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Being and doing church
Jump to: Committed to excellence
: : Committed to relationships : : Committed
to community, mission and justice : : Believer's
baptism : : Caring for one another : : Praying
together : : Taking decisions : : Supporting
the church : : Being and doing church : : What
does Kairos mean? : : What we believe
On the basis of our church vision and core values, we want to be a church
of pure hearts, dirty hands, which is
Committed to excellence
- Everyone will be given a warm welcome and treated
with respect.
- We will tackle the real issues and felt needs that
touch our daily lives.
- We will help you get back in touch with the spiritual
side of life.
- We will celebrate the life transforming power of
the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Our worship will be vibrant, up to date and open
to God, encouraging participation, prayer and prophetic insight.
- Our Bible teaching will be relevant and life enriching.
- We will encourage creative communication through
video and graphics, drama and dance, painting and writing.
- We will make appropriate provision for children,
ensuring each individual feels special and appreciated.
- We want everyone to discover and fulfil their true
potential.
- We will enjoy life to the full; sharing food and
friendship, following the example of Jesus Christ.
Committed to relationships
Kairos is built around relationships. We believe in open communication
and a can-do environment, where every believer is encouraged to discover
their spiritual gifts and to use them, normally working in teams. Encouraging
one another is the oxygen of personal and spiritual growth.
Committed to community, mission
and justice
Kairos is a church that wants to exist for the benefit of its non-members.
We are as much church playing football with the kids on the High Path
Estate on a Thursday evening as worshipping in the cinema on a Sunday
morning. We are therefore committed as a church to working with people
from other churches in developing our links with the Estate, Merton Abbey
Primary School and other aspects of local community.
We are also committed to encouraging and developing individuals in living
for God 24/7, demonstrating the values of the kingdom in their work and
in their homes.
Kairos is keen to be involved in the local community, working together
and with people from other churches in specific opportunities for sharing
God’s love through service and mission. Current examples of this would
include our regular Thursday night activity on the High Path estate; participation
in Christmas and Easter acts of witness, alongside other churches; the
provision of drinks and doughnuts to the tennis queue during Wimbledon
Fortnight.
 Kairos
is a Fairtrade Church, committed to using Fairtrade products at
its own activities wherever possible, and encouraging others to use them,
as a practical expression of concern for people who are poor and of God’s
concern for justice. We plan activities in the local community during
Fairtrade Fortnight and are part of the campaign for Merton to become
a Fairtrade Borough.
Believer’s baptism
We encourage those who are committed to Christ and want to grow in their
faith to be baptised – often using a leisure centre for worship, food
and fun as part of the baptism experience.
Those interested in being baptised should speak to one of the leadership
team, so that together a decision can be reached about when and how to
proceed. It is right for the church leadership to take into account the
depth of commitment and maturity of the candidate before a final agreement
to go ahead with the baptism – but there is no specific age limit: Kairos
practices believer’s baptism which emphasises faith and commitment, not
adult baptism which emphasises age.
Caring for one another
Everyone who attends Kairos regularly is allocated to a pastoral care
link, a member of the church who will keep in touch with each individual,
supporting and encouraging them, and ensuring they keep in touch about
their physical and spiritual well being. When an individual is first allocated
in this way, the pastoral care link person will ensure that the link is
communicated, and explain its nature, emphasising that it should be regarded
as a means of support, and encouraging them to use the link to raise any
concerns or questions they might have about Kairos.
Everyone at Kairos is also encouraged to participate in at least one small
group where they can build relationship and share in fellowship. A
small group may be a fortnightly home group, or one of the worship bands,
or one of the prayer groups in the church.
Praying together
This is a vital part of being church. Every month there is a special
opportunity for prayer, sometimes incorporating praise and worship as
well. Everyone is encouraged to make these occasions a priority for their
Kairos involvement.
When we meet for worship there is the opportunity to be prayed with and
for by a member of our prayer ministry team.
