National news stories in 2024

‘They were all together in one place’ – Baptist Assembly 2024

Bookings have now opened for this year’s Baptist Assembly (17-19 May), which takes place over Pentecost

New series highlights biblical reasons for hope

Baptist minister and biblical scholar the Revd Dr Helen Paynter hopes viewers can gain a fresh perspective upon the great pains of this world by exploring scriptural themes and truths - and a stronger faith

'An opportunity for Baptists to engage with some great theology'

Paul Fiddes and Alex Harris are the keynote speakers at this year's Baptist Theology North on 7 June, when the theme is Baptist Church: Back to the Future?

New book documents a decade of Sam Sharpe Lectures

The Sam Sharpe Lectures: History, Rebellion and Reform, published by SCM Press, is a collection of a decade's contribution from scholars, thinkers, activists, and ministers responding to the legacy of Sam Sharpe, a Baptist and a Jamaican national hero

'Let's advocate for a fair and just criminal justice system'

A summit which sees Christians demand police and criminal justice reform is taking place in April

Church leaders call for greater intercultural collaboration

More than 150 Christian leaders - including many Baptists - gathered at Gateway Church in Leeds for a one day conference to explore how churches can work better interculturally across the nation

New leadership for Girls' Brigade Ministries in England and Wales

Judith Davey-Cole is the organisation's new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Jules Murdy, who has served in the role for the past six years

'Prepare for Project Violet findings'

The Baptist community in Britain is being urged to prepare for the findings of major research on women’s experience of ministry - and a new podcast series has launched to help

New initiative to support our next generation of ministers

The Baptist Union now has a partnership with Stewardship to enable individual Baptist ministers-in-training to receive financial support from friends, church members and churches during their period of ministerial formation

Collaborating on a national strategy that plays a part in reaching England for Jesus

Alex Harris reports on a recent gathering of church planting leaders, hosted by The National Church Planting Network

Nature and science meet faith in stunning new Baptist-led films

God Saw That It Was Good is a four-part film series that aims to reconnect people with the wonder of the natural world and a sense of the divine within it - and inspire a renewed vision of creation care

‘I beg you, bear with one another in love’

The Christian Women of Palestine are calling us to connect with the land from where Jesus came on this year’s World Day of Prayer

Inter Faith Network to close

The Inter Faith Network for the UK Board has announced the closure of the charity due to withdrawal of government funding

Churches to champion voter registration

As a General Election approaches, a new initiative has launched that will equip local churches to increase democratic participation through registering people to vote

Fresh Streams to host prayer and fasting gatherings for our Baptist movement

Churches and church leaders in relationship with Fresh Streams are hosting 11 prayer and fasting gatherings across 10 Associations on Thursday, 14 March

Churches defend integrity over asylum seeker welcome at Select Committee

The Biblical motivations for why Baptist churches are supporting vulnerable asylum seekers – and the difficult ramifications at being featured in the national press for doing so – were shared with MPs

Publishing milestone as Dyslexia-Friendly Bible completed

For the first time ever, the whole Bible has been made available in a dyslexia-friendly format

Baptist Union Council: March 2024

Baptist Union Council took place 19-20 March at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire

Launch of St Hild Centre for Baptist Ministry

St Hild College has announced the launch of the St Hild Centre for Baptist Ministry, for the training and formation of missional leaders for the Baptist family

New Firestarters conversations for 2024

Three new Firestarters conversations, which enable congregations to rediscover a passion to help new people become Christians, are taking place in Baptist churches this year

Baptist colleges launch projects exploring science and ministry

Cardiff Baptist College and Regent’s Park College are among four theological colleges in the UK and Republic of Ireland to have been awarded funding to develop teaching resources incorporating science, ethics, and theology

'God is doing a new thing among young adults'

There’s been a number of ‘firsts’ taking place among young adults in our Baptist movement. It seems to me God is doing a new thing in our midst - and the younger generations are leading it, writes Isabella Senior

