View source for Baptists Together

{{Short description|British Baptist denomination}}
{{redirect|Baptist Union|organisations in other parts of the world calling themselves "Baptist Union"|List of Baptist denominations}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
|name = Baptists Together (Baptist Union of Great Britain)
|image = Baptists_Together_UK_logo.jpg
|imagewidth = 
|alt = Logo of Baptists Together
|caption = 
|main_classification = [[Protestant]]
|theology = [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Baptist]]
|scripture = [[Protestant Bible]]
|orientation = [[Baptists|Baptist]]
|polity = [[Congregationalist polity|Congregationalist]] 
|leader/moderator = 
|leader = 
|fellowships = [[Old Baptist Union]],<br />[[Baptist Union of Wales]],<br />[[New Connexion of General Baptists]]
|associations = [[World Council of Churches]],<br />[[Baptist World Alliance]],<br />[[Conference of European Churches]],<br />[[European Baptist Federation]],<br />[[Churches Together in Britain and Ireland]],<br />[[Fellowship of British Baptists]],<br />[[Churches Together in England]]
|area = [[England]] and [[Wales]]
|website = {{URL|baptist.org.uk}}
|founder =[[John Rippon]] and [[Joseph Ivimey]] 
|founded_date = 1813 (or 1770
|founded_place = 
|separated_from = 
|parent = 
|merger = 
|separations = Grace Baptist Assembly,<br />Association of Grace Baptist Churches,<br />[[Seventh Day Baptists]],<br />[[Strict Baptists]],<br />[[Gospel Standard Baptists]]
|hospitals = 
|nursing_homes = 
|missionary organization = [[BMS World Mission]]
|aid = [[Baptist Aid]]<br />[[Orphan Society]]<br />[[Annuity Fund]]
|congregations = 1,875
|members = 100,103
|headquarters = [[Didcot]]
|ministers = 
|missionaries = 
|primary_schools = 
|secondary_schools = 
|tertiary = 1
|seminaries = 4
|footnotes = 
|leader_name=Steve Finamore
|leader_title=President
|leader_name1=''vacant''
|leader_title1=Vice-president
}}

{{Baptist}}
'''Baptists Together''', formally the '''Baptist Union of Great Britain''', is a [[Baptists|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]].

==History==
The Baptist Union of Great Britain was officially established in 1813 by 45 [[Particular Baptist]] churches in [[London]].<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 76</ref> In 1832, it was reorganized to include the [[New Connexion of General Baptists]] ([[General Baptist]]) as partner.<ref name=":0">Stephen R. Holmes, ''Baptist Theology'', T&T Clark, UK, 2012, p. 51</ref> In 1891, [[General Baptist]] and [[Particular Baptist]] work merged in the Baptist Union of Great Britain,<ref>Robert E. Johnson, ''A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 104</ref><ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 77</ref> and The Baptist Historical Society was created in 1908.

In 1922, Edith Gates became the first [[Ordination of women in Christianity|ordained female cleric]] in the BUGB.<ref>Erich Geldbach, ''Baptists Worldwide: Origins, Expansions, Emerging Realities'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2022, p. 111</ref>

In 1978, [[Nell Alexander]] became the first woman to be appointed as BUGB President.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/310743/100_years_of.aspx  |title= 100 years of women in Baptist ministry  |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= Baptist.org |publisher= |access-date= July 22, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>

In 1987, [[Margaret Jarman]] became the first woman minister to be appointed president of the BUGB.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/519442/The_Revd_Sister.aspx|title= Obituaries - The Revd Sister Margaret Jarman CPP BD: 1932-2018 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= April 1, 2018 |website= Baptist.org |publisher= |access-date= July 22, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> 

In 1999 [[Cham Kaur-Mann]] became  the first Asian woman minister in the BUGB.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/542050/Cham_Kaur_Mann.aspx |title= Cham Kaur-Mann |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= Baptist.org |publisher= |access-date= July 22, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>      

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."<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.abpnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/8473-woman-named-to-lead-british-baptists | title = Woman Named to Lead British Baptists | first = Robert 'Bob' | last = Allen | publisher = Associated Baptist Press | newspaper = News | date = 6 May 2013 | access-date = 2013-07-28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023044528/http://www.abpnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/8473-woman-named-to-lead-british-baptists | archive-date = 23 October 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

