National news - 2015

Assembly recognised for gender balance

Baptist Assembly and just one other Christian conference had equal representation in 2014, says research

Interim Ministries Team Leader appointed

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Hughes to support the Ministries Team

Campaign 'in hub of Rugby WC activity'

Engage 2015, which aims to help churches serve the rugby community, secures central London location

Energy companies 'failing' families

Not following their legal obligations to help families with energy debt, according to The Children’s Society

Letters to Muslim, Jewish communities

The Baptist Union has sent letters of support to Jewish and Muslim counterparts in the UK

Registration for Assembly 2015 opens

Tickets for the new-look Baptist Assembly are now available

'We must speak out for religious freedom'

Justin Welby keynote speaker at partnership launch to address growing problem of violence against Christians

Baptist Building Fund raises loan threshold

A loan fund serving Baptists for nearly two centuries has increased the maximum amount churches can borrow

'Conservatives losing out to Labour'

A survey reveals voting intentions and concerns of evangelical Christians ahead of May's General Election

Home Mission Appeal: transforming lives

Figures are now in for the 2014 appeal with giving from churches way above 2013

Justin Welby: 'challenge cynicism'

Archbishop encourages positivity as he supports the launch of resources to equip churches to ‘Think, Pray, Vote’

'Sanctions affecting 100,000 children'

A new report highlights the shocking impact of benefits sanctions on the most vulnerable people in society

Doing something funny for money

What has Revd Nick Bradshaw done to his face? It was all in a good cause...

MPs: Cap immigration detention at 28 days

Churches' Refugee Network welcomes call to limit number of days immigrants can be detained

Election Resources for Churches

Churches aim to bring truth and justice to politics with 'Love you Neighbour: think, pray, vote' pack

Exhibition to feature work by John Bunyan

Free April exhibition at The Angus to showcase unique literature, including work by John Bunyan

UK faith leaders: end nuclear weapons

A statement calls for nuclear weapons states to take action to eliminate nuclear arsenals

Encouraging a positive approach to friendships

New film launches on koko, the Girls' Brigade award winning blog for teenage girls

A new partnership for cross cultural training

BMS and Redcliffe announce training partnership to deliver programme from the International Mission Centre

Joining forces for UK mission

Lynn Green joined leaders of other denominations to commit to renewed unity in evangelism and mission

'Councils failing homeless teenagers'

Councils are turning away young people who come to them for help, a report by The Children's Society finds

The Ark gets top slot on BBC One

A retelling of the biblical story of Noah will air in a primetime slot this Easter

Benefit sanctions review call welcomed

MPs' call for a full independent review of the benefit sanctions system welcomed by Baptist Union and other Churches

Council tactics 'leaving children scared'

Councils sending bailiffs to collect unpaid council tax are leaving children frightened according to a new report

Releasing money for mission

Baptists encouraged to give views for new project looking at Home Mission

Rupert Lazar nominated for Vice-President

Rupert Lazar, Minister of East Barnet Baptist Church, has been nominated as the Baptist Union's next Vice-President (2015-16)

Baptist Voice: growing digital presence

A Baptist audio ministry is hoping to reach a wider audience for its monthly programme via podcasts and iTunes presence

Ministries review: project team sought

Baptists Together are seeking a Project Team to take forward our review of ministries

Baptist history day: 'Smoke, Fire and Light'

Interested in Baptist history? Join the Baptist Historical Society for a day that includes a lecture and a practical workshop

The Payne Memorial essay competition

The Baptist Historical Society launches essay writing competition focused on 'patterns of ministry'

‘2.9 million generous acts’ in Lent

Stewardship's 40acts challenge encouraged 75,000 people to 'give out' rather than give something up during Lent

UK Baptist chapel gets restoration grant

The oldest Baptist chapel in the UK will be restored to its former glory thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund

BMS and Ascension Trust to work together

BMS World Mission and the organisation which formed Street Pastors enter strategic relationship

Get a taste of The Esther Collective

A taster day for the new discipleship and leadership opportunity for young women run by Girls’ Brigade Ministries

Call to prayer on eve of election

Lynn Green will be attending a public prayer gathering on 6 May, and is encouraging others to do the same, either in London or their own locality