'We retain deep misgivings about the safety of the Rwanda Bill'

Churches have reiterated their opposition to the Rwanda Bill, which passed in Parliament on 23 April

New church planting programme at St Hild

In conjunction with Asbury Seminary, USA and the Centre of Church Multiplication in London, the St Hild Centre for Church Planting is launching a professional doctorate programme in Church Planting in Post-Christendom Europe

Project Violet findings released

Project Violet is a major study into women’s experience of ministry, which has sought to understand more fully the theological, missional, and structural obstacles women ministers face in the Baptist community in England and Wales.

Baptist Pension Scheme (the “Scheme”)

Wind up of the Closed Defined Benefit Plan (“DB Plan”) of the Scheme. Notice under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925

Newly formed Digital Priority Round Table needs your help

A ‘Round Table’ group of Baptists is forming to take the digital priority forward - and it is hoped four working groups will now be formed enabling discernment and discussion which will be fed into our Core Leadership Team

Praying for our life together - with Jesus at the centre

A prayer initiative which seeks to place Jesus at the centre of everything we do as Baptists Together and inspire prayer for one another will be launched at this year's Baptist Assembly

Start sharing Jesus with Everyone Everywhere

Alex Harris introduces Everyone Everywhere, our Baptist collaboration focused on equipping churches and individuals across the whole country with the tools they need to see new people become Christians and new churches start in their communities

Commissioning - 'Wherever you are planted, may the gospel be sown'

Around 40 ministers who have been transferred to the fully accredited list and pastors who have been accorded recognition since the last Assembly were commissioned and prayed for on the Saturday night

'Committed to Jesus, each other and God’s mission'

On Sunday morning Baptists were invited to reflect on three elements of the early church following the arrival of the Holy Spirit - and consider how they relate to us today

'Jesus speaks to each one of us where we are – and so we all hear that voice differently’

Outgoing President Tim Presswood was invited to reflect on his term, which began at the Baptist Assembly last June

'Cherish the 'unique missional fingerprint' of our churches'

The varied nature of our churches and their contexts creates ‘many touch points for people to see and encounter Jesus today’, said General Secretary Lynn Green

'We are not the only ones being sent'

Several young British Baptist leaders who are part of the 'SENT' cohort were introduced and prayed for at the Baptist Assembly - and delegates were encouraged to pray for young people in their contexts

Younger leaders and scripture focus for new President Steve Finamore

Steve outlined the twin focus of his theme as he was inducted as our President for 2024-25, encouraging Baptists to focus on developing younger leaders, and to think afresh about the place of the Bible in our worship and teaching

Highlights, resolutions and finance - BUGB Meeting of the Assembly

'Significant highlights' including people finding faith, evangelism and church planting, ministering beyond the walls of the church and our commitment to discerning together were shared by General Secretary Lynn Green during the BUGB meeting

Dozens sign Baptist Union prayer crosses

Many Assembly delegates signed two wooden crosses over the Baptist Assembly weekend to symbolise our unity in Christ and for our mission

'We were very warmly welcomed' - the Baptist Telford parkrun takeover

It's a popular community event run by volunteers that encourages the participation of people of all ages and abilities - and with a parkrun happening a short jog from the Baptist Assembly, delegates decided to join in and bless it

'Stephen’s career has been devoted to making Christ known'

Spurgeon's College has honoured former Vice Principal, Academic Director Stephen Wright with a Festschrift - and the Archbishop of Canterbury played a role in the proceedings

New worship song at Baptist Assembly

A new worship song which featured a silent section in British Sign Language was created collaboratively at the Baptist Assembly and then sung (and signed) twice on the Sunday morning

Baptist Union Council: June 2024

Baptist Union Council has agreed a series of proposals that seek to make Baptists Together financially sustainable in the future - for the benefit of local mission and ministry The specially convened Council focused on the Financial Model Review

