What we believe

 The following praragraphs come from The Baptist Union of Scotland Web Site. As a Church we are commited to the Union of Churches and to Netwroking with them.

http://www.scottishbaptist.org.uk/about-us 

Baptists believe in the truths expressed in the historic creeds of the Church. They lay a particular emphasis on the importance of personal faith in Jesus Christ, as Saviour and Lord, and on the Bible as God's Word, guiding the conduct of individuals and the life of the church.

One of the distinctive features of Baptist church life is their practice of Christian Baptism. They follow the New Testament pattern of baptising those who have come to personal faith in Jesus Christ. Believer's Baptism is normally by total immersion in water.

Baptists also lay stress on the responsibility of each local church to govern its own life and affairs but in relationship with other Baptists.

Historically, Baptists have believed that everyone should be free to worship according to their beliefs. They have stood for the separation of Church and State yet it is largely true to say that they have been in the forefront of those demonstrating that a lack of formal links between Church and State does not hamper a Christian contribution to society, but rather enhances it.

View our Declaration of Principle

View our full Constitution, Bye-laws and Standing Orders

Our Core Purposes

These are:

• to enable and equip mission and ministry
• to express our interdependency as a family of believing communities
• to encourage our distinctive way of being within the wider church
• Serving the denomination and working to fulfill these purposes is the staff at "Resource House", the Baptist Union of Scotland's offices in Glasgow.

Today's Structure

The Union strives for simplicity in organisational structure and promotes a more relational approach, through increasing contact between the local churches and those who serve the churches as staff of the Baptist Union of Scotland.

The Council consists of representatives from local clusters of churches and six co-opted members. Core Leaders report to Council which has the responsibility to give them advice and to make decisions on a wide range of issues related to our life together as churches. The Council meets three times a year.

The Union's Trustees are a small group of Baptists who are highly regarded by our churches and entrusted with the responsibility to maintain an oversight of all the Union's life and work to ensure it is in harmony with Baptist principles and meets current legal requirements.

The Assembly meets annually and consists of both pastors and delegates appointed by member churches who gather together for inspiration and celebration; for deliberation and decision; for informing and resourcing; and for fellowship across the churches.

Looking Outwards

Baptists throughout our Union serve the homeless, disabled, aged, alcoholics, AIDS sufferers and many others through local church ministries and organizations - such as the Bethany Trust, the Elpis Centre, the Tor and Airlie House. The Atholl Baptist Centre in Pitlochry, opened in 1969, provides facilities for conferences, Christian training and holidays, including for those who are disabled. Some Scottish Baptists also put their faith into action through committee involvement in multi-church groups dealing with homelessness, racial justice, social inclusion, etc.

Our Union has an active Public Issues and Social Action Group, comprised of gifted and experienced people who co-ordinate the denomination's response to current political, moral and ethical developments within society. They submit a reasoned response to many of the consultation papers sent out by Holyrood and Westminster.