pleasing everyone

So I'm just back from 3 days of Baptist Union Council. This is a kind of synod for the Baptist Family of churches in the UK. It's been hard work - lots of listening and reflecting, voting and the making of occasional points to input in the debate. There can be up to 200 + reps from across the country & staff from HQ, but on average there are about 150 that make it each time. We meet twice a year - spring and autumn, and as well as all the hard work, there are a lot of laughs and lots of old friendships re-engaged. We come away somewhat dazed by the inevitable language, detail, mindset and style of council and attempt to re-connect with normality, but also in awe of all the hard work that gets done, the new ideas, the potential for growth, the hope and aspirations for the future, and grateful that as a Baptist Christian family, for all our weaknesses, God still uses our network or tribe of churches. We've had in places some challenging issues to think on, but God has been at work amongst us.
One little muse - should it get smaller, stay the same size, discard certain people who never turn up? Well, I reflect that if we in our church were to do that in regard to church meetings, then we'd be in real trouble! If we started in WBC to remove all the folk who never came to church meetings, and essentially reduce the potential number who could show up, we'd never hear the last of it! No, we'd never do that. But, as the saying goes "if it aint broke, don't fix it!" In my book, the more representatives the better, because then people and churches feel they belong. Remove these, and beware! It's not the quantity, but the methodology of debate and discussion that needs refreshing! I hope that careful reflection will lead to careful action!