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 as the Baptist Union of Great Britain).<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.baptist.org.uk/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=392726 | title = The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Baptist Union logo | access-date = 2014-09-09}}</ref>

In 2006, Revd Dr [[Kate Coleman]] from Ghana, the first black woman to be an accredited Baptist minister, became the first black female President of the BUGB.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/547636/Kate_Coleman.aspx  |title= Obituaries - The Revd Sister Margaret Jarman CPP BD: 1932-2018 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= April 1, 2018 |website= Baptist.org |publisher= |access-date= July 22, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>    

==Membership==
[[File: Gold Hill Baptist Church worship service.jpg|350px|thumb|right| [[Worship service (evangelicalism)|Worship service]] at Gold Hill Baptist Church, near [[London]].]]
According to a census published by the Union in 2024, it claimed 1,875 churches and 100,103 members.<ref name="Members">Baptist World Alliance, [https://www.baptistworld.org/member-unions/ Members], baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved July 24, 2024</ref>

===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]], [[Baptist Union of Wales|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|The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)]]<ref name="NCVYS members">[http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=392 Full list of NCVYS member organisations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512231646/http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=392 |date=12 May 2013 }}</ref> 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 [[BMS World Mission]] was organised as Baptist Missionary Society in 1792, under the leadership of [[Andrew Fuller]] (1754&ndash;1815), John Sutcliff (1752&ndash;1814), and [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]] (1761&ndash;1834).<ref>Robert E. Johnson, ''A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches'', Cambridge University Press, Royaume-Uni, 2010, p. 99</ref><ref>J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 292</ref>

==Beliefs==
The union has a [[Baptist]] [[confession of faith]].<ref>Baptists Together, [https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/220595/Declaration_of_Principle.aspx Declaration of Principle], baptist.org.uk, UK, retrieved 5 December 2020</ref> It is a member of the [[Baptist World Alliance]].<ref name="Members"/>

== Schools ==
[[File: Regent’s Park College.jpg|thumb| [[Regent's Park College, Oxford|Regent's Park College]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford]].]]
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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baptist.org.uk/Groups/220658/Colleges.aspx |title= The Baptist Union: Colleges|website=baptist.org.uk |access-date=14 July 2022}}{{title missing|date=September 2022}}</ref> In March 2024, the St Hild Centre for Baptist Ministry, previously an affiliated centre of Northern Baptist College, entered membership with the Baptist Union of Great Britain in its own right.<ref>{{Cite web |access-date=23 June 2024 |title=St Hild Centre for Baptist Ministry |url=https://sthild.org/centre-for-baptist-ministry |website=St Hild}}</ref>

==Organisation==
The principal of the Union is the General Secretary. A number of paid staff provide leadership and practical support from the Union's headquarters in Baptist House, [[Didcot]], in areas such as finance, ministerial accreditation, and legal support.

=== List of general secretaries ===
* 1898 – 1924 John Howard Shakespeare
* 1925 – 1951 [[Melbourn Aubrey]]
* 1951 – 1967 [[Ernest Alexander Payne|Ernest A. Payne]]
* 1967 – 1982 [[David Syme Russell|David S. Russell]]
* 1982 – 1991 Bernard Green
* 1991 – 2006 David Coffey
* 2006 – 2013 Jonathan Edwards
* 2013 – Lynn Green

Since 2001, churches in membership with the Baptist Union of Great Britain have been organised 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 Network (formerly West of England Baptist Association)
*Yorkshire Baptist Association
Regional Association teams, led by a number of Regional Ministers and a senior Regional Ministry Team Leader (RMTL), oversee and facilitate ministry in local churches. This may include pastoral support for ministers, signposting regional events, organising regional conferences, and supporting churches without a minister.

