BUV Function and Structure
Descriptions of various Baptist Union bodies and groups
Assembly Gathering Meetings
The Assembly of the Baptist Union of Victoria is a meeting of representatives from all of our churches, agencies and associations to come together to discuss and make decisions about the life and ministry of our Union of Churches. It is an opportunity to meet and have fellowship with other church delegates. The Gatherings also offer electives covering current issues facing Baptist's and training and support in Ministry.
The Assembly deals with a wide variety of issues including:
- Appointment of key Union staff
- Approval and adoption of the Union’s budget and annual financial accounts
- Approval of major policies
The Assembly Gathering meets two times per year. Information on this year's Gathering.
Executive Council
The Executive Council is made up of representatives elected from churches within the Union as well as representatives from some of the Agencies of the Union. It is the key governing body of the Union.
The primary function of the Executive Council is to provide leadership and management, in all senses including financial management, to the Baptist Union of Victoria. Its other main role is to make recommendations to Assembly as well as overseeing the implementation of policy decisions from Assembly.
The Executive Council is responsible to the Assembly and usually meets eleven times per year.
The Council currently has two functioning sub-committees; the Personal committee which is involved in staffing and other appointments and the Finance & Audit committee which provides advice to the Executive Council on matters relating to finance, administration and property issues.
Advisory Board
The Baptist Union of Victoria’s Advisory Board is made up of pastors and lay people appointed by Assembly. The Board works with churches that are searching for a pastor and with pastors that are looking for a call to a church or are available for a call to another church.
The Board has a role in recommending to churches names for Interim Pastors and Moderators. An Interim Pastor usually acts as the pastor while the church is between full time pastors. The moderator is someone who will work with the church through the process of the pastoral search.
The Advisory Board meets eleven times per year.
Ministry Team
The Baptist Union of Victoria Ministry Team is made up of the Director of Ministries, the Regional Ministers, Administration Manager, Finance Manager, Director of Global interAction, Field & Promotions Manager and Coordinator of Leadership Training.
There are four Regional Ministers covering the western area of the state, the eastern area of the state, the north west metropolitan area of the state and the southeast metropolitan area of the state. The Regional Minister should be your first port of call if you have issues that you are not sure who to contact about them. Click here for a list of Churches in Each region.
The Director of Global Interaction Victoria works for Global Interaction, formerly ABMS, which is the major Baptist Missionary organisation in the country.
The Director of Leadership Training provides leadership training to pastors and lay people within the Baptist Union of Victoria.
The Administration Manager is responsible for the property, legal and administrative functions of our Union of Churches.
The Finance Manager is responisble for the financial matters of our Union of Churches.
The Field & Promotions Manager is responisble for the Early Childhood, Primary, Youth, Multicultural, Events, Bequests and Communications Departments for the BUV.
The Director of Ministries has overall responsibility for the Ministry Team and the ministry of the Baptist Union of Victoria.