Baptists Together
Baptists Together, formally the Baptist Union of Great Britain, is a Baptist Christian denomination in England and Wales. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance and Churches Together in England. The headquarters is in Didcot.
| Baptists Together (Baptist Union of Great Britain) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Evangelical Christianity |
| Theology | Baptist |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| President | Hayley Young |
| Vice-president | Tim Presswood |
| Distinct fellowships | Old Baptist Union, Baptist Union of Wales, New Connexion of General Baptists |
| Associations | World Council of Churches, Baptist World Alliance, Conference of European Churches, European Baptist Federation, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, Fellowship of British Baptists, Churches Together in England |
| Region | England and Wales |
| Headquarters | Didcot |
| Founder | John Rippon and Joseph Ivimey |
| Origin | 1832 |
| Separations | Grace Baptist Assembly, Association of Grace Baptist Churches, Seventh Day Baptists, Strict Baptists, Gospel Standard Baptists |
| Congregations | 1,897 |
| Members | 99,475 |
| Aid organization | National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, BMS World Mission, Annuity Fund Baptist Aid Orphan Society |
| Tertiary institutions | 1 |
| Seminaries | 4 |
| Official website | baptist |
| Part of a series on |
| Baptists |
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History
The Baptist Union was founded by 45 Particular Baptist churches in 1813 in London.[1] In 1832, it was reorganized to include the New Connection General Baptist Association (General Baptist churches) as a partner.[2] In 1891, the two associations merged to form a single organization.[3]General Baptists and Particular Baptists work was united in the Baptist Union in 1891.[4] The Baptist Historical Society was founded in 1908.
In 2013 Lynn Green was elected, with no votes against, as the first female General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain to commence in September 2013. She was received at the vote by a standing ovation and her inaugural message included "I believe that our union is ready for generational change... It is time to cast off the institutional mindset that has served us well in the past, and embrace a new way of being for the 21st century."[5]
Also in 2013, the union publicly re-branded itself as "Baptists Together" and introduced a new logo to reflect the change (although it is still known in an official capacity by its former name, the Baptist Union of Great Britain).[6]
Membership
According to a denomination census released in 2023, it claimed 1,897 churches and 99,475 members.[7]
Missionary organization
The Fellowship of British Baptists and BMS World Mission brings together in ministry the churches that are members of the Baptist Union of Scotland, Wales, the Irish Baptist Networks, and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. It is itself a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)[8] because of its work to promote young people's personal and social development.
Inter-denominational associations
The union maintains membership with Christian ecumenical organisations such as Churches Together in England, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, the Conference of European Churches, and the World Council of Churches.
Missionary Society
The Particular Baptist Missionary Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen (later the Baptist Missionary Society, and now BMS World Mission) was organised in 1792, under the leadership of Andrew Fuller (1754–1815), John Sutcliff (1752–1814), and William Carey (1761–1834).[9][10]
Beliefs
The union has a Baptist confession of faith.[11] It is a member of the Baptist World Alliance.[7]
Schools
The Union is a partner of 4 theological seminaries, namely South Wales Baptist College, Northern Baptist College, Bristol Baptist College and Spurgeon's College, and a university college, Regent's Park College.[12]
Structure
Since 2001 the Baptist Union of Great Britain has been divided into 13 regional associations:
- Central Baptist Association
- East Midlands Baptist Association
- Eastern Baptist Association
- Heart of England Baptist Association
- London Baptist Association
- North Western Baptist Association
- Northern Baptist Association
- South Eastern Baptist Association
- South Wales Baptist Association
- South West Baptist Association
- Southern Counties Baptist Association
- West of England Baptist Association
- Yorkshire Baptist Association
Leadership
The principal of the Union is the General Secretary.
