Open Baptists 2025 Gathering

Open Baptists is a new movement of Baptist churches in Australia and New Zealand, open to the diversity of people God gathers into our churches and open to the diversity of ways that God calls us to respond in our local contexts. This event, to be held in Canberra in March 2025, will gather both those who are already involved and those who are still curious, to explore the question: 

As Open Baptists look beyond our start-up necessities, how is the Spirit calling us
to open our table, hear God’s heart, and spread our wings?

Come with your questions and ideas; the agenda will be full of open space to discuss them all with others who share your interest.

Accommodation

Home stay billet accomodation will be available with people from local churches if requested during registration (next screen),
or you are welcome research and book your own accommodation in local motels or AirBnBs etc.

Program

Friday 14 March, 6:30 - 9:30pm

• 6:30pm Welcomes & Prayers
• 7:00pm Opening Dinner
• 8:00pm Keynote Lecture

Saturday 15 March, 9am - 5pm

• 9:00am Gathering, Announcements, Coffee & Prayer 
• 9:30am Introduction to Open Space process and finalising discussion agenda
• 10:30am Open Space Discussions on the issues you bring.
• 12:30pm Lunch (all day grazing table also provided)
• 1:00pm Open Space Discussions on the issues you bring.
• 4:00pm Plenary sharing and prayer
• 5pm - late. Self-organised dinner and social gatherings

Sunday 16 March, 8:45am-2pm

• 8:45am Project Planning & Working Group Sessions
• 10:00am Worship & fellowship with Tuggeranong Baptist Church
• 12:30pm Final Plenary 
• 1:00pm Closing Communion and parting listening circle
• 2:00pm Departure and self-organised social gatherings

Keynote Speaker - Steve Frost

Lawyer, mediator, conflict coach, and Baptist theologian, Steve Frost will be our keynote speaker and preacher on the Friday night and Sunday morning.

Steve’s life is a strange mix of Law & Grace. A lawyer for almost 30 years, he is committed to the simple, curious & liveable faith that Jesus invites all people everywhere to explore. He’s spent the past 20 years running Horizons Family Law Centre, a charity that helps families dealing with parenting disputes & domestic violence. Horizons does this work in collaboration with local churches so their clients can see that the help they’re receiving is a gift from Jesus & an expression of his Good News in their life. Steve hopes these collaborations will create a porous edge to the church – somewhere that grace can get out & people can get in.