time I have met with other state leaders was at BWA gatherings in distant places! My own memories of triennial assemblies are filled with friendships formed across the states and of learning from gifted leaders with whom otherwise I had little contact. We sensed a national mission. Can we recapture anything of that wider fellowship in real life or are we obliged to do so by Facebook and other means where certain personality types seem to flourish? Are state differences and misunderstandings being perpetuated in ways that diminish our corporate witness? Are political tensions between Canberra and the states being duplicated in our Baptist life? Are we open to fresh challenges from those with whom we may differ but with whom we share a commitment to the Baptist way of being church?  Beyond the privileged representative few who meet regularly -- such as during this week -- how much do Baptists know about our national work? We have no Australian Baptist (for reasons that I know only too well) and now within our states we are bombarded with what is little more than promotional literature. We have GIA, Baptist World Aid Australia and Crossover -- thank God -- but how can we foster a national vision that goes beyond promoting programs or raising funds? Perhaps this is scarcely calculated to excite Keith. But it does serve to underline the strategic nature of his task. The BUA is to be congratulated on appointing one of our most respected and able former