National news - 2016

A network that provides support and encouragement to Baptist women from black and minority ethnic groups in leadership positions

New Year's honours for Baptists

A tireless community worker and an internationally-renowned lawyer were among the Baptists receiving recognition

Climate change: get off the fence!

Everyone shares responsibility for the future of our planet, argues David Kerrigan as BMS World Mission’s Worth Saving initiative begins

Church 'good for your physical health'

Going to church appears to be good for your physical as well as your spiritual health, according to research released by the Evangelical Alliance

The impact of night shelters

Volunteers invested 231,000 hours into church and community-led night shelters in the past year, a report finds

Landmark judgment for Calais refugees

Campaigners celebrate landmark court judgment that could yet see dozens stuck in Calais being allowed to join UK-based relatives

A guide to this year’s Baptist Assembly

Wondering what to expect? Read on

The launch of Eco Church

John Weaver reports on the launch of a new eco award for churches

Day of Prayer: please join us

Please join in praying for the life-transforming work of BMS World Mission around the world and its vision to do even more in the next five years

'Ask council to get tough with tax dodgers'

Charity encourages supporters to ask their local council to question companies about potential suppliers’ tax records

'Breaking bread for food justice this Sunday'

Churches of all traditions across the UK will break bread, celebrate God's gift of food, and lend support to a major new campaign for 'food justice'

Catalyst Live is back in 2016

BMS World Mission is very excited to announce that tickets for Catalyst Live 2016 are now on sale

Assembly tops gender balance report

Baptist Assembly tops the rankings of Christian events and conferences based on how well they achieved gender parity among speakers

Statement on Macedonia and Calais

Baptist leaders have expressed alarm and dismay at the recent news stories of the treatment of refugees and migrants on European borders

Welcome for FoI findings

There will be no substantial changes to the Freedom of Information Act, which has been used by the Joint Public Issues Team in key campaigns

MPs reject Sunday trading extension

Government plans to liberalise Sunday trading across England and Wales have been defeated in the House of Commons

‘A great servant of the Baptist family’

Tributes have been paid to the Revd Dr Roger Hayden, who died last Thursday (3 March), aged 80

BMS: 'Share the gospel with 500,000'

Church planting and evangelism are at the heart of BMS World Mission’s strategy to transform one million lives in the next four years

Baptist church wins youth award

A Baptist church’s youth outreach has been recognised in a new awards programme which spotlights outstanding community projects

Theresa May: 'Settle more refugees'

Four UK churches write to the Home Secretary asking the Government to offer sanctuary to more people in need

Forty days of Good News

40 Days of Good News emerged from the vision for each association to participate in ‘on the ground evangelism’ with the churches they serve

The Servant Queen; the King she serves

The Queen turns 90 in 2016, and a new book which chronicles her faith could be a great catalyst for conversation

Church of England, EA evangelism projects

The Church of England is undertaking its largest evangelism project this millennium; the Evangelical Alliance a new resource

UK Girl – join the conversation

Girls, faith and culture: Girls’ Brigade Ministries prompts a conversation about raising hope for girls

The Baptist Assembly – an update

A short article from Baptist Assembly organisers documenting recent developments with the event

Dianne Tidball receives Presidency nomination

The Regional Team Leader of the East Midlands Baptist Association (EMBA) has been appointed Vice-President of our Union

Disappointment at child refugee vote

Charities and campaigners have reacted with dismay after MPs voted not to take in unaccompanied children stranded in Europe

Church service provision challenge

“Churches must do more to win public confidence and equip themselves for public service” says new report

'Child refugees need your support'

Those who believe the UK should take in unaccompanied children stranded in Europe encouraged to make voices heard ahead of Commons vote

New EU resources for churches

A series of briefing notes to help Free Churches reflect about the EU referendum have been published by the Joint Public Issues Team

'Speed up child refugee process'

Campaigners are encouraging people to continue pressing MPs on welcoming unaccompanied refugee children stranded in Europe

