National news stories in 2021

Using Alexa to connect with care home residents

Want to keep in touch with a loved one in a care home without further burdening the overworked staff there? Tina English of Embracing Age shares a new development

Key Government adoption role for Krish

Baptist church member Krish Kandiah has been given an exciting opportunity to improve the adoption system after being appointed as the new chair of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board (ASGLB)

Baptist church buildings used as vaccination centres

Several Baptist church buildings have become vaccination centres as the national programme accelerates

'Drawn deeper into the ways of the Lord'

A report from the annual Fresh Streams conference, which was an online gathering this year called Back to the Future. By Doug Waller

Helping people face a future they didn’t choose

A new resource that seeks to help people meet God as they walk the path of grief has been launched by The Message Trust

Church campaign to tackle vaccine misinformation launched

The Give Hope campaign encourages Christians to facilitate 'clear and kind conversations with some who may be reticent about taking the vaccine'

CAP founder John Kirkby to leave role

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) founder John Kirkby has announced he will be stepping back from his role, 25 years after he founded the organisation

Launch of The Esther Collective Podcast

The Esther Collective Podcast is a community of 18-30s women exploring the issues young women face with honesty, hope and a sense of humour

Welcoming the people of Hong Kong

A new initiative to help churches play their part in welcoming people from Hong Kong has launched

Tracing the stories of Baptists

The Friends of the Angus Library is sponsoring a special series of online seminars that will share the stories of Baptist women, as well as giving tips on how to write the history of a church and trace the stories of our Baptist ancestors

Bible reading in the pandemic

Christians are gaining hope and confidence during the pandemic through reading the Bible, a survey finds

Campaign for a Covid-free world

British Baptists have joined Baptists across the world in campaigning for equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccinations

Book launch explores how Baptists do theology together

The official launch of a book charting the denominational reforms of the 1990s drew an audience of 80 participants to reflect on a key period of Baptist life and ask important questions about how Baptists do theology today

Covid-19 and Church-21 Survey

A new survey seeks to find out people's thoughts as they look forward to a post-pandemic future for their denomination - and Baptists are encouraged to participate

'A retrograde step'

A statement opposing the expansion of the UK's nuclear weapons stockpile has been issued featuring signatories from seven denominations

Is the ‘missing generation’ still missing?

The Evangelical Alliance (EA) has published a new resource that focuses on young adults in our churches

'Build a hunger free future'

Amid a continuing rise in food banks, the Trussell Trust says the provision of emergency food should not become part of the fabric of society

Baptist Union Council: March 2021

Pioneering and divestment were a key focus at the latest Baptist Union Council

Baptist Union Presidency for Hayley Young

The Revd Hayley Young has been elected President of our Baptist Union 2022-23

Something to Declare - new Baptist podcast

Baptist ministers Beth Allison-Glenny and David Mayne chat with some of the people who make them glad to be part of the Baptist movement

Church service marks anniversary of George Floyd killing

Church leaders from Britain and Ireland will call for justice at a national service marking the first anniversary of the killing of George Floyd on 25 May 2021

Response to Sewell report

A response to the Government's recent report on race relations in the UK has been issued by the Racial Justice Advocacy Forum

'A practical resource for pastors developing an intercultural congregation'

A new book that aims to equip Baptist ministers to preach in an intercultural congregation has been published

National competition helps churches support those facing unemployment

A competition to help build the capacity of churches to support adults and young people back into employment has launched

We have to provide hope

Parish nurses walk alongside those who are struggling in the communities they serve. How has the pandemic impacted their ministry, and what needs do they perceive as we move forward?

The big thing is to get people to sense there is hope

Colin Richards, Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre manager at Kirkintilloch Baptist Church, East Dunbartonshire, shares his experiences of the pandemic so far – and outlines what may be ahead.

University challenges

University students have had a hugely disrupted year. Joni Roberts and Josh Edah give an insight into their experiences in the pandemic.

