Programme Overview

What's happening at next year's Assembly?

The theme of Baptist Assembly this year is United in Mission: gathering and sharing. A key element will be to continue our two-year process of discernment, dialogue, and engagement following the introduction of a proposed Mission Resolution at Assembly 2025. This proposed resolution, introduced by members of the Baptists Together Mission Forum, is designed to build a shared understanding of mission across the movement, with the goal of adopting the resolution at the 2027 Baptist Assembly.

Churches are encouraged to submit their reflections and stories via the Baptists Together Mission Resolution webpage. These stories will be shared at the 2026 Assembly to inspire and encourage the Baptist family - we'd love to welcome your church to Assembly 2026 and hear your story.

Penny Marsh, a member of the Mission Forum Steering Group, emphasised the importance of listening and learning from one another during this process. ‘This is an opportunity for us to discover more of the diverse and beautiful ways that Jesus is at work through us in our nation,’ she said.

Resources, including a short video, are available to help churches engage with the process. For more, visit the Mission Resolution area of the Baptists Together website. 

Alongside the resolution, please see below for an idea of what to expect at United in Mission: gathering and sharing.

There will be Children and Youth Programmes available on the Saturday and Sunday, which need to be booked with Adult tickets in advance. There will be a creche available for pre-school children throughout the weekend. 
 

Friday 15 May

 

Time	Details
13:00	Registration opens
14:00	Welcome to Assembly We begin Baptist Assembly by worshipping together
14:30	Choice of Streams : Discovering Ministry - with the Ministries Team, Colleges, Associations, and interns (This will be all afternoon) Safeguarding Training - for ministers, Designated Persons for Safeguarding and church leaders (This will be all afternoon) Support Services - Building God's Kingdom brick by brick Everyone Everywhere Fresh Streams - Equipping you to be prophetic BMS World Mission Joint Public Issues Team
15:30	Refreshment break
16:00	Choice of Streams 2: Discovering Ministry - with the Ministries Team, Colleges, Associations, and interns (continued from stream 1) Safeguarding Training - for ministers, Designated Persons for Safeguarding and church leaders (continued from stream 1) Support Services - Case study on church building development  Everyone Everywhere Fresh Streams - Equipping you to be prophetic BMS World Mission Joint Public Issues Team Click here for further details on the streams
17:00	Short break
17:15	The Meeting of the Assembly  Formal business, financial report, Financial Model Review (FMR) update.  Click here for the Administrative Resolutions being brought to Assembly 2026.
17:45	Dinner break
19:30	Evening Gathering  With storytelling and reflection to help us be inspired by what God is doing in our Baptist family.
21:00	Reflective worship
21:15	Close of formal activities
21:30	Informal worship and prayer time

Saturday 16 May

 

Time	Details
08:00	Registration opens
9:00	Welcome, worship and prayer leading on to choice of Bible studies, based Colossians 1:15-23, led by members of: Our Baptist Chaplains Pioneer Round Table  Local Churches Everyone Everywhere Young Adults Round Table BMS World Mission
11:00	Refreshment break
11:30	Global mission learnings for UK Churches led by BMS The Church is called to bring light into the darkest of situations, walking with people in the community, welcoming people into a new life with Jesus, and seeing the church and local community thrive and flourish. The Church and Community Transformation process takes churches on a journey to discover what this call means for you. Be inspired by stories and testimonies of transformation led by the local church.
12:30	Lunch Sponsor Zone sessions, including Baptist Insurance
14:00	A Shared Understanding of Mission Plenary conversations to reflect and discern together
15:30	Refreshment break
16:00	Ministry Celebration Including induction of our new President, In Memoriam; the presentation of ministers and pastors; a keynote address from Helen Paynter and worship
18:00	Dinner break
20:00	Evening Networking Session A time to gather and reflect on the day. There will be gathering spaces available for: College Reunions (including Spurgeon’s College) BMS – informal drop in allowing time for people to ask questions about BMS and what mission looks like now Pioneers 18-35s Chaplains Plus a space to reflect and process hosted by the Northumbrian Collective
21:30	Close of formal activities

 

Sunday 17 May

 

Time	Details
08:30	Registration opens Exhibition Zone open until 12:30
09:00	Prayer meeting and response space
10:00	Refreshment break
10:30	Worship and Communion Service With preacher Leoné Martin
12:30	Close of Assembly