National news stories in 2019

'Rethink approach to immigration'

Faith representatives have urged the government to move from a hostile environment towards a culture of sanctuary

New Firestarter events for Baptist growth

A new series of Firestarter events that explore Baptist church growth have been organised for 2019

Baptist Pension Scheme update

The deficit in the Baptist Pension Scheme has been reduced following Family Solution implementation

'Some great thinking within our Union'

A report from the Theology Live conference, which provides a space for Baptists involved in theological research

'Enabling churches to house the homeless'

Details of the annual conference of Hope Into Action, a charity helping churches fight homelessness

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Lynn Green has joined Christian leaders encouraging people to join in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Funding boost to promote organ donation

Two Christian organisations join the campaign to address the need for black, Asian and minority ethnic organ donors

'How grateful we are - thank you, David'

The long service of David Lovegrove to the United Board has been recognised at its annual conference

A new look Baptist Assembly

A revamped format, a first-time venue, a two-day programme and flexible ticket options - this year's Baptist Assembly

The annual conference of the United Board

Baptisms in the bucket of a JCB, a notable retirement - a report from a conference for chaplains to the military

'Pray for students this Sunday'

Churches are being invited to pray for students around the world on the Universal Day of Prayer for Students

'Significant increase in platform equity'

The latest report monitoring gender balance at Christian festivals and conferences has been released

An update on this year's Crucible Course

Feedback from this year's Crucible Course has been encouraging - and there are upcoming taster days

Create a climate of change this Lent

Baptists challenged to make significant commitments to changing their lifestyles for the climate this Lent

A theological and justice perspective on charity

This year's David Goodbourn Lecture will raise questions about charities and faith in relation to justice

Praying for our Parliament - supporting our MPs

Upholding our MPs in prayer

Fresh Expressions: networks of networks

Fresh Expressions is undergoing a process of change, and Baptists are now at the heart of the movement

Christians flock to pray for Brexit

Christians responded to the Brexit crisis by filling a huge prayer wall with hundreds of prayers

Funding repairs is 'top problem'

An online poll finds funding repairs is the biggest problem facing the UK's church buildings

Baptist Union Council: March 2019

Justice concerns were at the heart of the latest meeting of Baptist Union Council, which took place 13-14 March

New role for BMS' Peter Dunn

The Director of Mission is joining Biglife Ministries in a new role shared with the Yorkshire Baptist Association

Call to prayer ahead of EU departure

Christians are being encouraged to pray as we approach the date when the UK is scheduled to leave the EU

Baptist Union Presidency for Yinka

Yinka Oyekan, minister of The Gate in Reading, has been elected President of our Baptist Union for 2020-21

Month of prayer for toddler groups

Annual prayer focus encourages churches to pray for the work of their toddler groups throughout June

A focus on small Baptist churches

A report from the latest gathering of Association representatives with a heart for small churches

Funding for Baptist church science projects

Sessions building robots to explore AI and science-faith themed videos among latest grant recipients

'Unprecedented gospel opportunity'

The current uncertainty in the UK means openness to the Gospel is potentially far greater than normal - Gavin Calver

Open the Book 20th anniversary

Thousands of people across the country are expected to mark the 20th anniversary celebration of Open the Book

‘Think, Pray and Vote’ ahead of EU elections

The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) has published a briefing to aid church members ahead of the European elections

'Properly rethink benefit sanctions'

Recent changes to the system will not fundamentally change the impact on struggling families, say churches

Missio dei and Baptist churches

What difference will Missio Dei make to Baptist churches? A question explored by Dr Kang-San Tan

Where do we grow from here?

New Baptist Union Presidents hopes churches and ministers will engage with the challenge

'Fix our eyes on Jesus, be secure in Him'

Baptists have been urged to be secure in their identity in Jesus, get rid of things that hinder... and keep running the race

Sunday morning session - BMS

New resources, addresses from Ben Francis and daughter Abigail, an update One Million Lives Transformed

‘We are sending out 14 beacons'

Young people at the Baptist Assembly were encouraged to reflect on their relationship with God, and its impact

‘We want to embrace adventure’

The Baptist Union of Great Britain AGM took place on Sunday morning

Induction, recognition, In Memoriam

Ministers and mission personnel were recognised and prayed for on a packed Assembly Saturday night

‘Using hunger to change behaviour?’

The flaws of Universal Credit were shared at the Baptist Assembly - alongside ways churches can respond

‘What’s God doing where you are?’

Delegates learnt about how to host an interactive listening workshop in their churches and Associations

'Firestarters is all about meeting Jesus'

A movement of Baptist churches is seeing unusual growth – and wants to share lessons with other churches

Prayer Space at the Baptist Assembly

For the duration of this year’s Assembly in Telford there was a space set aside for prayer and meditation

Supporting small churches

New ways to resource, network and encourage our Union’s smaller churches was the focus of a Saturday afternoon session

Baptists Together - have confidence!

Baptists were urged to ditch the negative human narratives and have confidence in God’s call on our lives.

‘Crossing barriers, in the name of Jesus’

The unpredictability of the Holy Spirit in uniting people was highlighted in the Communion service

An alternative evening celebration

Thirst aimed to provide a more informal setting to connect with God at the 2019 Baptist Assembly

Opening our baptisteries

Could all Baptist churches open their baptisteries in the next 12 months? Could we all get ready for more baptisms?

