For Churches
We would love churches across Baptists Together to spend time reflecting on the proposed Shared Understanding of Mission, considering both what it expresses about our common participation in God’s mission and what it might mean within your own context.
The latest draft has emerged from a process of listening and discernment across our Union and is now offered for further reflection as we journey towards Baptist Assembly 2027.
You may find it helpful to read
United in Mission – Towards a Shared Understanding of Mission before, or as part of, your discussion. The accompanying document introduces the revised wording, explains some of the thinking behind it, and offers further questions for reflection.
Questions for discussion
There is no single way in which churches need to engage with the proposed Shared Understanding. You might discuss it as a whole church, within a leadership or deacons’ meeting, in small groups, or as part of a service or church meeting.
These questions may help to begin the conversation:
1. How does this Shared Understanding reflect the ways in which your church already participates in God’s mission?
Where do you recognise your own life and ministry within the four themes of proclaiming Christ, being present among people, practising compassion and pursuing justice?
2. Is there anything within the Shared Understanding that particularly encourages or challenges your church?
Are there aspects of mission that you might want to explore more deeply or give greater attention to?
3. Does this Shared Understanding provide a helpful basis for expressing something of what we hold in common as Baptists about our participation in God’s mission?
Is there anything you would want to affirm, question or offer as we continue this process of discernment?
A video invitation to the conversation
This video was produced ahead of Baptist Assembly 2026, at an earlier stage in the Mission Resolution process. It does not use the wording of the original 2025 draft and much of its invitation to reflect on and share our experiences of mission remains relevant.
The video does, however, invite people to bring their stories to Baptist Assembly 2026. That particular moment has now passed, but we remain enthusiastic about receiving new stories of how churches and individuals are participating in God’s mission.
Stories of encouragement and fruitfulness, as well as challenge, learning and questions, can all help us to listen to one another and discern together what it means to participate in the mission of God.
Video to share with your church, is available to download from Vimeo
Also available is a version with subtitles
Click here to
contact the Mission Forum Core Team with your reflections on the Proposed Resolution, or to share your missional stories.