There is also a prayer chain for the circulation of urgent prayer
requests; some people form prayer triplets or prayer partnerships; there
are also other prayer meeting opportunities, in the daytime as well as
in the evening.
Taking decisions
Kairos is a church dependent on God and independent of other churches:
we have chosen to belong to the London Baptist Association, the Baptist
Union and the Evangelical Alliance as part of our relationships with the
wider church; we also have voluntarily linked with Churches Together in
Wimbledon. But these are decisions we have taken as a ‘gathered community’,
a group of people who commit themselves to one another as part of their
commitment to the Lord. So together we have the responsibility under God
for all the decisions affecting the life of the Church.
Kairos is a church: it is important that we work together and move forward
together seeking God’s guidance and maintaining unity of spirit and good
relationships with one another, making decisions together in a way that
honours God and respects the views of each person committed to the life
of the church. We want to be open to the leading of God’s Spirit, which
means listening to him and listening to one another. Everyone has the
right for their voice to be heard and their opinion considered. The church
has the obligation before God to move on and follow God’s leading.
Kairos is also a charity, which means that we have legal obligations about
how we do our business. Technically Kairos is an ‘excepted charity’, recognised
as a charity by virtue of our membership of the London Baptist Association,
rather than by being registered with the Charity Commission.
We take decisions and do our formal church business in the context of
prayer and worship, circulating information at least two weeks in advance
by email/post. In this way we try to ensure that all our decisions are
reached prayerfully and carefully, with our voting reflecting an agreed
consensus. It is right that decisions that affect the whole life of the
church should be discussed and endorsed by the wider fellowship. It is
also right that leaders and those with other specific responsibilities
should be encouraged and enabled to fulfil their tasks without every single
decision being referred to the whole church. So prayerful wisdom is needed!
Our church weekend is a significant time when we review where we
have been, where we are going as a church, and consider any important
matters concerning our life together as a church. Our formal AGM is currently
incorporated in this time of worship and learning together.
Anyone who has a concern about the life of the church should discuss it
with a member of the leadership team; they also have the right to request
a hearing or discussion of any issue affecting the life of the church,
and the leadership team will consider how best to respond to such a request,
including the possibility of seeking the views of the church, and communicate
their decision promptly to the member concerned. In extreme circumstances
a minimum of ten members may together formally give at least two weeks
notice of raising an issue at a meeting of the church.
As a church which is also a charity, taking decisions in this way, it
is therefore important to define exactly what we mean by members and leaders
and how people become members and leaders.
1. Kairos membership
We want to ensure that decisions about Kairos are taken by those who are
actively committed to Jesus Christ and Kairos itself.
So we encourage regular attenders to become members of Kairos by affirming
their faith in Christ and their commitment to the vision and people of
Kairos. Once a year, currently at the church weekend early in the year,
everyone attending Kairos will be encouraged to reaffirm their commitment
for the coming year. Everyone in contact with Kairos and not at the church
weekend will be offered the same opportunity of commitment. This is a
living commitment, so if someone stops coming their membership automatically
lapses unless there are special circumstances (like working away from
London for a year or so.) It may also be appropriate in certain circumstances
to encourage those who have become committed to Kairos and begun to attend
regularly to affirm that commitment before the next annual ‘commitment
moment’ comes round.
Kairos, in Baptist-speak, is an ‘open membership’ church: we do not make
it a rule that a member has to have been baptised as a believer. On the
other hand, we do consider baptism to be a natural step which indicates
commitment to Christ, so there will always be an encouragement for those
who are part of Kairos who are not baptised to think seriously about the
possibility of being baptised and talk it through with a member of the
leadership team or perhaps initially their pastoral link person.
In the event that a member’s behaviour consistently and deliberately did
not match the commitment made in becoming a member, the leadership team
would ultimately have the right to withdraw the privileges and responsibilities
of membership from an individual, giving them an explanation of why this
was being done.
