The New LBA Ltd

A New Beginning in Association
On 1 January 2002, the new LBA Ltd was formed. This was only part of the whole process of change within the Baptist Union. Some of the changes may appear to be no more than formal changes of structure and changes of name for existing posts. But it is intended to be - and will be! - much more than that. It is a new beginning in association.

The formation of the new LBA Ltd from 1 January 2002 gives us the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to each other in mission. To recognise this new beginning, on the evening of Sunday 19 May 2002 there was a Celebration of Association at Westminster Central Hall.

By 25 April 2002, nearly 95% of Churches previously in membership with the LBA had confirmed their intention to join the new LBA. Of the 19 who had not done so, only 7 had confirmed they would withdraw. Some of the others had said that they would join but had not yet put the necessary motion before their church meeting. 3 churches not previously in membership with the LBA joined the new LBA Ltd on 25 April 2002.

The Legal Process
The rest of this page sets out, in brief, the legal process by which, on 1 January 2002, the London Baptist Association became a (charitable) company limited by guarantee following guidance from the Charity Commissioners. An LBA Special Assembly in January 2001 and the LBA Annual Assembly in May 2001 met and approved the changes. Now the changes have been implemented - a process which has been guided by the LBA Association Secretary, Rev Paul Martin.

The new LBA Ltd has a Memorandum and Articles of Association. In order to establish the new LBA Ltd, the initial Directors were Rev Tony Mason, Rev Paul Martin (Company Secretary) and Mr Bryan Rogers. Revs Pat Took and Tony Mason (previously called Superintendents) took on the title of Regional Ministers (and that is the official title for Rev Paul Martin) from 1 January 2002. The existing LBA Regions have been renamed Districts and existing Regional Ministers are now known as District Ministers. These changes have been reflected throughout this website.

Church Meeting Decisions
Churches were asked to put before their church meetings the following motion "Re-affirming our partnership in the gospel with our fellow Baptist churches in London, this church resolves to become a member of the London Baptist Association (a charitable company limited by guarantee"). This request was conveyed in a letter to all Church Secretaries and Ministers late in June 2001. The letter was accompanied by an

• information document (36Kb); and a
• church form (7Kb) - editable version in rtf (9Kb)

(Information about pdf documents)

LBA Board of Directors
The new LBA Ltd has a Board of Directors which is its main executive body. See LBA Board.

The 237 Churches which decided to join the new LBA Ltd, and notified the LBA Office accordingly by 15 October 2001, took part in the first election of members of the Board of Directors of the new LBA Ltd. Churches which take a later decision will be able to take part in elections in future years.

Suggestions for the Board of Directors were secured through the existing Regional/District structure of the LBA. Letters were sent to Churches Secretaries on 24 July 2001 by Paul Martin which outlined the electoral process which is also summarised below. More detail was given in the following documents as sent to Church Secetaries and District Ministers:

• Summary of the LBA Board Election Process (9Kb)
• Information for potential LBA Board nominees (13Kb)
• Profile Form for nominated Church Members (8Kb) - editable version in rtf (18Kb)
• Profile Form for nominated Ministers (8Kb) - editable version in rtf (21Kb)

Churches were encouraged to contact their Regional/District Minister or Regional/District Co-ordinator with suggested names. Click here for details of Regional/District Ministers and Regional/District Coordinators. Arrangements were made in each Region/District for up to four candidates to be selected from those suggested. Each Region/District was asked to nominate their four selected candidates by 15 October to the LBA Secretary (no more than two of them being ministers). Nominees had to give their consent and were asked to send personal profiles and photographs to the LBA Office by 22 October. After that, details of all the 20 candidates from across London (up to 40 candidates as there are 10 Regions/Districts) were sent to churches on 6 November together with a voting form. The details circulated included a brief profile and a photograph of each candidate. The churches could each vote for 12 members, not more than six of whom should be ministers. Completed voting forms had to be returned to the LBA Secretary by Monday 17 December 2001.

Those elected to the LBA Board of Directors began meeting with the other Directors in January 2002, but their official term of office began in April at the first AGM of the new LBA Ltd.

More Information
Some background documents about the new LBA Ltd can be downloaded: these include the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Bye-Laws, and a listing of Churches in membership of the LBA.

(Information about pdf documents)

Any More Questions?
Questions about LBA Ltd should be directed to Rev Paul Martin.

This page is maintained by Colin Hicks; Comments by e-mail are welcome