List of presidents
- 2022 The Revd Hayley Young
- 2021 The Revd Geoff Colmer
- 2020 The Revd Yinka Oyekan
- 2019 The Revd Ken Benjamin
- 2018 The Revd Dr Dave Gregory
- 2017 The Revd Dianne Tidball
- 2016 The Revd Rupert Lazar
- 2015 The Revd Jenni Entrican
- 2014 The Revd Dr Chris Ellis
- 2013 The Revd Ernie Whalley
- 2012 The Revd Chris Duffett
- 2011 The Revd Pat Took
- 2010 No president[nb 1]
- 2009 The Revd Kingsley Appiagyei
- 2008 The Revd Dr John D Weaver
- 2007 No president
- 2006 The Revd Kate Coleman
- 2005 The Revd Roy Searle
- 2004 The Revd Peter David Manson
- 2003 The Revd John C Rackley
- 2002 The Revd Dr Nigel G Wright
- 2001 The Revd Peter John Wortley
- 2000 Professor Graham W Ashworth CBE
- 1999 The Revd Michael Ian Bochenski
- 1998 The Revd D G T McBain
- 1997 The Revd V F George
- 1996 The Revd J C James
- 1995 The Revd P H K Tongeman
- 1994 The Revd Stephen J Gaukroger
- 1993 The Revd Dr B Haymes
- 1992 The Revd E J Westwood
- 1991 The Revd R Jenkins
- 1990 The Revd Dr Derek J Tidball
- 1989 Dr J Biggs
- 1988 The Revd Dr C Marchant
- 1987 The Revd M F Jarman
- 1986 The Revd David R Coffey
- 1985 The Revd N P Wright
- 1984 The Revd F Cooke
- 1983 The Revd Dr D S Russell
- 1982 Dr D J Charley
- 1981 The Revd T F Wilson
- 1980 Dr S G Browne
- 1979 The Revd Dr W M S West
- 1978 Mrs A Alexander
- 1977 The Revd E A Payne
- 1976 The Revd F A Goodwin
- 1975 The Revd S A Turl
- 1974 The Revd G Cumming
- 1973 The Revd D H Hicks
- 1972 The Revd J J Brown
- 1971 The Revd Dr G Henton-Davies
List of general secretaries
- 1898 – 1924 John Howard Shakespeare
- 1925 – 1951 Melbourn Aubrey
- 1951 – 1967 Ernest A. Payne
- 1967 – 1982 David S. Russell
- 1982 – 1991 Bernard Green
- 1991 – 2006 David Coffey
- 2006 – 2013 Jonathan Edwards
- 2013 – Lynn Green
Doctrinal controversies
At the Baptist Union Assembly in April 1971, Michael Taylor, then Principal at the Northern Baptist College, asserted, "I believe that God was active in Jesus, but it will not do to say quite categorically: Jesus is God." The statement bred controversy, and some charged him with denying the Deity of Christ.[13][14][15][16] Nigel G. Wright, later Principal of Spurgeon's College, commenting on the affair, claimed the, "Spectre of theological downgrade had lingered within the denomination throughout the 20th century," alluding to the Downgrade Controversy of a century earlier.[13]
See also
- Baptist Union of Scotland
- Religion in the United Kingdom
- Regent's Park College, Oxford
- Baptist churches in the United Kingdom
- Spurgeon and the "Downgrade Controversy"
- Baptist beliefs
- Worship service (evangelicalism)
- Jesus Christ
- Believers' Church
Notes
- No president following the death of Revd R Martin
References
- William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 76
- Stephen R. Holmes, Baptist Theology, A&C Black, UK, 2012, p. 51
- Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 104
- William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 77
- Allen, Robert 'Bob' (6 May 2013), "Woman Named to Lead British Baptists", News, Associated Baptist Press, archived from the original on 23 October 2013, retrieved 28 July 2013
- The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Baptist Union logo, retrieved 9 September 2014
- Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
- Full list of NCVYS member organisations Archived 12 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, Royaume-Uni, 2010, p. 99
- J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 292
- Baptists Together, Declaration of Principle, baptist.org.uk, UK, retrieved 5 December 2020
- "The Baptist Union: Colleges". baptist.org.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- "Freedom with Foundation: The George Beasley-Murray Memorial Lecture". Baptist Times. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- Thomas, Geoff. "The Divine Glory of Christ". Alfred Place Baptist Church. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- "Federation Speaker, in Congregational Concern" (PDF). Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Concerns. 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2016.
- "Liberal Baptist Denominations". Way of Life Literature. 13 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
Bibliography
- Wardin, Albert W jr, Baptists Around the World.
- Payne, Ernest Alexander, The Baptist Union: A Short History.
- Brown, Raymond, The English Baptists of the Eighteenth Century.
- Briggs, JHY, The English Baptists of the Nineteenth Century.
- Clements, Keith, Baptists in the Twentieth Century.
External links
- Baptist Historical Society – official Web Site
- Baptist Union of Great Britain – official Web Site
- The Baptist Times – Web Site of the official newspaper of the BUGB
- Incarnate Network – Web Site of the church planting network of BUGB Missions Dept
- The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) – England-wide organisation of which the Baptist Union is a member