Attentive to rhythms of grace

Incoming President Geoff Colmer introduces the presidential theme for 2021-2022

Spiritualism: Seduction, not Sanctification

The Baptist Deliverance Study Group is expressing its concern that some people are turning to spiritualism in the belief they can make contact with their departed and so find the closure they so desperately need

New administrator for Baptist Building CIO

Baptist Building CIO (BBCIO) has recently taken over the functions of the Baptist Building Fund (BBF) - and has a new administrator

'Embed compassion into immigration plan'

The Joint Public Issues Team has joined more than 80 faith groups and faith leaders in asking the Home Office to embed principles of compassion and respect for human dignity in its New Plan for Immigration (NPFI)

'Lean into the suffering of the world'

Shane Claiborne invited Baptists 'to make a fresh commitment to lean into the suffering of the world' in his address on Friday night

Attentive to rhythms of grace

New President Geoff Colmer encouraged Baptist churches to be attentive to God and not rush back to what they have always done

Baptist Union AGM at the Baptist Assembly

The AGM featured a reflection from Lynn Green, the Presidential handover, a finance update and three resolutions

What is God’s perfect dream where you live?

What does it look like to live out the Gospel in our neighbourhood? That was the challenge from Shane Claiborne during the Sunday morning session at the Baptist Assembly

Lives transformed - BMS session

BMS World Mission will have an increased focused on refugees as part of its new five year strategy

CYM relaunches as an independent college

The Institute for Children, Youth and Mission – CYM – is relaunching as an independent college focused on supporting ministry and mission for children, young people and families

Launch of Project Violet

The Centre for Baptist Studies, Regent’s Park College, Oxford is pleased to announce Project Violet, a three-year participatory research project that will examine the place of women in Baptist ministry

Connecting Christian carers

There are likely to be informal carers in your church communities. Tina English of the charity Embracing Age highlights an initiative designed to support them

Spring Harvest to return in person in 2022

Spring Harvest has announced that after a two-year break from meeting together, it is now planning to return to Butlin’s resorts in 2022

'Address rising tide of loneliness and social isolation'

A coalition of national Christian charities which has been in operation for six years is encouraging churches and individual Christians to engage in Loneliness Awareness Week

Internships for young adults across Baptists Together

A new focus on promoting and facilitating internships for young adults in Baptist life is gathering pace

New degree courses for Spurgeon's College

Spurgeon’s College has announced new degree courses as it responds to the educational needs of the Borough of Croydon

‘Visionary leadership, personal kindness’

Baptists have paid tribute to the Revd Dr Joel Edwards, the former General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, who has died

Children, youth and family ministry at Bristol Baptist College

Clare Hooper on the importance of continuing to discover what it means to share the good news and to be good news to the children, families and young people in our communities, and how the college can help

Dismay at international aid budget cut

General Secretary Lynn Green has joined leaders in the Methodist Church and United Reformed Church to express dismay at the government's ‘heartless’ move to reduce the UK’s commitment to international aid

'My welcome was very warm – and I want others to experience this'

Sharon Shek has been appointed Baptists Together Hong Kong Response Co-ordinator

'A wonderful witness to the wide variety of British Baptists' theological work'

A number of Baptist writing projects have been published in 2021, with more to come before the year is done, writes Andy Goodliff

Churches' climate commitments ahead of COP

A coalition of Christian churches and charities has called on churches to hold a ‘Climate Sunday’ and commit to effective action themselves before COP 26, the critical climate summit in November

The Ugly Duckling Company launches 10:10

A new wellbeing resource built on spirituality and positive psychology will help young people to live life well

Festschrift honour for Ruth Gouldbourne

The Baptist minister, historian and theologian has been presented with a set of essays to honour the contribution she has made to Baptist life

'Extraordinary glimpses into 17th century Baptist church life'

The Angus Library and Archive is delighted to announce that the digitised records of Cripplegate Baptist Church and Hexham and Hamsterley Baptist Church are now available to view online

Launch of resources for churches, ministers and everybody else

The Disability Justice Group of the Baptist Union is developing resources to help Christians and churches explore and talk about disability, church and faith

Spurgeon's College sponsors community football tournament

More than 70 youngsters from the local community enjoyed a competitive and fun afternoon of football at the Preventing Knife Crime (PKC) Academy’s summer football tournament

Churches and charities prepare for COP26

Forty Christian denominations and charities from across the UK came together for a special service marking ‘Climate Sunday’ at Glasgow Cathedral - close to where the COP26 climate summit will take place in two months’ time.

