National news stories in 2022

Baptist churches supporting new summer youth festival

The Youthscape 'Satellites' event - a new five-day camp aimed specifically at Christian youth groups - takes place in Peterborough from 9-13 August

'Such a timely contribution to the church'

The themes of discipleship, suffering and racial justice in the context of the pandemic are explored in a new book by Baptist minister the Revd Dr Israel Olofinjana

New tutors for Northern Baptist College

Northern Baptist Colleges has announced the appointment of two new part-time tutors

Results from LGBT+ Christians survey

A new survey has revealed how unsafe many LGBT+ Christians feel to be themselves in their regular places of worship

Baptist chaplains gather for online event

The aim was to give our chaplains a place to connect with each other, be recognised by the wider Baptist movement and reflect on the practical and theological realities of their ministry

Racial Justice Advocacy Forum launches website to explore slavery reparations

The Racial Justice Advocacy Forum (RJAF) has launched a new website that captures all the work taking place in Britain and Ireland to address the issue of Transatlantic slavery-related reparations

Connection and conversation – the Baptist Assembly 2022

Registrations are now open for this year’s Baptist Assembly, which is both our first in-person gathering in three years and our first ever hybrid event

'It will enlarge your horizon. It will help you to examine: Where is God taking me?'

Introducing One2Lead, a personal development and leadership training programme, which equips 16-25 year olds in leadership roles within the church

Director of Baptist Church Planting at St Hild announced

St Hild College has announced the appointment of the Revd Alex Harris to the newly created role of Director of Baptist Church Planting at the St Hild Centre for Church Planting

Next phase for Project Violet

Investigations from a number of women in Baptist life form the third phase of Project Violet

Faith leaders 'horrified' by refugee bill and urge PM to rethink

Leaders representing the six major faith groups in the UK have written to Boris Johnson urging him to reconsider the Nationality and Borders Bill, in a letter coordinated by the Joint Public Issues Team

The return of Firestarters in 2022

The grassroots friendship of growing Baptist churches helping other churches through honest, open conversations with church leadership teams has a series of new dates this year

'Register support for Ukrainian refugee programme'

UK churches - including Baptist churches - are being encouraged to register their support of a UK sponsorship programme for Ukrainian refugees

New role to focus on the development of younger leaders

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Isabella Senior as Young Leaders’ Development Coordinator

CTE Statements on the conflict in Ukraine

The Presidents of CTE and the Fourth Presidency Group made two statements on behalf of the whole of Forum at their meeting 14-16 March 2022

Grant-making charity Allchurches Trust rebrands to Benefact Trust

On its 50th anniversary, one of the UK’s largest grant-making charities has changed its name to 'reflect the organisation’s increased charitable scope, impact and giving ethos'

Baptist Union Council: March 2022

A report from the latest gathering of Baptist Union Council

How has your place of worship embraced technology?

Baptist Insurance Company has launched a new competition: ‘Tales of Technology’ invites you to share how your place of worship has embraced technology and how this has helped to benefit your church mission, congregation and local community

'She is an unashamed, committed Christian and her faith is worth celebrating'

As the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations fast approach, churches across the country are gearing up to mark the occasion

Church leaders ask MPs to change Nationality and Borders Bill

Church leaders have written to all MPs ahead of Wednesday’s vote on the Nationality and Borders Bill, urging them to use their influence to make changes to the Bill

Capturing faith communities’ ‘monumental contributions’ during the pandemic

A national campaign to reflect on and record the contributions of the faith community during the COVID-19 crisis – and to inform and renew our sense of mission – has been launched by Spurgeon’s College

Baptist Union Presidency for Tim Presswood

Baptists have discerned that the Revd Tim Presswood will serve as Baptists Together President 2023-24

Baptist Building CIO raises loan threshold

A loan fund which has been serving Baptists for nearly two centuries has increased the maximum amount churches can borrow

Religion has a place in the modern world - Gen Z

A new study suggests a more balanced perspective towards the relationship between science and religion in younger generations

National competition to help churches address emerging challenges

Are you running a church-led project that's addressing emerging challenges in your community? Do you believe this work could be replicated across the country? If so, Cinnamon Network is inviting you to enter its 2022 Project Incubator Competition

Baptist Theology North 2022

Action, Spirituality and Change was the theme for the keynote speakers at the latest Baptist Theology North (BTN), held this year at New North Road Baptist Church, Huddersfield, our amazing hosts, writes Sally Nelson

'Not enough to be well-intentioned - we must also be well-informed'

Sanctuary Foundation launches free online training to support those welcoming Ukrainians to the UK

Building a bigger table - Hayley Young inducted as President

Can we, as a Baptist movement, build a bigger table for the sake of the gospel? That was the challenge from new President Hayley Young

‘Here I am. Send me!’