2. Mission members
A Kairos mission member is someone who has been part of Kairos as a member
in terms of attendance and commitment who then moves away to pursue a
specific role in the mission of the wider church, whether in the UK or
overseas. There would be a mutual commitment between Kairos and the mission
member: Kairos would clearly and specifically state what kind of support
it felt appropriate to offer; the mission member would commit to receiving
pastoral support and keeping the church informed of progress.
A member wishing to become a mission member would initially discuss this
with their pastoral group leader, and they would raise this with the leadership
team for discussion and decision; normally the potential mission member
would meet with the leadership team. They would then report to the church
and ask the church for affirmation of their recommendation. Mission members
would then be free and encouraged to join a local church at their place
of mission, while keeping in touch with Kairos.
3. Leadership team
Kairos is led by a leadership team, with Carolyn Skinner currently employed
full-time in the role of team leader. Their role is to ensure that the
church moves forward under God according to its stated values and principles,
identifying and nurturing the gifts of all members of the fellowship.
They are elected by the church and fully accountable to the church, reporting
by email on their monthly meetings, inviting comments and suggestions
and bringing decisions to the church for discussion and approval as appropriate.
The leadership team (specifically those not employed by the church) also
carries responsibility for all the legal and financial requirements of
the church as a charity. Oversight of the various activities of the church
is shared among the leadership team, so that all can be taken into account
as the life and activity of the church is considered.
As church and charity, we choose a leadership team on the principle of
finding a balance between the current leadership using their responsibility
to guide and the church using their responsibility to recognise and affirm
their leaders under God. It is vital that the process results in the appointment
of a leadership team with the confidence and support of the church, who
have recognised gifting and calling, rather than simply elected someone
to office. The process is intended to allow the church together to recognise
and affirm its leaders in a way that honours God and results in the right
people in the role, balancing openness with the protection of individual
sensibilities.
The aim is to have a leadership team that has a positive balance in terms
of gender and age, with a particular concern to encourage and develop
younger leaders. There will also need to be a balance between continuing
experience of the leadership team and encouraging emerging leaders and
taking on fresh thinking.
The aim is also to have a leadership team that remains open to the membership
and retains its trust. Overseeing its own election clearly carries risks
that it is seen to be self-serving and therefore loses that trust. Thus
it is important to emphasise that the overall terms of how we operate
does allow members to call a special meeting of the church if they are
unhappy with any aspect of the life of the church, including the leadership
team election. That might become necessary if private conversation – including
with any staff member (Carolyn at present) who has been involved in the
process but not subject to it. Again, if trust was broken over the system
itself, then it would need to be reviewed with the church.
The leadership team is appointed for two years. As the end of the two
year period approaches, the following process is used to create a new
leadership team:
- The church is informed of the process and the qualities
that should be looked for in church leaders. They are encouraged to
imagine that there is no leadership team (other than any full-time staff
members already on the leadership team) and to put down in writing,
privately, the names of those that they believe should be considered
for the new leadership team.
- The current leadership team receive all these suggestions
and weigh them before the Lord, while also consulting appropriately
with those suggested to check their own sense of suitability and willingness
to serve.
- From this discernment process the current leadership
team propose a new leadership team to the church and allows time – around
two weeks – for reflection, prayer and private comment. Adjustments
to the proposed team may be made as a result of this process, and if
necessary either the leadership team or a minimum of ten church members
may call a meeting, giving at least two weeks notice, where matters
of concern can be explored prayerfully and carefully.
- The names of the final proposed leadership team
will be brought to a church gathering, for which the church will have
been given at least two weeks notice, and the team will be affirmed
by means of a paper ballot in which they receive at least two-thirds
of all votes cast.
If the leadership team thus appointed feel that adjustments are necessary
during the two-year cycle, perhaps because of changing circumstances for
individuals or the church, they may consult the church and bring names
forward to be affirmed at a church gathering at any time. If the church
should find it necessary, a leader can be removed from office if at a
church gathering, given notice of the issue in advance, at least two-thirds
of the members present vote for this in a secret ballot.