'Struggle to connect with young people'

Survey reveals churches’ struggle to connect with young people as charity launches new grants programme

‘A clear invitation to partnership’

Lynn Green reports on a meeting hosted by Christian Aid with the Deputy General Secretary for the UN

The Wall of Answered Prayer

The design and location for a new landmark that aims to inspire the nation to pray has been revealed

‘Let’s Talk Loneliness’ campaign

Christian organisations have encouraged churches to engage in the national ‘Let’s Talk Loneliness’ Campaign

'Thanks to all who have supported this work'

A message from BUild (Baptist Union Initiative with People with Learning Disabilities), whose work has ended

Young adults and Baptists Together

A series of recommendations to engage and release young adults in mission and leadership have been made

Latest community pantry opens

Pantries are membership-based food clubs that enable people to access food at a small fraction of its usual price

Working to end Modern Slavery

A ‘stain on our lives’ - a report from the National Modern Slavery Summits, hosted by Together Free

Dignity in the workplace?

A new report into whether workplaces are humanity-affirming or dehumanising has been launched

Gavin Calver new EA chief executive

Gavin Calver, an accredited Baptist evangelist, will be the new CEO of the Evangelical Alliance

'Helping Baptists to know their story'

The latest Baptist Historical Society Summer School explored Baptists in the 20th Century

No-deal Brexit concern in letter to PM

Christians write to Boris Johnson to state no-deal Brexit is 'gambling with the basic needs of our poorest citizens'

The first-ever Ladies’ Day at CRE

In partnership with Mothers’ Union and Project 3:28, CRE will devote its final day to issues faced by women

Spurgeon's appeal after regulator decision

Spurgeon’s College seeks Christian community support after regulatory body turns down registration application

Jane Day appointed Centenary Enabler

Significant challenges still exist for Baptist women. Jane’s role is to research the issues and to offer ways of overcoming them

Baptists Together support for Spurgeon's students

Baptists Together have moved quickly to support students planning to train for Baptist ministry at Spurgeon’s College in light of the Office for Students (OfS) declining the College’s application for registration

Supporting toddler group leaders

A national conference to support and equip toddler group leaders is taking place at the end of the month

Funding to connect with children, young people

More than a quarter of a million pounds is heading to churches and Christian organisations all over the UK

Farron: don't exclude faith from public square

Former Liberal Democrat leader's memoir aims to offer understanding of relationship between faith and politics

Charting the UK chaplaincy explosion

Jonathan Woodhouse, the first-ever Baptist to become Chaplain General, is speaking at CRE

Sam Sharpe lecture focus on reparations

The subject of reparations for slavery is the focus of the eighth Sam Sharpe Lecture in October

New role for ongoing ministerial development

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Fergusson as Ministerial Development Adviser

Church from Scratch offers new reflective film

Church from Scratch in Southend has produced a new film to help churches reflect on and discuss sensitive issues around sexuality

'Age of anxiety' for young people

Four in 10 anxious about important decisions and uncertain about the future, a new report has warned

The Crucible course – now in four cities

The fifteenth year of the Crucible course begins this autumn, with modules for the first time available in four different cities – London, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton

Anthony Reddie to head up the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture

Leading scholar in the field of Black Theology will be the new Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture at Regent’s Park College, Oxford

New Baptist Insurance website

With a contemporary new look and feel, the website has been designed to enable people to find the information that they’re looking for more quickly

Baptist women meet Elijah Brown

The meeting considered what actions might follow from this summer’s BWA Resolution: Recognising and affirming the calling of women in the church

New campaign to raise awareness of loneliness

Christian charity Linking Lives UK challenging people to spend 24 hours in isolation, having no contact with the outside world

Theology Live 2020 - lineup announced

Theology Live is a day which recognises the breadth of Baptists engaged in theological and biblical scholarship

The State of Diaspora Mission in the UK

A reflective report of the recent conference The State of Diaspora Mission in the UK

Study highlights faith impact on 18-35 year olds

A report has found young people who are engaged with church are more likely to say they are optimistic about the future, and are secure in who they are

A Day of Celebration, Confirmation and Challenge

A report and reflection by Clive Burnard about the recent event celebrating 100 years of ordaining women to Baptist ministry

'Churches in unique position to help exploited people'

Those trapped in Modern Slavery would turn to the church for help, according to a new report

Serving God in business and commerce

Mark Roques reports on a recent conference which affirmed business as a sphere of life that God is very concerned about

Baptist Union Council: November 2019

How Baptist ministerial formation is funded was a major topic at the latest Baptist Union Council

LICC role for Ken Benjamin

Current Baptist Union President Ken Benjamin is to take up a key strategic role with The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC)

'People not aware of HIV facts'

Christian charity acet UK has warned of new challenges in HIV prevention ahead of World AIDS Day on 1 December

Equipping a new generation of missional leaders

New college units are being prepared that will make 'a vital contribution in equipping Baptist ministers for the particular challenges of the increasingly post-Christendom context'

'New Christian heritage network will reach thousands'

Church-based, actively Christian groups have teamed up to create a new network of Christian heritage tour operators, writes Adrian Gray

Investing ethically

Treasurer John Levick reports on the latest meeting of the Church Investors Group

Banner Image:	Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:	Baptist Times