Anabaptist study centre launches at College

New centre at Bristol Baptist College aims to provide for the increasing number of Christians who want to learn from the Anabaptist tradition

'Recognise us as valuable partners'

Lynn Green has urged Baptists to both pray for our political leaders, and write to their newly elected MPs with support and shared concerns

Bookings close a week before Assembly

Tickets sell out for the new look Baptist Assembly

Churches urged to resist political passivity

Christian charity CARE is urging Christians to avoid the temptation to disengage with politics now the General Election is over

Baptists called to join global prayer campaign

Children's charity Viva is calling on Christians to pray for children at risk during their world weekend of prayer in June

'Support the most vulnerable'

Lynn Green joins church leaders in signing open letter to David Cameron

Churches: get ready for Rugby World Cup

Engage 2015 is helping churches think about how they can demonstrate God's love to the rugby community

US Baptist's key role in Fresh Expressions

Rob Peabody appointed to develop national strategy to encourage fresh expressions of church among young adults

Baptist Assembly 2015 opens

Toilet rolls, pies and the introduction of the new President all had their place in a packed opening session of this year’s Baptist Assembly

Daring Greatly - new President's message

Baptists have been challenged to be people of courage to bring about transformation by new President Jenni Entrican

Living stones - iOpener Prayer Session

We are ‘living stones’ and God is using us to build his Kingdom - the iOpener Prayer Session

‘Start with God’ – Closing Celebration

There were both challenges and reflections during the closing celebration of this year’s Baptist Assembly

Market Place: Mission and Ministry

Details and links about the Mission and Ministry (Present and Future) stream in the afternoon Market Place session

Inspiring stories at the Baptist Assembly

BMS World Mission staff shared three ways BMS is transforming lives around the world in an all-age seminar at the Baptist Assembly

Market Place: Word and World

The Word and World stream of the afternoon Market Place sessions

Market Place: 21st Century Disciples

The 21st Century Disciples stream in The Market Place

Children at the Baptist Assembly

Children at this year’s Assembly spent much more time alongside the adults in an intentionally intergenerational gathering

BMS World Mission AGM

Nepal featured prominently in the BMS World Mission AGM, with earthquake updates and a new appeal for its work with spinal injury patients there

Communion and The Big Picnic

With a picnic, entertainers and communion, not too mention a welcome dose of sun, lunch at this year’s Assembly was both informal and quietly moving

Baptist Assembly 2015 - story list

Links to reports, photos, blogs and tweets from the 2015 Baptist Assembly in Peterborough

Faith groups' social support - £3bn

New research documents large scale social impact and economic value faith-based groups are having in their communities

Baptist Union Market Place sessions

The vision and culture of our Baptist Union was highlighted in the afternoon’s Market Place activities, which included the AGM

'Mutual cooperation, not mutual destruction'

Government urged to address divisions in Europe after more than 100 nations pledge to "stigmatise, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons"

Seeing marginalisation through conversation

New initiative for those interested in how Christian mission engages with communities who experience deprivation and exclusion

'Government must do more to tackle poverty'

Evangelicals issue stinging critique of the last government’s economic policy in new research from the Evangelical Alliance

New Online Safety Bill backed by charity

Leading Christian charity CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) lends unequivocal backing to a new Online Safety Bill

Parliament lobby on climate change

Thousands of Christians will gather in Westminster to speak up for the things they love which could be lost as a result of climate change

Becoming advocates for the poor

Helpful booklet from Christian Aid is a resource to help churches campaign for those who cannot speak

Blood donor increase from churches

New research reveals impact of fleshandblood campaign; much more still needed

'Light beacons of prayer across the UK'

God is calling us to prayer to "make space" for him to speak and move, says General Secretary Lynn Green as she launches call to prayer

Climate concern as crucial meeting looms

Tackling climate change has been firmly in the spotlight in recent days as the countdown to December’s crucial meeting in Paris continues

“Where’s the review?” say Churches

Churches and charities reiterate call for independent review of benefit sanctions

Open the Book reaches 2000 schools

Thousands of UK children are gaining a better knowledge of the Bible thanks to storytelling programme Open the Book

