In usual style, our Gathering events this October proved to be wonderful times of connection, fellowship and celebration.

Nourish, held at Essendon Baptist, saw one of the largest attendances in the western suburbs and was kicked off with wonderful worship led by a selection of musically talented BUV pastors. The day focussed on relationships that Nourish – with some of our own pastors sharing how both personal and local relationships have sustained them and helped them to flourish.

We were thrilled to have a Rev Dr Elijah Brown, CEO and General Secretary of our global Baptist movement, Baptist World Alliance, with us at our gathering events, inspiring us to think more broadly about wider and global relationships and how they can inform and provide perspective to our ministry. There was both time to reflect personally on what God was saying and to share with those on our tables. During lunchtime, a group of leaders under the age of 35 had a great opportunity to participate in an ‘up close and personal’ session with Rev Dr Elijah Brown who had himself in previous years, been nominated one of a small number of global emerging leaders by Baptist World Alliance. One of the special moments of the day was witnessing 20 young emerging leaders spontaneously gathering around and praying for the leader of our global Baptist movement! Rev Meewon, accompanied by 3 pastors, led an emotional communion at her last Nourish before her retirement. We honoured and prayed for those Victorian Baptist pastors who we have farewelled in the year gone by and together, we finished Nourish in prayer for our relationships and for our world.

Members’ Dinner was held at the Hyatt Place Essendon Fields and despite the storms outside, the evening was full of optimism and enthusiasm. It was great to join together again and celebrate our new churches and communities of faith, pray for our new ordinands, and acknowledge long service. Through our voting, we approved all nominations for appointments and reappointments as well as the pastoral stipend, superannuation and membership fee recommendations.

Rev Daniel Bullock updated us with the new bold 50-year BUV vision, and we were blessed and inspired by Rev Dr Elijah Brown who shared transformative stories from around the Baptist world, more about the Baptist World Congress in Brisbane in July 2025 and plans for 2033, an Acts 2 Movement marking the 2000^th anniversary of the founding of the church.    

Click here to download the Minutes from the October Members’ Dinner

We continued our celebrations on Saturday 26^th October at the BUV Ordination Service with 12 pastoral candidates being affirmed and ordained by the BUV to the ministry of the Word, Sacrament, Pastoral Care and Mission. This was a day of celebration and recognition of the significant process and work of formation in each of their lives.  You can view a short video of each of their journeys to ordination here