How we can help
Our primary goal is to encourage and equip our member churches as they pursue their own distinct vision and calling to the local communities in which they’re based - we aim to do this in a number of different ways.
Regional Ministry
Revd Joth Hunt (Team Leader) and Revd Paul Kerley are our Regional Ministers.
Together Joth and Paul offer pastoral care to all Baptist ministers living and working in the region whether they are working in a Baptist church, pioneering situation, training for the ministry or working in other sectors (e.g. as chaplains, or for other organisations or have retired from active ministry).
They are always willing to speak at member churches across the region especially when the minister is not available and for special services such as church anniversaries. They usually lead induction and ordination services, representing the wider Baptist family. They are also happy speak on Baptist Home Mission, give updates on the work of the Association and to be involved in weekends away and other retreats or study/teaching activities.
Generally, Paul looks after churches in Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex and Joth the churches in Kent and they share responsibility for the churches in East Sussex, but there is always flexibility. Ministerial settlement placements are covered by both of them (in the geographical areas they are responsible for); and Paul is responsible for ministerial recognition and training.
Another key area of their work is supporting churches facing challenges where they need some additional help or where there is a dispute between a minister and their church. Where a church is unsure of the way forward, particularly where there is a potential financial, legal or employment issue at stake we would always encourage contacting your Regional Minister sooner rather than later as the earlier they can be involved the more likely it is that the situation can be dealt without getting out of control. Both Joth and Paul are always ready to offer advice and guidance to Ministers, Church Leaders, Elders and Deacons over the phone, Zoom or a personal visit.
Support for Secretaries and Treasurers
If you have recently been appointed as a Church Secretary or Treasurer and have not carried out the role before it can be quite daunting. We have created these pages in the hope that they will give you some idea of where to start and who to contact for further information.
Help, I'm a church Secretary!
Help, I'm a church Treasurer!
Funding for ministry and projects
We recognise that not all of our member churches are always in a position to fund a minister themselves and sometimes need some help. Our
Church Growth grants are designed to offer funding toward a ministerial position in order to help a church grow to a point where it can generate the funds it needs from its own congregation.
Where a church has identified a specific project that will strengthen the ministry to its local community but needs some extra funding to make it happen, we can offer support through our
Project Fund. Whilst SEBA have created this fund, our hope is that churches from across the region will support this as a way if helping other churches in the family and growing the Kingdom across our region.
Assistance with safeguarding issues
We provide a lot of information on Safeguarding and DBS checks on the
safeguarding pages of our website and there is a lot more available on the
Baptist Union website.
Jo Hayes is our regional Safeguarding Lead - her role is to assist churches with any safeguarding issues that they are uncertain as to how to deal with. Like Joth and Paul, Jo is always happy to offer advice and would much rather be involved at the early stage of any developing situation rather than be called in once it has already got out of hand.
Resources
We have brought together a number of other resource that we think might be useful on
this page, but if there is anything that you can't find, please
contact us.
Other organisations who offer wider support
This page provides links to other organisations that we or member churches have worked with and have found helpful in specific areas.