If the church appoints new members of staff, their role description will
indicate if it is appropriate for them to be part of the leadership team,
and this will be affirmed by the church as part of its agreement to the
whole role description.
This method of electing a leadership team was first proposed in 2006.
It is entirely subject to review and modification if it is not enabling
the church to willingly and confidently affirm the appointment of a leadership
team.
The qualities of a leader
Since a church leader is entrusted with God’s work, each must have demonstrated
a clear love for God and concern for people. They should have a clear
grasp of the Christian faith, and a growing Christian maturity that can
be seen in their personal, working, social, family and church lives. They
will normally have shown commitment to the life of Kairos over a period
of time. They should be willing to make the commitment of time necessary,
and be concerned to serve others rather than exercising power.
4. Staff members
As church and charity the church can appoint staff members as it considers
appropriate and should do so by acting professionally and spiritually.
This would normally involve identifying a particular need, proposing and
agreeing a role description and a recruitment process if necessary. The
leadership team would fully involve the church in this process, and for
some posts would seek the affirmation of the whole church, while for others
it might be appropriate for the church to delegate its authority to a
selection and interview group.
 Currently
the church has one full-time staff member – Carolyn Skinner, who is the
team leader of the leadership team.
The role of any staff member will be to contribute to the mission and
calling of Kairos, and especially what the Bible describes as ‘’to prepare
God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up’ (Ephesians 4: 12). They will not only be practically qualified for
the specific role in mind, but also be people of spiritual insight and
maturity, committed to serving God through their work with Kairos.
Supporting the church
The work of Kairos is dependent on the gifts of the congregation. We
do not take up an offering during the service, but there is a cashbox
available to receive gifts. We encourage members to support Kairos on
a regular basis, with UK taxpayers giving through Gift Aid so that the
value of their gift is increased. Information about how this can be done
is available from the church treasurer, currently Jean Featherstone.
Being and doing church
This page defines the basis on which we work together as a church. It
attempts to give clarity and form where it is needed, while leaving as
much space as possible for flexibility to respond to changing circumstances
and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
It has been affirmed at a church gathering, and can be modified in the
same way, with the church being given notice of proposed changes and given
every opportunity to comment and discuss as necessary.
What does Kairos
mean?
'Kairos' is a Greek word, used in the New Testament to mean 'now is the
time', 'for such a time as this', or 'God's appointed time. It was also
used in the law courts when a lawyer selected jus t
the right moment to press his case. In archery, it meant pressing through
an opening to strike a target.
When the church began, we asked a simple question: with the Bible in one
hand and our society in the other, what does the church need to look like
to bridge the gap? The word 'kairos' expresses our desire to stay relevant
and keep growing.
"When God provides a kairos moment, it is a time pregnant with divine
opportunity."
What We Believe
Kairos Church is a member of the Baptist Union, and supports its basis
of faith and practice, which is:
- That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest
in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters relating
to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that
each church has the liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
to interpret and administer His Laws.
- That Christian Baptism is the immersion in water
into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of those
who have professed repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ, who 'died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried
and rose again on the third day’.
- That it is the duty of every disciple to bear personal
witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take part in the evangelisation
of the World.
The Church is also affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance and supports
its basis of faith, which is:
We believe in...
- The one true God who lives eternally in three persons—the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating,
sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.
- The divine inspiration and supreme authority of
the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of
God—fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.
- The dignity of all people, made male and female
in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted
by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement.
- The incarnation of God’s eternal Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ—born of the virgin Mary; truly divine and truly human,
yet without sin.
- The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying
in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling
us with God.
- The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruits
of our resurrection; his ascension to the Father, and his reign and
mediation as the only Saviour of the world.
- The justification of sinners solely by the grace
of God through faith in Christ.
- The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads
us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers
our discipleship and enables our witness.
- The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal,
the priesthood of all believers—given life by the Spirit and endowed
with the Spirit's gifts to worship God and proclaim the gospel, promoting
justice and love.
- The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ
to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement,
bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost,
and establish a new heaven and new earth.”
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