Baptist churches are found in almost every country in the world. As part of the world-wide Christian church, Baptists form one of the largest families of faith, alongside other trinitarian Christian traditions such as Anglicans, Methodists, Reformed, etc. We, The Eden Church are a part of BUGB - The Baptist Union of Great Britain - and within that SEBA, the South East Baptist Association.

 

For Baptists the concept of a family is important. The church is not so much a particular place or building, but rather a family of believers, committed to Christ, to one another and to the service of God in the world.

 

In this Baptist family everybody is equal, for everybody has a part to play in the service of God. There is no hierarchy of bishops or priests exercising authority over their members. Equality of status, however, does not mean that all have the same role.

 

As a local Baptist church we appoint our own leader - our minister, Andy - to have particular responsibility for preaching, teaching and pastoral care. Working alongside Andy are a group of members, who together with him form the leadership team of our church.

 

The Baptist way of being the church is living together in community; in a family, if you like, and this extends to other Christian Churches in the area. We are a part of the ECC - Eden Churches in Covenant - where members from all the Edenbridge Churches come together to share, support, collaborate and pray.