Placements needed for international trainees

DNA, a national discipleship programme, is urgently seeking to partner with two Baptist churches to host trainees from Cameroon

Grants for churches from Baptist Building CIO

Baptist Building CIO would like to announce its latest round of Empowering Change Fund grants with a deadline of 30 November 2021

Psalm 23 Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Sarah Eberle’s Psalm 23 Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is set to spearhead a campaign to see the creation of community gardens around the country as we emerge from the pandemic

60 years on: the legacy of Martin Luther King's first London sermon

On 29 October 1961, Martin Luther King Jr preached in the UK for the first time, at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church. Now 60 years on, the church is hosting an event to explore the ongoing significance of his message for the UK.

Joining the dots podcast

Introducing the new Baptists Together Children, Young People and Families podcast

Sight Loss Sunday enables blind and partially sighted people to serve in church

Sight Loss Sunday on 17 October is encouraging churches to become more aware of the needs of blind and partially sighted people in their communities

Black British Christian forums unite to produce a series of webinars on reparations

Black History Month 2021 sees the launch of a series of webinars dedicated to British engagement with reparations for descendants of enslaved and colonised African peoples.

Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration for COP26

UK faith leaders have called on governments to take urgent action to avert damage threatened by climate change, ahead of the crucial climate summit

Baptists Together during the pandemic

The next Baptist Union Council takes place on 13-14 October, and there will be space to hear, reflect and celebrate how Baptists have responded in the pandemic. Do you have a story to share? New Council moderator Seidel Abel Boanerges explains more

'We are more than just a website provider for churches'

The Baptists Together website and app developer has undergone a rebrand from ChurchInsight to Hubb.church to better reflect the integrated platform it now offers

Dr Graham Scroggie - can you help?

The author of a new biography of Dr Graham Scroggie has asked readers of The Baptist Times for their help in recovering items relating to his life

Interested in setting up a missional community where you live?

A new resource called Table may help you and your small group explore just that

Safeguarding survey launched to find out how safe LGBT+ Christians feel in UK churches

An online survey launches on World Mental Health Day to understand just how safe UK LGBT+ Christians feel in their churches, and what can be done to make them feel safer

A journey towards to Jesus

A resource designed to help people add a spiritual dimension alongside what they’re already doing has been launched by Fresh Expressions

Baptist Union Council: October 2021

How Baptist churches have responded in the pandemic and approval for a series of proposals aimed at supporting training for women and men into Baptist ministry were key topics at the latest Baptist Union Council

Baptists during the pandemic – what is God saying to us?

General Secretary Lynn Green and Council moderator Seidel Abel Boanerges share feedback from Baptist Union Council

Lorry drivers lack proper provision, says Baptist minister

Phil Jump says the poor facilities provided for lorry drivers in the UK is similar to that of the thousands of navvies digging roads, railways and reservoirs in the late 1800s

Jennifer Crook appointed principal of Regent's Park College

The Governing Body of Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford is delighted to announce that Jennifer Crook is to become its next Principal, following the recent retirement of the Revd Dr Robert Ellis.

Event on radical hospitality

A special event to celebrate how the church has welcomed people from Afghanistan and Hong Kong, and explore what needs to happen next, is taking place on Wednesday, 17 November

'Ultimately the summit has not delivered'

Statement from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church on the conclusion of the Glasgow COP26 summit – 14 November 2021

Festschrift honour for Rob Ellis

Rob was presented with a set of essays when he retired as Principal of Regent’s Park College, Oxford, reflecting his interest in Practical Theology

British churches and mosques launch a new programme of local conversations

A group of church denominations and mosques have announced a new phase of dialogue aimed at encouraging Christians and Muslims to meet and share conversations in their local settings