Baptists Together Mission Forum – November 2025

 

The National Mission Forum recently held an online meeting that began with an update on recent developments related to the Mission Resolution. More information will be shared via social media and the Baptists Together Magazine before the Baptist Assembly in 2026. The meeting also included reports from the Grants Committee regarding a number of projects we are supporting, including an update from Everyone Everywhere. At present, the grants process has been suspended pending completion of the ongoing Financial Model Review.
 
There were two key speakers for the day, Isabella Senior, 18-35s Development Coordinator and the Revd Dr Helen Paynter, founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist College.
 

The Quiet Revival Report and Stories from within Baptist Family

Isabella delivered findings from the Quiet Revival Report by the Bible Society which reported on a marked rise in belief in God and church attendance among young adults, especially young men. This rise has particularly been observed in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Pentecostal traditions. We looked at the possible causes and implications of this trend, including the attraction of experiential and mystical aspects within faith communities. Drawing from her experience at Satellite’s Youth Festival this summer, Isabella observed that many young attendees expressed interest in quiet, contemplative spaces as opposed to the more energetic and noisier worship events.

We discussed concerns regarding the methodology and validity of the statistical data, referencing critiques from Radio 4's More or Less program (4 July) and the Listen Think Live podcast by the Northumbria Collective. Additional questions were asked about whether the numbers genuinely reflect spiritual growth, whether the use of "revival" terminology may contribute to unrealistic expectations, and there were also apprehensions about the influence of Christian nationalism. The group agreed that while the report's findings are worth considering, there is a need for further analysis and critique of its findings.

Despite these reservations, participants gave anecdotal evidence that positive trends in Baptist church attendance, especially among younger age groups, have been observed. The conversation then shifted toward practical challenges for responding to the Quiet Revival, emphasizing the need for robust discipleship pathways, and mentoring of young people, and thus the need for more youth workers and leaders of all ages. 
 

The Rise of Christian Nationalism and Far-Right Movements: Implications for Mission

The Revd Dr Helen Paynter delivered an insightful presentation on the emergence and increasing influence of Christian nationalism and far-right movements within the United Kingdom. She began by clarifying the definitions and motivations behind these movements, outlining how such groups often exploit societal fears and anxieties. By amplifying a sense of despair and deepening political and social polarisation, these movements can misuse Scripture and appropriate Christian identity for their political objectives.

Helen emphasised the critical need for churches to address these challenges through deepening discipleship, enabling local congregations to grapple with complex social issues such as the lack of affordable housing and employment opportunities, helping people to discern and address the root causes of hopelessness in society.

To meet these challenges, Helen identified several key priorities:

• Promoting greater theological literacy among ministers
• Reaffirming foundational Baptist principles as a guiding framework
• Developing respectful and compassionate interfaith relationships, grounded in both conviction and empathy
• Building dialogue and collaborative community initiatives to foster mutual understanding and action

Helen emphasised that, in the face of increasing polarisation, churches are called to respond both prophetically and pastorally, involving speaking truth into societal issues and engaging in respectful dialogue across differences. 


Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Mission Forum is scheduled to take place on 7–8 July 2026 at Yarnfield Park. Building on previous discussions, the forum will focus on the topic of "Decolonizing Mission" and will be facilitated by the Revd Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana, Director of the Centre for Mission from the Majority World.



 

Sandra Crawford chairs Baptists Together Mission Forum