A Shared Understanding of Mission
Updated draft - September 2026

Following a period of listening, reflection and discernment across Baptists Together, a new draft of our proposed “Shared Understanding of Mission” has now been published.
 
The original draft was presented at Baptist Assembly 2025, not as a finished statement, but as an invitation to conversation and discernment. Since then, churches, groups and individuals from across our Union have shared their reflections and stories of participating in the mission of God.


What we have heard has helped to shape a substantially shorter and revised draft, which is now offered for further reflection and discernment as we journey towards Baptist Assembly 2027.
 

A Shared Understanding of Mission – Updated September 2026

Abiding in God, and participating in His mission, we as Baptists bear witness to Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, through words and actions:
 
By Proclaiming Christ, inviting people to repentance and faith, to be baptised and to follow Him as lifelong disciples;
 
By being Present Among people and nurturing Christian communities;
 
By Practising Compassion towards our neighbours;
 
By Pursuing Justice, peace and the flourishing of creation.

Exploring the new draft

An accompanying document which can be downloaded for you to read, entitled, ‘United in Mission - Towards a Shared Understanding of Mission’ tells the story of the journey so far, introduces the new draft and explores some of the thinking behind it. It also offers ways for churches, groups and individuals to engage with the Shared Understanding as we continue this process of discernment towards Baptist Assembly 2027.
 

Why a Shared Understanding of Mission?

Originating from numerous conversations in Mission Forum, the aim of the Mission Resolution is to offer, discuss and hopefully affirm an understanding of mission that will inspire Baptists Together to further share the good news of Jesus through word and deed.
 
Through prayerful discussion and discernment, our hope is that it will serve as an agreed foundation upon which we can build when considering the nature of mission and how we are called to participate in it individually, in our churches, through our wider ministries, and as Baptists Together.
 
It is not intended to be a restrictive or closed statement – quite the opposite. Our hope is that it will liberate Baptists to understand mission through a broad lens: recognising the different and interconnected ways in which we participate in God’s mission, and encouraging us to discover what this means in our own contexts.
 
The Revd Simon Goddard, the Revd Penny Marsh, the Revd Carl Smethurst and the Revd Steve Tinning – Members of the Mission Forum Core Team