Baptist Union Monthly Update - October 2026
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our October monthly email, where below you will find two key messages we are sharing this month. This update shares further news, resources and events, including more information on the Regional Minister Team Leader vacancy at the Yorkshire Baptist Association.
Baptist Union President – Nominations for 2028-29 now open
We are now inviting nominations for the person who will serve as Baptist Union President in 2028-29.
Our current President is the Revd Alex Afriyie and he will be succeeded by the Revd Mark Elder in May 2027. Please do look at Alex’s article on his Presidential theme: ‘Walking Worthy’.
We are now inviting nominations for the person who will serve as Baptist Union President in 2028-29.
Click here for more information about the role of the President and the election discernment process, including the form to nominate someone for the Presidency.
Mission Resolution
In response to feedback, Mission Forum has now published a substantially shorter and revised draft of the proposed Shared Understanding of Mission, together with an accompanying document, explaining the journey and the thinking behind it.
This Baptist Times piece also gives an update on the latest developments of the proposed Mission Resolution .
By the time it reaches Assembly, the resolution will reflect well over two years of listening, reflection and collaboration. Mission Forum encourages every church to consider who they might send to Assembly in 2027 to represent their community and take part in this important moment of shared discernment, which will conclude with a vote on the resolution.
Wishing you all a blessed October in the communities you serve.
Baptist Resources and News
The October Prayer Diary is
now available to download from our website.
Over this month we are praying for:
-
39th anniversary of Black history Month (BHM) in Britain
-
Prisons Week
-
Baptist Union Council meeting
-
South Eastern Baptist Association
Baptist Assembly 2027
The Assembly team are busy preparing for tickets to go on sale later in the month. Keep an eye out for our launch email and on social media too for further information. We look forward to gathering with our Baptist family on 21 - 23 May 2027 in Harrogate.
Baptist churches with an annual income under £100k are currently excepted from the need to register as a charity by law. The excepting regulations will end on 31 March 2031 and after that all charities with an income over £5k will have to be registered. The Charity Commission has told us that they expect all currently excepted churches to be registered before the March 2031 deadline. We are waiting to hear how the Commission intends to phase this registration process over the next few years but as a first step we encourage churches that have not yet adopted a BUGB Approved Governing Document as their constitution to do so. The Commission has said that churches that adopt an Approved Governing Document without making amendments will be able to benefit from a simplified and automated registration process. Further information can be found in guideline leaflet
C06 Churches and Charity Registration and
C03 Church Constitutions.
The Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA) is looking to appoint a new Regional Minister Team Leader. We are seeking a strategic visionary leader to steer an outstanding team of skilled and experienced people to grow God’s Kingdom in Yorkshire. Closing dates for applications is midday Monday 12 October. Further information is
available here.
Resources
Are you or someone you know 18 to 35 years old? Curious about Christian unity? Love to travel? The Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund has been set up to give young Christians the opportunity to experience ecumenism abroad. This experience can be study, pilgrimage, volunteering or any activity that promotes church unity. There is £6,000 available each year across multiple applicants to people who want to experience or learn more about ecumenism outside of England. The ecumenical experience can be study, pilgrimage, volunteering or any activity that promotes church unity. Applicants need to be affiliated with a CTE national Member Church. Find out more
here.
The easyfundraising Impact Fund is back for a second round, with unrestricted grants of £1,000 available for churches to apply for. Applications are now open until Sunday 8 November. If you applied previously, you are able to apply again, whether you were successful or not. The application is quick and simple, with grants awarded to churches or community organisations that best explain how they would use the funding. As the grants are unrestricted, the £1,000 can be spent wherever it's needed most.
Apply now here. Easyfundraising help you to raise unrestricted funding every time your church community shops online. When they shop with 8,000+ retailers via easyfundraising, retailers donate to your church at no extra cost to them. Find out more
here.
How can we live well together? - The National Conversation
You and your church are invited to join The National Conversation to have ‘your say’ on the future of our country. The National Conversation is a chance for everyone to contribute ideas about how to shape a more united future for England. It has been launched by the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion. This is a non-partisan, time-limited commission tasked with uncovering a vision for the future. The Commission wants to hear from churches because it knows that we are on the frontline of community life. We see the pressures on families and young people, the impact of economic insecurity and cultural change, the tensions and misunderstandings between different groups — and the deep desire many people still have for belonging, meaning and hope. As trusted places where people of all backgrounds come together, churches have a view of connection and division like no other. Click
here to find out more and get involved.
Proximity is an urban mission resource hub equipping churches, leaders and those on the ground. They have created five short films for Advent, bringing the nativity story to life through different contemporary voices. Signup for early access to receive the videos when they are ready in October that can be used in small groups, on social media or in services.
Sign up here.
Could you host a Table of Welcome this Christmas? This Christmas, communities across the country are being invited to come together around a simple idea: sharing a table with people we might not otherwise meet. We Are United – Together at Christmas is a growing national movement encouraging people and organisations across the UK to create 1,000 Tables of Welcome anytime during December 2026. Baptist churches are wonderfully placed to be part of this. You might host a table yourselves, work with other churches, faith communities or local organisations, or simply bring together people from across your neighbourhood. The We Are United team has pr
oduced practical resources to help you get started. Who will you bring to your table this Christmas?
Flourishing Faith in Later Life
Faith in Later Life has launched Flourishing Faith in Later Life, a free six-session discipleship resource for older believers. The Bible is realistic about the challenges of ageing, but also gives a wonderfully hopeful vision of later life: older believers continuing to grow in faith, bear fruit, and proclaim God’s goodness. Designed for home groups, church fellowships and care-home settings, this resource guides leaders and participants through Bible-based conversations about identity in Christ, prayer and devotion, disillusionment, the hope of heaven, lifelong purpose, and sharing faith with others. It includes both a leader’s guide and participant guide, and is free to download.
