Opinions/reflections - July - December 2024

Baptist minister Ian Stackhouse has documented his journey away from Christian Zionism in a new book. He explains why

A Christian perspective on our new Government

There are fundamental truths that can guide followers of Jesus at times like this, writes Chris Goswami

Moses needed mates to hold his arms up, and so do you. Baptist minister Tom Grant asks, who are those friends who ‘get’ urban ministry that will offer support when you’re flagging?

The Christian, embodiment and mindfulness

Why our bodies are central to our spiritual life and wellbeing. By Shaun Lambert

A response to the violence across UK towns and cities

By President Steve Finamore

My recent experience in the West Bank

Earlier this summer Noreen Gilhespy of Queens Road Baptist Church, Broadstairs embarked on an intensive course with Bethlehem Bible College, before attending the college’s annual Christ at the Checkpoint conference. She reflects on what she saw and heard

Why I’m celebrating girls in sport

Sports offer a unique platform for girls to challenge themselves, build resilience, and achieve their dreams, writes Judith Davey-Cole of Girls’ Brigade. Let's create a world where every girl has the opportunity to shine, both on and off the field

'We have all we need – if we take discipleship seriously'

Baptist minister Tim Sutton reflects on his new book Disciple Gate: Moving into Life with Jesus

Revitalising the Baptist Church Meeting

Ruth Moriarty introduces Slow wisdom, an offering of qualitative research to our denomination which shows how Baptists can discern together well and identifies positive opportunities for change at the Church Meeting

The Parable of the Tree – a story for the Season of Creation

Jesus taught about God through the lens of the natural world, writes Dave Gregory - and I learnt much by studying a small willow tree this summer

'It’s all about who we are... our spiritual genetic code'

'This is not a ‘how to’ guide for the Great Commission, so much as it’s a ‘who to become’ guide. It’s about the quality of our discipleship.' Baptist minister Dave Criddle introduces his new book The DNA of Healthy Discipleship

The Church, the far right, and the claim to Christianity

The far right has grown in prominence in recent years - with some cynically employing Christian-sounding language. Helen Paynter highlights the current context - and how the Church can respond

Should your faith rely solely on the Bible?

For many of us, the Bible is by far and away the book that has most influenced our lives. But as Baptists, Jesus is our number one authority, writes Chris Goswami

Protests or race riots?

Justice enabler Wale Hudson Roberts reflects on this summer's race riots. In doing so, he asks: what role can Baptists Together play in addressing the voice of the far right, Islamophobia, and racism in church and society?

Dwelling in scripture

Anne Le Tissier outlines the practice of remaining in just one or a few Bible verses for an entire week or more, which is explored more fully in her new book 'Dwell – Inviting God’s Word to make a home in our lives, one day at a time'

Israel-Palestine: I can’t keep up

Baptist church member David Nelson has travelled to Israel and the West Bank on three occasions in the past 24 months. He offers this reflection on events in the region

Collaboration, and our worship of Jesus

Notes from the two keynote addresses from Dave Ferguson and Alex Harris at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference on 8 October

Key themes around church planting

Alex Harris shares observations on church planting nationally in the UK. All speak to a growing flexibility and agility amongst churches, leaders and Christians to reach people, grow disciples and start new churches in the ways they are needed, he writes

Prayers and a reflection for COP29

Dave Gregory, convenor of the Baptist Union Environment Network (BUEN), offers a reflection and prayers points for COP29, which runs from 11-21 November in Baku, Azerbaijan

COP29 - climate loss and damage, and historical injustice

We cannot talk about climate loss and damage without reflecting the damage of the past - and that means acknowledging the impact of slavery, the industrial revolution and colonialism, writes Israel Olofinjana

The urgency of reconciliation

A reflection by Dr Rula Khoury Mansour, founder of the Nazareth Center for Peace Studies, following her presentation at the recent Lausanne Congress

Do you have any church wanderers?

Do you have any issues with people who wander from church to church?

What did COP29 achieve?

The leaders of the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) partner churches had called for action in climate finance, the Loss and Damage Fund, and UK leadership on climate action. JPIT's Steve Hucklesby assesses these three areas and more

The Future of Arms: blockbuster films or the new reality of war?

New technologies are changing the way war is fought. A new project from the Joint Public Issues Team aims to equip our churches to engage in discussion and advocacy about the ethics they raise as we seek to fulfill the Christian vocation to be peacemakers

Should we have new blasphemy laws?

The suggestion was recently raised in Parliament. Adrian Gray explains why Baptists should express their clear opposition to any proposal to re-introduce blasphemy onto the statute book

'A plan made from all the pent-up views of everyone I talk to'

Baptist church member David Nelson had hoped to travel to Israel, but with few flights available, he embarked on an alternative - cycling from Yorkshire to Downing Street to deliver a message to the Prime Minister about Israel/Palestine

'More than confessions... useful lessons'

Jon Magee has been a Baptist minister for 41 years. His new book Confessions of a Baptist minister reflects lessons learned in those years - and the call of God that underpins them