Specialist Ministries
Specialist Ministry Networks are groups of church leaders and pastors who share a passion and developed skills in specific areas of ministry. They gather in various ways – meetings, mentoring networks, seminars and online – to develop vision and ministry resources for the Baptist Union of Victoria.
Some of these groups gather around specific age-group ministry, others around specialised aspects of ministry. All are valued for the contribution they bring to our life together. While not directly funded by the BUV budget, the BUV office provides some support services in personalised support and communication.
The current list of Specialist Ministry Groups is as follows:
Network | Current Activities/Purpose | Key contact | BUV contact |
Early Childhood / Playgroups | Provides a reference point for resources, ideas, training and advice for playgroup leaders with a focus on playgroups being a mission for the church. The Christian Playgroup Network encourages, equips and supports Christian playgroup leaders to effectively coordinate church playgroups that demonstrate and communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. | ||
Children and Families | Provides events for networking, discussing issues and mentoring Children and Families Pastors | ||
Second Half Ministry and Mission Group | Provides training events that catalyse churches to develop models of spirituality, discipleship and mission for older adults | Lyn Hunter | |
Worship and Creative Arts | Provides an ecumenical network of worship and creative arts pastors and training and consultancies for churches wanting to develop in worship and creative arts ministries | ||
Online Mission | Provides a network for leaders who seek to serve churches with effective IT and communications technology, social networking and effective online mission | ||
Generations Leaders | Provides mentoring, training and retreats for children, youth & young adults pastors | ||
Multi Staff Pastors Network | Provides shared learning and opportunities to make a wider missional contribution to the BUV for pastors of churches with multiple staff | ||
Baptist Ministers Victoria | Provides a support, resourcing and advocacy group for Victorian Baptist pastors who choose to become members | ||
Social Justice | Provides a network for leaders who want to motivate conversations and action in advocacy for change around issues of justice. | ||
Karen Pastors Network | Provides opportunity for pastors of Karen Churches(and pastors of the landlord churches of Karen congregations) to share ministry issues and support Karen employment initiatives | ||
Church Planters Network | Provides opportunity for mutual support, learning and inspiration for church planters | ||
Pioneers Network | Provides collective support and learning to missional leaders involved in innovative projects | ||
Victorian Baptist Women | Empowering women for ministry | ||
Op Shops Network | Networking for organisers of community development through op shops | ||
Property Development | Supporting property development to enable community development and social enterprise in the BUV | ||
Migrant Resourcing | Support and development network for faith communities offering food support and hospitality | ||
Food ministry | Support and development network for faith communities offering food support and hospitality | Brent Lyons-Lee | Brent Lyons-Lee |
Social enterprise | Support and resourcing for faith communities exploring social enterprise |