Are we a denomination or aren't we?

So, are we a denomination or aren't we? And, does it matter anyway? I ask this question, because I've seen this now in several recent Didcot publications where they have used literally the word "denomination" and I've heard it said at BU Council. And the truth is, no! We are not. We are - and its in our title dear friends, "A Union of Independent Churches." Denominations are seen in other groupings - see for example Anglican, United Reformed and Methodists, although the latter might describe themselves as a Connexion. Why blog on this? Well if we are not one, please don't call us one. And we are not one, and its not even about being a technicality. For me, a denomination - when all is said and done, is primarily reflected in central funding, most of all in the stipend. Most Minister's being paid centrally. But the BU is not this. There are of course secondary issues - those of theology and practice, and even ministry [aka leadership] [aka hierarchy][nb "Senior Ministers" - lets not go there, these are not Baptist Principles either!]. But if that's where we are headed and its inevitable that we are heading there, then that's a different matter, and lets have the debate and discussions. But until that day, we are not a denomination! So don't call us one.
Why get "hot under the dog collar" about this? Well, because I think some would want us to be one, and see our national offices as being symbolic of an HQ or maybe even a command base. And certainly, in recent years many aspects of centralisation have become apparent - BU Council used to be in charge, but now it is the Trustees within the Council that are. More and more standards of good practice are being demanded of Ministers and Churches in how they to act, administer and behave, and all these are set in place by our national offices, and are of course a good thing. So is this a kind of inevitable "creep" towards denominationalism? Is it all just a matter of time, and before long we'll be there, either by the back or the front door?!
I hope not! For a start, our strength as a missional people lies in our independance and our inter-dependance. The Spirit of God is always at work in different ways amongst our churches bringing life and growth, which is why at our heart, in the statement of principle, "Each church is free under the guidance of the Spirit to discern God's will for them." The importance of the individual church, its members and its mission must never be underestimated - we have these or we have no Union! Centralisation is, as history often shows, the short road to bureaucracy, decay, stagnation and decline. And we see these things, I would argue in denominational structures. I think - and I pose these as questions, the time may be right to ask if this is where we are headed as a Union. Do we want less centralisation, and more focus on the local church and its association? Can Didcot resource the churches as a smaller outfit and at less expense? Do some need reminding that they key heart to the Union is not HQ, but the local church and its local mission and ministry?
But above all else, until the day comes that we become a denomination, please don't call us one!