Prospects becomes part of Livability

The national Christian disability and community charities Livability and Prospects for people with learning disabilities have joined forces

Equipping tomorrow’s leaders today

Empowering strong and effective indigenous leaders is a key goal of the new BMS World Mission strategy

The Baptist Assembly opening celebration

A Psalm, worship, brief guide to Oxford and intergenerational quiz were part of this year’s Assembly welcome

From one President, to another

The first part of the Baptists Together session saw the induction of new President Rupert Lazar - with words from predecessor Jenni Entrican

'Anointed to do good' - President's theme

New President Rupert Lazar expanded on his presidential theme during the lunchtime session at the Assembly

Ideas exchange - lunchtime soapboxes

A place where people could network, hear what’s working for others, and share their own experiences

'God inspires us so we can inspire others'

The faith lessons learnt by Baptists in Communist-era Bulgaria were shared in the main address by Didi Oprenova

'I will shake all nations'

How Baptists are responding to the refugee crisis filled the Assembly's mid-afternoon session

Commitment to refugee/asylum actions

Exploring the current refugee situation was a key aspect for all involved at the 2016 Baptist Assembly - and resulted in a shared commitment

Recognition: the closing celebration

Ministers, preachers and mission personnel were welcomed and commissioned during the closing celebration

Children at the Baptist Assembly

What does it mean to love your neighbour on Minecraft? How do you notice who’s alone in the playground on Monday?

For young people, led by young people

The youth programme at the 2016 Baptist Assembly

Baptists Together - Inspiring One Another

Key messages from our Union were shared at the AGM

‘One Million Lives Transformed’

The recently-published BMS mission strategy formed the framework for its keynote session at this year’s Baptist Assembly

Line-up for Catalyst Live announced

With just six months to go before Catalyst Live 2016, the first five speakers are revealed

Global increase in modern slavery

Nearly 46 million people around the world are thought to be trapped in modern slavery, according to the latest global slavery index

Baptists blog on the EU referendum

It's not long before the UK votes either to remain in or leave the European Union. How have Baptists been contributing to the debate?

Theology resources made available

A new website has launched offering theological and spiritual resources which formed the bedrock of the Workshop programme

A recommitment to the common good

A statement from the Joint Public Issues Team in the wake of the referendum on the European Union

Baptists urged to switch to renewables

The Big Church Switch is a campaign that encourages churches to change energy supply from fossil fuels to renewables

To everything a season: the end of BUild

Why the Baptist Union initiative with people with learning disabilities is drawing to an end

Award for Catalyst Live 2016 speaker

Co-ordinating a festival alongside a Catholic priest to help unite Belfast has led to a community award for Steve Stockman

BMS World Mission photo competition

Have an eye for a good photograph? Or simply love the beauty you find in God’s creation?

'Change perception of refugees'

A campaign to challenge the way refugees are portrayed has been launched by Christian Aid

Replacement of Trident is 'unwarranted'

Five UK Churches oppose proposals to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system ahead of Parliamentary debate

New foodbank findings revealed

One of the most comprehensive studies into foodbank use has been published

koko film trilogy explores loss

koko, a multi-award winning blog for teenage girls, has just launched three new films exploring the issues around loss

Links between religion and well-being

Religion really can significantly improve your physical and mental well-being, new research has shown

New training scheme for chaplains

Scottish Baptist College is to offer an undergraduate module in chaplaincy, the first of its kind in the country

Catalyst Live: speaker list confirmed

BMS World Mission has revealed the full list of speakers for Catalyst Live 2016

'Why does God allow suffering?'

