisions are ratified by a straight majority vote of all members present at the church meeting. (There is no provision for votes to be cast by those who are not present at meetings.) Church meetings are normally held every two months. For details of church membership, please speak to the Pastor or Church Secretary.

The Diaconate
The day-to-day responsibility for the running of the church rests in the hands of the Diaconate, which consists of the Pastor, Church Secretary, Treasurer and up to twelve deacons. The Pastor’s is a full-time post, occupied indefinitely. The remaining officers serve on a voluntary basis and are elected by the church meeting for periods of one year (in the case of the Secretary and Treasurer) or three years (in the case of deacons), All may stand for re-election at the end of a period of service, and in practice often do. (The term ‘deacon’ is used in the New Testament to describe one of the leadership functions in the early church; it comes from a Greek word meaning ‘servant’.)

Finance
RLBC is entirely self-financing. It receives no external funding, nor is it committed to contribute to any other body, except for modest annual subscriptions to national and local organisations to which it is affiliated. (In practice, however, it makes substantial contributions to missionary organisations working both in this country and overseas.)

The major expenses are the cost of the staff employed by the church (currently the Pastor, two Assistant Pastors, Church Administrator and Admin Support), and the maintenance and upkeep of the church’s buildings. Offerings received during Sunday services form the major source of income, although some members give by other means. Many gifts are covenanted, or take advantage of the ‘Gift Aid’ system, under which the church receives tax benefits. Giving is entirely voluntary. Members and regular worshippers recognise their responsibility to support the work of the church, but we do not expect visitors or those who are as yet uncertain about the claims of the Christian faith to contribute.