National news stories in 2024

‘They were all together in one place’ – Baptist Assembly 2024

Bookings have now opened for this year’s Baptist Assembly (17-19 May), which takes place over Pentecost

New series highlights biblical reasons for hope

Baptist minister and biblical scholar the Revd Dr Helen Paynter hopes viewers can gain a fresh perspective upon the great pains of this world by exploring scriptural themes and truths - and a stronger faith

'An opportunity for Baptists to engage with some great theology'

Paul Fiddes and Alex Harris are the keynote speakers at this year's Baptist Theology North on 7 June, when the theme is Baptist Church: Back to the Future?

New book documents a decade of Sam Sharpe Lectures

The Sam Sharpe Lectures: History, Rebellion and Reform, published by SCM Press, is a collection of a decade's contribution from scholars, thinkers, activists, and ministers responding to the legacy of Sam Sharpe, a Baptist and a Jamaican national hero

'Let's advocate for a fair and just criminal justice system'

A summit which sees Christians demand police and criminal justice reform is taking place in April

Church leaders call for greater intercultural collaboration

More than 150 Christian leaders - including many Baptists - gathered at Gateway Church in Leeds for a one day conference to explore how churches can work better interculturally across the nation

New leadership for Girls' Brigade Ministries in England and Wales

Judith Davey-Cole is the organisation's new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Jules Murdy, who has served in the role for the past six years

'Prepare for Project Violet findings'

The Baptist community in Britain is being urged to prepare for the findings of major research on women’s experience of ministry - and a new podcast series has launched to help

New initiative to support our next generation of ministers

The Baptist Union now has a partnership with Stewardship to enable individual Baptist ministers-in-training to receive financial support from friends, church members and churches during their period of ministerial formation

Collaborating on a national strategy that plays a part in reaching England for Jesus

Alex Harris reports on a recent gathering of church planting leaders, hosted by The National Church Planting Network

Nature and science meet faith in stunning new Baptist-led films

God Saw That It Was Good is a four-part film series that aims to reconnect people with the wonder of the natural world and a sense of the divine within it - and inspire a renewed vision of creation care

‘I beg you, bear with one another in love’

The Christian Women of Palestine are calling us to connect with the land from where Jesus came on this year’s World Day of Prayer

Inter Faith Network to close

The Inter Faith Network for the UK Board has announced the closure of the charity due to withdrawal of government funding

Churches to champion voter registration

As a General Election approaches, a new initiative has launched that will equip local churches to increase democratic participation through registering people to vote

New church planting programme at St Hild

In conjunction with Asbury Seminary, USA and the Centre of Church Multiplication in London, the St Hild Centre for Church Planting is launching a professional doctorate programme in Church Planting in Post-Christendom Europe

Fresh Streams to host prayer and fasting gatherings for our Baptist movement

Churches and church leaders in relationship with Fresh Streams are hosting 11 prayer and fasting gatherings across 10 Associations on Thursday, 14 March

Churches defend integrity over asylum seeker welcome at Select Committee

The Biblical motivations for why Baptist churches are supporting vulnerable asylum seekers – and the difficult ramifications at being featured in the national press for doing so – were shared with MPs

Publishing milestone as Dyslexia-Friendly Bible completed

For the first time ever, the whole Bible has been made available in a dyslexia-friendly format

Baptist Union Council: March 2024

Baptist Union Council took place 19-20 March at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire

Launch of St Hild Centre for Baptist Ministry

St Hild College has announced the launch of the St Hild Centre for Baptist Ministry, for the training and formation of missional leaders for the Baptist family

New Firestarters conversations for 2024

Three new Firestarters conversations, which enable congregations to rediscover a passion to help new people become Christians, are taking place in Baptist churches this year

Baptist colleges launch projects exploring science and ministry

Cardiff Baptist College and Regent’s Park College are among four theological colleges in the UK and Republic of Ireland to have been awarded funding to develop teaching resources incorporating science, ethics, and theology

'God is doing a new thing among young adults'

There’s been a number of ‘firsts’ taking place among young adults in our Baptist movement. It seems to me God is doing a new thing in our midst - and the younger generations are leading it, writes Isabella Senior