Baptists Together facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baptists Together (Baptist Union of Great Britain) |
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| 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 |
Baptists Together, also known officially as the Baptist Union of Great Britain, is a Christian group in England and Wales. It is part of the larger Baptist family of churches. This group works closely with other Christian organizations, like the Baptist World Alliance and Churches Together in England. Its main office is located in Didcot.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Baptists Together
The Baptist Union started in London in 1813. It was first formed by 45 churches called "Particular Baptists." Later, in 1832, it joined with another group, the "New Connection General Baptist Association." These two groups fully merged in 1891, bringing together different Baptist traditions.
Important Milestones
In 1922, a big step happened when Edith Gates became the first woman to be ordained as a pastor in the Convention. This meant she could lead a church.
Another important moment was in 2013. Lynn Green was chosen as the first female General Secretary for the Baptist Union. This role is like the main leader of the organization. When she was chosen, everyone gave her a standing ovation. She spoke about needing new ways of thinking for the future.
Also in 2013, the group started using the name "Baptists Together." They also got a new logo to show this change. Even though they have a new name, they are still officially known as the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
What Baptists Together Does
Baptists Together is a large group of churches. In 2023, they had almost 1,900 churches and nearly 100,000 members. These churches work together to share their beliefs and help people.
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Helping Others Around the World
A big part of what Baptists Together does is missionary work. They work with organizations like the Fellowship of British Baptists and BMS World Mission. These groups help people in different countries. They also support young people's growth through their work with The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS).
Working with Other Christian Groups
Baptists Together believes in working with other Christian churches. They are members of several groups that bring Christians together. These include Churches Together in England, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and the World Council of Churches. This helps different churches learn from each other and work on common goals.
Sharing Their Beliefs
Baptists Together follows a Baptist confession of faith. This means they have a set of core beliefs that guide them. They are also part of the Baptist World Alliance, which connects Baptist churches all over the globe.
Learning and Education
The Union helps train future leaders and pastors. They are connected to four special colleges called theological seminaries. These are South Wales Baptist College, Northern Baptist College, Bristol Baptist College, and Spurgeon's College. They also partner with a university college, Regent's Park College in Oxford.
How Baptists Together is Organized
Since 2001, the Baptist Union of Great Britain has been divided into 13 regional groups. These groups help manage the churches in different areas. Each region has its own association, like the London Baptist Association or the Yorkshire Baptist Association.
Leadership
The main leader of the Baptist Union is called the General Secretary. This person helps guide the entire organization.
Recent Presidents
The president of Baptists Together changes each year. Here are some of the recent 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
General Secretaries
The General Secretary is a very important role. Here are some of the people who have held this position:
- 1991 – 2006: David Coffey
- 2006 – 2013: Jonathan Edwards
- 2013 – Present: Lynn Green
See also
In Spanish: Unión Bautista de Gran Bretaña para niños
- Baptist Union of Scotland
- Religion in the United Kingdom
- Regent's Park College, Oxford
- Spurgeon and the "Downgrade Controversy"
- Baptist beliefs
- Worship service (evangelicalism)
- Jesus Christ
- Believers' Church
