Background
Keswick Ministries is the working title of the Keswick Convention Trust, which is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. An annual Bible Convention has been held in Keswick, Cumbria since 1875.
The purpose of the Trust is the ‘advancement of the (Christian) religion by the emphasis of certain Christian doctrines, such objects being pursued by holding an annual Convention at Keswick, by promoting similar Conventions and meetings elsewhere, by distribution of suitable literature and by making grants of money for the said purpose’.
Position Statement
Keswick Ministries is committed to the deepening of the spiritual life in individuals and church communities through the careful exposition and application of Scripture, seeking to encourage the following:
Lordship of Christ
To encourage submission to the Lordship of Christ in personal and corporate living
Life Transformation
To encourage a dependency upon the indwelling and fullness of the Holy Spirit for life transformation and effective living
Evangelism and Mission
To provoke a strong commitment to the breadth of evangelism and mission in the British Isles and worldwide
Discipleship
To stimulate the discipling and training of people of all ages in godliness, service and sacrificial living
Unity
To provide a practical demonstration of evangelical unity
Community Promise
The Keswick Convention and its team of workers, volunteers and organisers are committed to working with the local community. Keswick Ministries will therefore aim to build on the long tradition of Christian teaching in a way that enhances and respects the spirit, history and prosperity of the Lake District. We will make every effort to honour this undertaking in the following practical areas:
- Listen and respond to the views of local residents
- The Convention will do all it can to encourage Convention-goers to make full use of all local amenities in the most responsible way possible
- Parking - The Convention will make every effort to minimise the disruption caused by cars from visitors to the event. Organisers will seek alternative parking venues and work together with the local authority to reduce congestion. We will also make potential visitors aware of the problem and encourage them to take appropriate measures
- Noise - We are aware of the potential noise hazard of a large event such as the Convention. We will make every effort to keep noise at an acceptable level at all times. We will also regularly take readings of noise levels to ensure they are below the recommended levels set by the local authority. Results of the readings will be available to the public
- Litter - All Convention staff and volunteers are aware of the beauty and attractiveness of Keswick. We will not tolerate any litter problems whatsoever. Specific measures will include a large number of recycling bins and litter bins on site, with regular clean-up patrols by our volunteers to ensure that areas used exclusively by the Keswick Convention are kept clean and tidy at all times
- Community projects - We will be actively involved in the community, identifying and selecting appropriate projects
- Fair Trade - In support of the town’s Fair Trade status we are working with the Keswick Fair Trade group to promote Fair Trade in the town. The Earthworks Café will be serving many Fair Trade items, and the Convention’s catering team are sourcing Fair Trade products where they are available