== 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.<ref name=btimes>{{cite web |url= http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/369231/Freedom_with_foundation.aspx | title = Freedom with Foundation: The George Beasley-Murray Memorial Lecture | work= Baptist Times | access-date=2016-08-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160816205814/http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/369231/Freedom_with_foundation.aspx | archive-date= 2016-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.alfredplacechurch.org.uk/index.php/sermons/the-divine-glory-of-christ/the-divine-glory-of-christ-1/ | title = The Divine Glory of Christ | last= Thomas, Geoff | author-link= Geoff Thomas (pastor) | work= Alfred Place Baptist Church | access-date=2016-08-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160816210015/http://www.alfredplacechurch.org.uk/index.php/sermons/the-divine-glory-of-christ/the-divine-glory-of-christ-1/ | archive-date= 2016-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.efcc.org.uk/publications/Concern_130.pdf | title = Federation Speaker, in ''Congregational Concern'' | work= Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Concerns | date= 1993 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160816210954/http://www.efcc.org.uk/publications/Concern_130.pdf| archive-date= 2016-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wayoflife.org/reports/liberal_baptist_denominations.html |title= Liberal Baptist Denominations| date= 2014-04-13 | work= Way of Life Literature | access-date=2016-08-16 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160816211235/http://www.wayoflife.org/reports/liberal_baptist_denominations.html| archive-date= 2016-08-16}}</ref> [[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 [[Charles Spurgeon#Downgrade controversy|Downgrade Controversy]] of a century earlier.<ref name=btimes />

Affirm network was founded in 2000 in favor to the inclusion of LGBTQ people in the Union.<ref>Affirm, [https://www.affirm.org.uk/about About], affirm.org.uk, UK, accessed July 24, 2024</ref>

In 2020, the Ministerial Recognition Committee received a letter from 70 members of the Union asking that the rules be changed to allow ministers in same-sex marriages to no longer be guilty of gross misconduct. The request was referred to the national Council, who discussed it in March 2022 and initiated a process of consultation whereby ministers and churches in membership with the Union were asked their thoughts on the proposed change.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Baptist Union: Process Timeline - December 2023 |url=https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/398098/Process_Timeline_December.aspx |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=www.baptist.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> During this time a group formed, initially known as 'Baptist Ministers for Orthodox Marriage' and later 'Evangelical Baptists', who campaigned against the change in rules.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us – Evangelical Baptist |url=http://www.evangelicalbaptist.uk/about-us/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The results of the consultation were presented to Council, who decided against the change in March 2024 with a vote of 65% against:

{{Blockquote|text=Council has concluded that our Ministerial Recognition Rules concerning marriage and ministry will remain unchanged. Therefore, an accredited minister should not themselves be in a same-sex marriage. Nonetheless Council reiterates that sexual orientation is no bar to accreditation. Furthermore, Council upholds the liberty of the local church to appoint ministry according to their governing documents.|author=Baptist Union Council, 2024|source=<ref>EF, [https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/25911/uk-baptists-do-not-open-to-ministers-in-a-same-sex-marriage British Baptists not open to same-sex married pastors], evangelicalfocus.com, Spain, 22 March 2024</ref>}}

==See also==
*[[Baptist Union of Scotland]]
*[[Religion in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Regent's Park College, Oxford]]
*[[:Category:Baptist churches in the United Kingdom|Baptist churches in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Charles Spurgeon#Downgrade controversy|Spurgeon and the "Downgrade Controversy"]]
* [[Baptist beliefs]]
* [[Worship service (evangelicalism)]]
* [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]]
* [[Believers' Church]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Citation | title = Baptists Around the World | first = Albert W jr | last = Wardin}}.
* {{Citation | title = The Baptist Union: A Short History | first = Ernest Alexander | last = Payne | author-link = Ernest Alexander Payne}}.
* {{Citation | title = The English Baptists of the Eighteenth Century | first = Raymond | last = Brown}}.
* {{Citation | title = The English Baptists of the Nineteenth Century | first = JHY | last = Briggs}}.
* {{Citation | title = Baptists in the Twentieth Century | first = Keith | last = Clements}}.

==External links==
*[http://www.baptisthistory.org.uk/ Baptist Historical Society] – official Web Site
*[http://www.baptist.org.uk/ Baptist Union of Great Britain] – official Web Site
*[http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/ The Baptist Times] – Web Site of the official newspaper of the BUGB
*[http://www.incarnate-network.eu/ Incarnate Network] – Web Site of the church planting network of BUGB Missions Dept
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100323062105/http://www.ncvys.org.uk/ The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)] – England-wide organisation of which the Baptist Union is a member

{{UK baptist denominations}}
{{Christianity in the United Kingdom}}
{{Baptist World Alliance Members}}
{{World Council of Churches}}

[[Category:Baptists Together| ]]
[[Category:Baptist denominations in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Christianity in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Members of the World Council of Churches]]
[[Category:1813 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Protestantism in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1813]]
[[Category:South Oxfordshire District]]