Ministers, pastors and preachers who have recently transferred to the fully accredited list, and mission personnel heading overseas this year were recognised and blessed on Saturday night

Something is dying; something is not yet born

Baptists have been encouraged to return to their roots and explore what it truly means to abide in Christ. The Sunday morning sermon with Alan Donaldson

‘Baptist churches are making a difference’

There is much to be thankful for across Baptists Together amid significant challenges, General Secretary Lynn Green told the Baptist Assembly during the Baptist Union of Great Britain annual meeting

Connecting with each other, connecting with God

Connection was the key theme of the youth sessions at the Baptist Assembly

Spurgeon’s College secures full degree awarding powers

Spurgeon’s College has successfully secured full degree awarding powers from the Office for Students (OfS) following its assessment by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

'They all have different gifts'

Children explored themes of community and unity together through the life of Jesus at this year’s Baptist Assembly

Latest Talking Jesus report now available

The report by Alpha, the Evangelical Alliance, HOPE Together, Luis Palau Association and Kingsgate Community Church shows the state of faith in the UK

A united year of mission: Hope 23-24

Christians are being encouraged to unite as a church across denominations to offer the hope of Jesus for a year of mission starting in September 2023

Christian charity launches campaign to address loneliness

Linking Lives UK is using Loneliness Awareness Week to highlight ideas on how to address loneliness in the lives of those around us

Professor Sir Malcolm Evans appointed new Principal of Regent’s Park College

The Governing Body of Regent’s Park College, Oxford, has announced that Professor Sir Malcolm Evans KCMG OBE is to become its next Principal

Celebrating the ministry of Paul Goodliff

A Baptist celebration to mark the retirement of Paul Goodliff took place at Regent's Park College - and culminated in the presentation of a festschrift, a set of essays in his honour

Urban Expression @ 25

This year Urban Expression celebrates 25 years of mission in the margins, and now has teams across the UK from Cornwall to Glasgow and Belfast to Hull. Stuart Murray-Williams reports on a gathering to mark the anniversary

New round of grants announced by Baptist Building CIO

Are you part of a small church which is planning a small scale building project?

'Their childhoods and life chances depend on it'

Children's charity Action for Children is encouraging people to sign a letter asking the UK Government to take urgent, targeted action to help the poorest families during the cost of living crisis

New course to help churches welcome Hong Kongers

The interactive six-week Welcome Course from UKHK aims to help new arrivals find information, friends and support as they settle and integrate into their local churches and communities

Catching the vision for disability inclusion

Former Baptist Union General Secretary the Revd Jonathan Edwards shared tips to encourage leaders to embrace disability inclusion during an online talk for the charity Through the Roof

Ministries Team Leader Andy Hughes to join RBMHO

Ministries Team Leader Andy Hughes is to leave his role to become the new Secretary and Tenant Relations Manager for the Retired Baptist Ministers Housing Organisation (RBMHO)

God saw that it was good

A Baptist environment project that helps people encounter God through creation has won additional funding

Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge for Home Mission

Current President Hayley Young is donning her walking boots to raise funds for Home Mission, and will be joined by several others passionate about the cause. She explains more

Win a year’s subscription to RaiseUpFaith

Take part in a 10 minute survey about children's ministry

Cost of living support not enough, Government told

Faith groups, charities and politicians have called on the government to take urgent action to bridge the cost of living gap faced by the lowest income families, following a report from the Joint Public Issues Team

Fresh Streams leadership statement following summer theology school

The leadership team at Fresh Streams has released a statement highlighting points of agreement following the 'engaging and positive' theology school on human sexuality the network hosted in June

International Baptist scholars in Oxford

The place and impact of Baptists in higher education was discussed at the annual Baptist Scholars International Roundtable (BSIR), which took place in Oxford in August. Sally Nelson was among those invited to present a paper, and explains more

How Firestarters is growing to support Baptist churches

Begun in 2017 as a series of conversations, the Firestarters Network is expanding the ways it can support and help Baptist churches grow through reaching people for Jesus

‘We give thanks for the life of your servant Elizabeth’

A reflection and prayer from our General Secretary, Lynn Green

New hymn ‘Tears and Celebration’ released in tribute to Elizabeth II

Charities LICC and Bible Society are releasing a poignant hymn of remembrance, assurance, and thanksgiving, featuring world-renowned mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, written by Andy Flannagan with Sam Hargreaves

'The Queen is an example to everyone. Doing this is a way for people to remember her'

Baptist churches have responded to the death of the Queen in a variety of ways, including opening their buildings for prayer and reflection, hastily re-organising services and creating plans to screen Monday’s funeral. Here's a snapshot of recent activity

'God is at work among young adults in our Baptist movement'

Young Leaders’ Development Coordinator Isabella Senior reports on encouraging developments - including the launch of our new Internship Best Practice Handbook

Warm Welcome campaign to launch

A campaign to support churches and other community organisations open their doors and provide warm and welcoming spaces this winter will launch on Wednesday (28 September)

Tales of Technology: 'The entries were fantastic!'