Download the resource here.
Churches play a vital role in the promotion of good relations between different faiths. In our current context we are experiencing increasing pressure on faith relationships as a result of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the rising Antisemitism and Islamophobia, along with other national and local impacts of global conflicts that have a religious dimension. Forming friendships and collaborative partnerships are important and valuable steps. This new course and toolkit emphasises the distinctive contribution that an intentional focus on dialogue can make, deepening those relationships and supporting all to live out their faith at the service of the whole community. It is aimed at Christians seeking to initiate or develop interreligious dialogue in their local communities and/or other contexts in which they work.
Events
The Anabaptist Mennonite Network to bring you Encountering the Anabaptists. This is a short online module that introduces their history, beliefs, practices and contemporary relevance. The course is running on the first four Thursdays in October (1, 8, 15 and 22) from 7pm to 9pm. It will cost only £20 and will include a copy of The Naked Anabaptist by Stuart Murray.
To help demystify the Bill Snelson Young Ecumenist Fund and to give people an opportunity to hear from previous awardees, Churches Together in England are hosting a ‘Be Inspired’ webinaron Monday 5 October from 19:00 to 20:00. Hear from Snelson Fund alumni and get hints and tips from the CTE team to help applications stand out. Places can be
booked here.
2026 marks the centenary of the calling of Violet Hedger to the pastorate of Littleover Baptist Church in Derby. To mark this important anniversary, and to celebrate all those women who followed in her footsteps we invite you to a celebration service at Violet's first church. Our General Secretary, Rev Lynn Green will be the keynote speaker.
Read a
Baptist Times article here about the event. Book your place
for the service here.
Ever been tempted to visit the beautiful, historic island of Iona? If so, perhaps there's no better time than 17–23 October, when JPIT's own Steve Tinning and Simeon Mitchell will be leading a week exploring Politics, Power and Protest. Those attending will reflect together on faith, justice and public life, all in one of the most inspiring places in the British Isles. They'd love to see you there! To find out more and book your place,
click here.
Discover how the beautifully designed Scripture resources from Lifewords (formerly Scripture Gift Mission) can help you share your faith naturally and confidently. Join this online conversation hosted by Everyone Everywhere to explore practical, giftable resources that open the door to meaningful conversations about Jesus. 19:30 19 October. Find out
more here.
There are spaces for the Pioneer Round Table Residential at the House of Bread in Shipston on Stour 20 - 21 October. If you're a Baptist Pioneer and would like to connect with other pioneers from around the country, they'd love to see you there! Cost - £95.00 for 1 night including meals. For more information and to register please contact Simon Goddard at simon@rivertree.org.uk
A hybrid (onsite & online) book launch / conference will take place at Regent’s Park College and via Zoom from 13:45 to 18:15 on 22 October. Speakers are: Paul Fiddes, Ian Randall, Elizabeth Flowers, Karen Smith, and Steve Harmon. Admission free includes drinks reception for those attending onsite. More details (including the programme) can be found on
the event page.
At a time when public debate can feel increasingly polarised and our neighbours are too easily divided into ‘us’ and ‘them’, what might it mean to take Jesus’ call to love our neighbour seriously? Love Thy Neighbour is a day of conversation, reflection and practical encouragement, bringing together an excellent and diverse range of speakers - experts on peacemaking, community development, the Far Right, religious difference, and dialogue across divides - as together we explore how Christians can resist division and help build communities marked by welcome, understanding and hope. The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) is delighted to be involved in organising the event, alongside other Christian partners, with contributors including Baptist ministers Rev Dr Israel Olofinjana and Rev Sally Mann. Everyone interested in how we might follow Jesus faithfully in an increasingly divided society is warmly invited to come and join the conversation. Find out more and
book here.
The Sam Sharpe Partners are delighted to invite you to the Annual 2026 Lecture. This year, they welcome Reverend Merlyn Hyde Riley, General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union speaking on 'Subverting Empire: Lessons from Sam Sharpe on Institutional Injustice and Church Responsibility.' Click here to
find out more.
YBB Residential - 30 October - 1 November
Know a young person who would love a weekend of adventure, new experiences and friendship? Young, Bright & Bold is a three-day residential weekend for young people aged 14–19 from Baptist churches. It’s an opportunity to try new activities, meet other young people, grow in faith, build confidence and explore leadership in a fun, supportive and encouraging environment. Young, Bright & Bold is a chance for young people to step outside their comfort zone, discover new possibilities, deepen their faith and grow in confidence alongside others from across the Baptist family. If you know a young person who might enjoy the experience, why not encourage them to find out more and get involved? Find out more
here.
BUEN National Sustainability Webinar - 3 November
The CBA and EBA BUEN Hubs are hosting a national meeting for Baptist churches in all regions with Nigel Walter, an architect and buildings specialist who has written the book ‘Making You Church Sustainable’. Nigel will be sharing his insights as to how churches might begin the journey towards sustainability and what is the right path for different sized churches. His talk will be followed by time for Q&As. To register for the meeting, please
click here.
Join Everyone Everywhere on Saturday 7 November at Sundon Park Baptist Church, Luton for an inspiring day of worship, encouragement and connection. Featuring a keynote message from Ness Wilson (Leader of Pioneer UK), worship, creative activities, prayer, and discussion, this event brings women together in a shared experience designed to equip and encourage. With a theme of courage running throughout, we'll explore what it means to respond to God's call with confidence and help create new opportunities for people to encounter Jesus—enabling more women, in more places, to say yes to God’s mission.
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.
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.