A conference that enables young people to ask difficult questions of Christianity is taking place again in September

Soul Survivor coming to Peterborough

Soul Survivor is moving its main venue next year; while Momentum is to be replaced by an all age event focused on the Holy Spirit

New sponsorship scheme for refugees

Baptists are being encouraged to participate in new Government initiatives to support people seeking refuge in the UK

Churches ditch fossil fuel electricity

More than 3,500 UK churches have either switched their electricity from fossil fuels to renewables or registered to do so

National recognition for Baptist pioneers

A pathway that offers national recognition for Baptist pioneers has been officially approved

Summit on UK action to the refugee crisis

Christian Aid and Citizens UK will host the summit this Saturday (10 September) in Birmingham

BMS General Director to stand down in 2017

David Kerrigan, General Director of BMS World Mission since 2009, has announced that he has decided to stand down from the role next year

Rise in unhappiness among girls

More than a quarter of a million girls in Britain are unhappy with their lives, according to a new report from the Children's Society

Urban Life: a snapshot of activities

Exploring the story of our faith through meals, a new book, a masters degree - lots of exciting developments with Urban Life

UK refugee proposal criticised

First ‘safe country’ they arrive in approach puts the interests of rich countries first and ignores the needs of people displaced, says Christian Aid

Nominations sought for Baptist Union President

The nomination process for the President of the Baptist Union 2018-19 is now open

Big bake to beat hunger

Star baker Martha Collison is getting behind a nationwide baking event to fundraise for people living in extreme hunger worldwide

Thy Kingdom Come invite for Baptists

Baptist churches are being invited to take part in a global wave of prayer in the period between Ascension and Pentecost

New approach for Get in the Picture

Get in the Picture, which seeks to involve all kinds of people in the Christmas story, has been relaunched

'Evangelism hub for churches'

A new website that aims to give Christians all the tools they need to share the gospel will launch later this month

'Protect vulnerable children in Calais'

Lynn Green calls for urgent action as she writes to Home Secretary and churches ahead of the planned dismantling of the Calais jungle

Spurgeon's link for new LST Principal

The Revd Dr Calvin T Samuel was a New Testament Lecturer at Spurgeon's College from 2003 - 2010

'Incredible stories of transformation'

The Girls’ Brigade International (GB) has released a video on International Day of the Girl

'Churches demand action on Aleppo'

The Baptist Union of Great Britain has joined other denominations in appealing to the Syrian and Russian Governments

Oasis College shorter courses focus

Oasis College of Higher Education is to switch attention to foundation and continuing professional development courses

Benefit cap 'damaging', says Churches

The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) has spoken out against the Benefit cap, which 'overwhelmingly targets families with children'

5 reasons to go to Catalyst Live

Still not decided whether to go to Catalyst Live? Two Baptist ministers give their reasons why you should

First UK Pentecostal symposium

Hundreds are set to mark Pentecostal presence in Britain in the first ever national Pentecostal symposium and celebration

Catalyst Live: how then shall we live?

Technology, migration, peace-making, creativity and church decline were just some of the topics explored at Catalyst Live 2016.

Parish nursing continues to grow

Thirteen more nurses prepare to work with their churches, extra training courses and a Grove booklet has been produced

'Protect poorest from inflation rise'

Ahead of the Autumn Statement on Wednesday, the Joint Public Issues Team has called for assurances from the Government

Tributes to leading Baptist historian

Tributes have been paid to Baptist historian and former Principal of Regent’s Park College, the Revd Dr Barrington (Barrie) White

'Astonishing activities in Inter Faith Week'

More than 500 events have taken place in the eighth annual Inter Faith Week

'Act on Aleppo' faith leaders' call

Lynn Green has joined faith leaders in urging the UK government to take immediate action to deliver aid to civilians in besieged Aleppo

JPIT nativity film raises asylum treatment

A modern retelling of the nativity story which highlights some of the challenges facing asylum seekers in the UK has been released

'The courage to be Baptist'

A call to Baptist churches to face present disagreements over same-sex marriage by being faithful to ‘a Baptist way of being church’ is made

The World on our Doorstep

Christians are being encouraged to reach out to their neighbours of all beliefs with the good news of Jesus in a new book

'A growing need for Night Shelters'

Nearly 2,000 people were welcomed into church and community based Winter Night Shelters in 2015 - a number expected to rise

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