Our latest article from Baptist Insurance highlights the winners of its Tales of Technology competition

Small churches: encouragements and challenges

Notes from a recent Baptist Union Smaller Church online gathering (22 September), which featured representatives from several Associations

National theology competition win for Baptist minister-in-training

Amanda Higgin, in her second year of training as a Baptist minister at Regent's Park College, Oxford, was crowned the winner in the live final of Theology Slam

'A unique ministry amongst Baptists'

Professor Paul Fiddes marks a 50 year association with Regent's Park College in October

Marriage and accredited ministry

An update ahead of October's Baptist Union Council meeting

Book honour for Baptist college principal

The Revd Dr Stephen Finamore, who leads Bristol Baptist College, has been presented with a Festschrift, a set of essays written in his honour

Successfully building multi-ethnic church

A conference to equip Baptist ministers and church leaders to build genuinely multi-ethnic churches is taking place in January

'We cannot stay quiet when vital support to the communities we are part of is threatened'

General Secretary Lynn Green has joined leaders in The Methodist Church in Britain and the United Reformed Church to call on the Government to reaffirm its commitment to uprate benefits in line with inflation

'One Church, One Day, One message: Protecting Vulnerable People. Together'

New film released as UK churches unite in prayer to mark Safeguarding Sunday and ask God’s help in becoming a safer place for all

Launch of the Baptists Together Communications chat and support Facebook Group

A new private Facebook group is launched to support communications across Baptists Together. National Communications Manager Mike Lowe explains more

'Visions of Colour', an anti-racism course for ministerial formation, now available

This year's Black History Month sees the release of a comprehensive training course that aims to equip Baptist ministers to develop anti-racism action plans for their local churches

Baptist Union Council: October 2022

Challenges facing our Union were highlighted at the October 2022 Baptist Union Council, which took place at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire 12-13 October

Family-friendly sessions reconciling faith and science

Do you feel you have to choose one or the other? Would you like to explore whether the two could go together? If so, you are invited to an event on Saturday 26 November 2022 at New Hope Baptist Church in Coseley

Baptists enjoy CRE

Baptists from as far afield as Dorset and Buckinghamshire made a bee-line for the national Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE), held over three days at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, from October 11 to 13

Firestarters: 'The inspiration and fire for mission is contagious'

Around 100 Baptist ministers, leaders and volunteers have participated in a series of Firestarter conversations this year - and now more conversations are planned for 2023

New essay prize in Black British History and Christianity

Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church has announced the creation of the annual Bloomsbury Essay Prize in Black British History and Christianity

I Am Because You Are - new video-based training course

Tim Fergusson introduces a new Baptist video-based training course which explores what discrimination is, the meaning of equality and diversity in secular society, and how this relates to the Bible and our own experience

Cost of Living Response Fund launched by Stewardship

A new appeal to fundraise for charities and churches providing emergency relief in the face of the cost of living crisis has launched

'A growing network of people partnering to see the Kingdom of God in new housing areas’

A report from the National New Housing Summit, which saw around 100 leaders gather at Regents Hall in London to explore reaching every new housing area with God’s love, and hear stories of where this is happening

Baptist Small Church Hubs

Hubs enable smaller Baptist churches to meet for training, resourcing and general encouragement. Two have already taken place, with more planned. Hilary Taylor explains more

‘We think it’s a practical way of responding to the cost of living crisis’

At least 240 Baptist churches have registered their buildings as warm spaces this winter.

What is the place of families in church post-Covid?

Major new survey reveals 40 per cent of UK churches have reduced engagement with families post-lockdown – and explores how they can adapt their ministry

RJAF: speaking against injustice

Wale Hudson-Roberts introduces the official launch event of the Racial Justice Advocacy Forum on 15 February

Support Services Team Leader to join London City Mission

Support Services Team Leader Richard Wilson is to leave his role in early 2023 to become the Director for Property, Finance and IT at London City Mission (LCM)

‘Stimulate our minds, inspire our hearts’ - Theology Live 2023

A range of speakers have been announced for the next Theology Live!, which is taking place on 13 January 2023

Baptist interns' online gathering in January

Connect with other interns across Baptists Together, share experiences and be encouraged - Isabella Senior introduces an online gathering for all interns currently serving in Baptist churches