Seriously awkward - new teenage campaign

The Children’s Society says a generation of teenagers are being let down by society and lobbies for new protections for 16-17 yr olds

New film explores self harm

The film has been launched by koko, the Girls' Brigade's multi-award winning blog for teenage girls

Hope in the British countryside

A new course aims to create employment opportunity and reduce poverty in rural areas

'Rethink language used about migrants'

Lynn Green joins leaders of three UK Churches to call on the government to change the way it speaks about the migrant crisis

Two locations for the Esther Collective

An initiative that seeks to equip women leaders to serve God in the world will be running in Birmingham and Huddersfield this autumn

'Honesty from DWP' call by General Secretary

Lynn Green responds to revelations that the DWP used fabricated stories in benefit sanctions leaflet

More understanding about Calais

A group of volunteers head to the refugee camp to see what can be done

Evangelism threatened by counter-extremism

Government policies to tackle extremism may make it harder for evangelical Christians to share their faith, according to a new survey

Responding to the refugee crisis

The Evangelical Alliance highlights five ways the Church can respond

Baptists offer space for Syrian refugees

British Baptists have offered 150 bed spaces for Syrian refugees – and that figure is rising

Organ donation a part of faith for Christians

More than two thirds of regular churchgoers consider joining the NHS Organ Donor Register to be a part of their faith

Responding to the refugee crisis

Organisations have been highlighting different ways Christians can respond to the worsening refugee crisis

Baptists offer space for Syrian refugees

In one week British Baptists have offered 250 bed spaces for Syrian refugees

Assisted dying bill defeated by MPs

The latest attempt to introduce assisted suicide was comprehensively defeated in the Commons on Friday (11 September)

Co-ordinated response to refugee crisis call

Baptists encouraged to add support to Citizens UK's case for a Refugee Welcome and Resettlement Board

Sustainable development goals call

Faith leaders urge Prime Minister to ensure the UK plays its part in achieving new international goals to tackle poverty and inequality

Perceptions of Jesus, Christianity

The biggest research of its kind released in the hope it will be a major catalyst for evangelism in the years to come

Baptists join Refugee Welcome Board

As the refugee crisis deepens, Baptist involvement continues to grow

Teamwork from Girls’ Brigade and Gideons

Girls’ Brigade England and Wales members will be offered a free New Testament, thanks to The Gideons International

Resettlement Board: refugees welcome

Baptists joined people from across civil society to participate in the inaugural meeting of the National Refugee Resettlement Board

The heart of the ecumenical journey

A Baptist minister draws encouragement and challenges from the recent Churches Together in England forum

DWP “stubbornly ignoring” review

Criticism over the Department for Work and Pensions' refusal to undertake a full review of the benefit sanctions system

Generous, committed - but lacking mentors

Giving, mentorship and finding a spouse are key concerns for Christian young adults, a new report has revealed

Research highlights millennials' cry

New research released on millennials and faith echoes concerns about mentoring which led to the formation of the Esther Collective

Benefit cuts to change behaviour 'immoral'

New report from churches highlights fundamental concerns with Welfare Reform and Work bill

Small church is a big deal

Hilary Taylor reports on efforts being made to resource and connect our Union's small churches

Treasurer's Home Mission message

Baptists are being encouraged to review their giving to the Home Mission Appeal this year by Union treasurer Malcolm Broad

Prayer urged during Prisons Week

Conditions in prisons continue to worsen

'Love is stronger than hate'

People of faith have been responding to the terror attacks in Paris

'Christians would help Syrian refugees'

More than four in five churchgoers would personally help Syrian refugees this Christmas, a survey finds

'Sustainable’ transition from fossil fuels call

Four major UK Churches have welcomed the Government’s commitment to limiting climate change, but have called for more to be done

New creation care initiative: Worth Saving

BMS World Mission is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative that will help you play a part in caring for God’s creation

'We have to win a battle of ideas'

Major General Tim Cross argues democracies must not fall to the same level as groups such as ISIS

'Don't bomb Syria': growing nos of Baptists

Baptists who oppose the bombing of Syria have mobilised on social media to form a petition expressing their doubts

Sermon of the Year launched

National competition designed to be the catalyst for a fresh look at and celebration of the craft of preaching

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