Baptist Union Monthly Update - June 2026
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our June monthly update, where we focus on the reports and content from the 2026 Assembly and invite you to express interest in Baptist Assembly 2027. You will receive a discount code for when bookings open. The link will close 30 June so please register soon.
Further content from this year’s Assembly will be coming soon. In the meantime, do watch and share the brilliant videos shown by the Northern Baptist Association, and listen to the Saturday keynote from Helen Paynter and the Sunday preach from Leoné Martin.
Further news, resources and events can be found below.
Wishing you all a blessed June in the communities you serve.
Baptist Resources
The June Prayer Diary is now available to download from our website.
Resources
JPIT Launch Constituency Action Network Film
The Constituency Action Network (CAN), launched by the Joint Public Issues Team, equips churches to build positive and purposeful relationships with their MPs and work together for peace and justice. Supported by resources, training, and online gatherings, CAN equips churches across England, Scotland, and Wales to engage in coordinated action for positive change, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of the church not only caring for those wounded on the Jericho Road, but helping to transform the road itself. JPIT have
created a short video to explain more
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund is now open. It is managed by Historic England and offering capital grants to support urgent repairs and long-term sustainability projects. The fund aims to help ensure that listed places of worship remain open, safe, and in active use.
To be eligible, your project must:
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Be based in England
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Involve a listed building
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Relate to an active place of worship
Funding is available for a range of capital works, including:
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Urgent structural repairs, such as roofs, masonry, and rainwater goods
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Improvements that support long-term use, such as accessibility works or basic facilities
Applications begin with an Expression of Interest stage. The deadline for the first round is midnight on Sunday 14 June 2026, with further funding rounds expected to follow. We would encourage any eligible churches considering repair or improvement projects to explore this opportunity. Click here for full guidance, eligibility details, and information on how to apply. If you are considering an application, please contact our Church Historic Buildings Support Officer at listedbuildings@baptist.org.uk. We would be pleased to support you with your application, discuss your project, and advise on whether it meets the fund requirements.
Events
It iIn a volatile energy market shaped by ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, charities are under increasing pressure to manage costs effectively while avoiding unnecessary risk. This free webinar, hosted by Ben Mason, will explore current energy market conditions and provide practical guidance on : Understanding recent energy market movements, reducing procurement risk in gas and electricity contracts and more. This session is particularly relevant for organisations looking to improve financial resilience and make more informed energy purchasing decisions. Click here to find out more and book your place.
Join this online webinar to explore how everyday wardrobe choices can become meaningful acts of care for people and the planet. Drawing on ethical fashion research, Kat Halliday from Baptist World Aid Australia will share practical ways to rethink how we buy, wear, and value our clothes — without guilt or overwhelm. She will also reflect on how her Christian faith shapes a hopeful and grounded approach to living more lightly in God’s world. Click here to find out more and sign up for the webinar.
Baptists via Everyone Everywhere have teamed up with the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication and other ecumenical partners to offer a series of events in 2026 to help churches reach new people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Multiply: North takes place at St George's Church, Leeds, on Tuesday 23 June. Gather with local leaders and teams to share wisdom across traditions, contexts and models.
Shine Your Light 2026 - 11 - 13 December
Shine Your Light, the evangelistic initiative which encourages UK churches to take carol and other Christmas services out from church buildings onto streets, marketplaces and shopping centres, will take place this year from 11-13 December. For more information about the initiative click here.
Additional
Researchers at Durham University are inviting Christian leaders across the UK to take part in a new survey exploring the relationship between science, faith, and Christian leadership.
The survey forms part of the international ECLAS project (Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science), which is examining how churches and Christian organisations engage with scientific questions in contemporary society. Alongside the UK, research is also taking place in Kenya, Singapore, India, and Poland.
The project team is keen to hear from a wide range of Christian leaders from different denominations, traditions, and ministry settings. “Leadership” is understood broadly and includes ordained ministers, church leaders, chaplains, ministry workers, mission leaders, theological educators, and those serving in Christian social action organisations. Retired leaders are also welcome to participate.
The anonymous survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and closes on Friday 19 June. Researchers are particularly keen to ensure Baptist voices from across the UK are represented. Click here to take part in the survey. More information about the ECLAS project can be found here
Catch up with the latest Baptist Times stories here.
Whilst we’ve carefully chosen these resources and events because we hope they will be useful to you and your church family, we are not directly responsible for the content from other groups and organisations. The Monthly Update is sent monthly to all ministers in Baptist Union of GB churches, church secretaries, church treasurers, regional teams and other subscribers. If you would like to receive it by email, please subscribe by completing the 'Sign up to our newsletter' form below.