‘His desire was to use the media for the sake of bringing the message and comfort of God to all'

Tributes have been paid to Peter Kerridge, a Baptist minister and the CEO of the Christian media group Premier, who has died aged 63

Let's End Poverty messages shared by churches during election

Banners with the message “Let’s End Poverty in the UK and globally” are being put up outside church buildings to invite prospective parliamentary candidates to set out clear action plans to tackle the issue

New hub to support 'those working tirelessly in estates and inner-city communities'

Proximity, a brand-new, free resource hub for churches, leaders and anyone working in urban ministry and mission, has launched

Disability awareness focus encouraged

Baptist churches have been encouraged to hold a Disability Awareness Sunday service or event this September

Research documents Covid faith impact

Professor Paul Weller, a Baptist church member, introduces an accessible digest and analysis of Covid-related research and resources (2020-2023) on Christian Faith Based Organisations (FBO) in Great Britain

'If you have a heart for seeing people reached for Jesus, this is for you'

Everyone Everywhere, the recently launched Baptist collaboration that seeks to equip Baptists to share Jesus fully, is hosting a national conference on Tuesday, 8 October

'His contribution to the life of the Baptists will endure'

Tributes have been paid to Brian Haymes, described as 'one of the greatest British Baptist figures of modern times', who has died aged 84

'We hold everyone affected by this awful event in our hearts and our prayers'

Church leaders in Merseyside have shared a statement in the wake of the knife attack in Southport on Monday

Still time to respond to the findings of Project Violet

Responses are already coming in with commitments to action that will be reported to Baptist Union Council in October - and local churches and other stakeholders in Baptist life have until 30 September to respond to the project's findings

Baptist prayer and fasting gatherings on 26 September

Prayer and fasting gatherings with a mission focus are being hosted by Baptist churches across England and Wales on 26 September

Small Baptist churches – a growing Connexion team, regional stories

Notes from a recent Baptist Union Smaller Church online gathering (19 September), which featured representatives from several Associations

Three-year mission vision for Baptist Assembly

Three-year strategic mission focus will also offer national discussion and resolutions

We Will Repay - reparations study resource

A new study resource designed to help churches and Christians delve into the discussion of reparations on biblical terms has been released

A unified call to mission and renewal

Andy Glover reports on the recent day of prayer and fasting, which saw gatherings take place in all Associations, as well as online

The Centre for Baptist Ministry at St Hild College officially launches

St Hild College has celebrated the launch of the Centre for Baptist Ministry during an event at St Thomas Crookes in Sheffield

Prayer bulletin for very small Baptist churches

A number of small, often rural, Baptist churches are being strengthened in their ministry by an initiative which sees them praying for each other on a regular basis

Collaboration; contextual approaches - first Everyone Everywhere national conference

Collaboration in sharing the gospel and a recognition that contrasting, contextual approaches are all needed to help people encounter Jesus were key themes at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference

Project Violet: Council affirms commitments to action

Baptist Union Council receives and affirms the commitments to action on women’s experience of ministry made from across Baptists Together in response to the findings of Project Violet

Baptist Union Council: October 2024

Baptist Union Council took place 23-24 October at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire

Nationwide Christmas campaign ‘Shine Your Light' seeks 1,000 churches this year

UK churches are being invited to reach 1-million people this December – by taking the Christmas story of ‘comfort and joy’ outside of church walls

'Come Holy Spirit' is our desire as we walk forward, with God leading us

Chris Duffett’s Baptist Assembly paintings have raised donations to support Home Mission and are now in local Baptist churches providing inspiration and reflection

'Male allies' initiative to launch

A new initiative to enable male Baptist ministers to be better allies for women in ministry and leadership will begin in early 2025

Next Theology Live! showcases women's research

Theology Live! 2025 takes place on Friday, 24 January at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London - and following Project Violet, features six women involved in research in Baptist life

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