Baptist Union Monthly Update - September 2026
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our September email. Our Monthly Update email aims to highlight one key message, and is supplemented by a link to further news, resources and events on the website.
This month our focus is the change to requirements for DBS checks for volunteers - a change only just announced by the Government.
The change is that anyone who works with children or young people on more than 3 days in any 30 day period or overnight will need an enhanced DBS check with barred list, rather than the current requirement for a check without barred list. (The barred list is a database of individuals prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults due to past offences or behaviour that poses a risk of harm).
It means a new DBS check for those who help on more than 3 days in any 30 day period with Sunday school/junior church, youth clubs, children’s clubs, summer camps, holiday clubs, creches, and sports and activities groups that are open to children and young people.
Last week we wrote to all DBS verifiers and DPSs (Designated Person for Safeguarding) to let them know about this change, and to provide some straightforward tools to help them manage this. More details are here.
This new requirement has come at very short notice, and clearly places an extra workload on our DBS verifiers at a busy time of year. Nevertheless, we want to encourage all verifiers to get started on this, even if it will take longer for them to re-check everyone who needs a new check. For clarity, volunteers can continue in their roles while the new checks are done.
Across Baptists Together, we are committed to excellence in safeguarding - and our resources and updates are here to help you and your church as you work to create a safe environment that is welcoming to all.
Wishing you all a blessed September in the communities you serve.
Baptist Resources
The September Prayer Diary is
now available to download from our website.
Over this month we are praying for:
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Season of Creation
-
Eastern Baptist Association
-
European Baptist Federation Council
-
Disability Awareness Sunday
The water sector is in crisis, yet we each have agency and we can have hope, writes BUEN's Hannah Gray. One way of connecting with this year's Season of Creation is being more intentional in how we use our water.
Read the article here.
Have you heard of the Baptist Quarterly? For those unaware it’s the journal of the Baptist Historical Society and is over a 100 hundred years old. The journal is published four times a year. The latest edition is just out and it contains some great articles to read.
Read this article from co-editors Sally Nelson and Andy Goodliff.
Resources
This summer, almost £90,000 in unrestricted funding has been donated to churches through the platform easyfundraising. Through this free to use and trusted website, thousands of online retailers will donate money to your church when your congregation shop with them. Popular retailers who will donate to your church include Tesco, eBay, Argos, Asda, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Boots and 8,000 others. Every three months, the donations are paid to your church as unrestricted funding, to spend on whatever you need. The next funding payout is due in November and your church can be part of it by
setting up your free easyfundraising page 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.
Education Sunday 2026 invites churches to reflect on the theme “Living Well Together”. At a time when society is often marked by division, hostility and mistrust, education has a unique role in bringing people together. Schools, colleges and universities are places where children, young people and adults learn not only alongside one another, but also from one another. Education shapes habits of thought, patterns of judgement and ways of relating to others. The question is not only what we learn, but what kind of people we are becoming. Education Sunday will be marked on 13 September, and resources are
available here.
Churches across the UK are invited to mark Disability Awareness Sunday using a free resource from Through the Roof. Based on 1 Corinthians 12, the theme
One Body, Many Parts celebrates the vital place of disabled people within the life of the Church. While the official date is 27 September 2026, churches can participate on any suitable Sunday. The resource features contributions from Triona Brading, an autistic Christian, Roofbreaker disability champion, and ministry trainee, who offers a fresh perspective on what it means for every member of Christ's Body to belong and contribute. Designed to help churches move beyond awareness towards inclusion, the free resource includes two short videos, a ready-to-use service outline, and ideas for all-age worship and youth activities. Churches can download the materials and find out more at
Through the Roof.
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.
Are you interested in environmental theology? The Elisha Project is a one-year ecumenical programme (running Jan 2027 - Jan 2028) to equip and support church leaders, early career theologians, and scientists who are interested in environmental theology. There are 20 spaces on the programme and participation is completely free. To request an application form, please email
margot.hodson@jri.org.uk. The application deadline is 30 Sep 2026. Further information can be found on the
Regent's Park College website.
Events
The Racial Justice Advocacy Forum invites you to Carry Wi Story, Lest We Forget – a service of remembrance, justice and repair. From the transatlantic slave trade to Jamaica’s petition to the Crown: remembering the past and calling for justice and repair. The service will be held at New Park Road Baptist Church, London and will livestreamed. It is free to attend but registration is required,
find out more and book here.
Join Utility Aid for a free Energy Market Update. Get the latest insights, what they mean for charities, and answers to your questions. This is an informal, informative session designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about your energy. Click
here to find out more and to book your place.
A group of Quakers are organising a silent walking vigil as a positive, public witness for peace. The aim is to show solidarity and care for those impacted by violence, conflict and war. The date has been chosen for its proximity to the United Nations International Day of Peace. While this is a Quaker-led event, everyone who shares their hope for peace will be welcome to join in.
The website includes information about the vigil and an opportunity to express interest and sign-up for updates.
In the wake of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ongoing conflict, Christians continue to wrestle with complex questions of faith, justice, and Scripture. How can we engage constructively with this deeply polarising issue while seeking to live out Micah 6:8? Dr. Chawkat Moucarry, a Syrian Christian, and Dr. Richard Harvey, a Jewish follower of Yeshua (Jesus) from London, will offer their distinct perspectives, followed by an extended Q&A. The event will be introduced and chaired by Rev. Kumar Rajagopalan.
Click here to find out more
Join the first BiCC and Incarnate joint Peace Conference. They will explore how we might be Peacemakers in an increasingly divided society with guests sharing from their own experiences of working and ministering in contexts of violent division and space to discuss together and respond to their stories and insights. Saturday 26th September Highgate Baptist Church, Birmingham. Free registration though
booking is essential.
Join the Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust (LWPT) for a day of learning, reflection, and encouragement for preachers and those serving in ministry. The LWPT Leadership Conference brings together alumni alongside preachers, church leaders and those exploring or developing their ministry from across a wide range of denominations and contexts. The day offers a focused programme of seminars and discussion, inviting you to engage with the foundations of preaching, deepen your engagement with Scripture and reflect on the practical and personal demands of leadership today. Click
here for more information and how to book.
The Government’s Pride in Place Programme is investing up to £20 million over ten years in each of 284 selected disadvantaged neighbourhoods, with local people deciding how it is spent. Churches can help shape those priorities and may also be able to access funding for their projects that strengthen their local community.
Is your church in an area targeted to receive funding? Check this
interactive map or search the Government’s Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 2 expansion notes
here.
To find out more
sign up to the ChurchWorks online Pride in Place webinar on 30 September from 10:00am - 12:00. They’ll help you engage with the process in the way that’s best for your church and community, whether that’s engaging in consultations, or seeking funding opportunities. A 3-page Pride in Place guidance document for church leaders is also
available here.
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.
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.
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.
Additional
Will you help with research being conducted within BUGB? As Baptists, we’re discipleship people, raising up everyone to participate in God’s kingdom. We’re also membership people, covenanting in local churches to watch over one another and engage in mission together. But how do the two connect? Dave Criddle, a Baptist Minister, is conducting research into that question. He aims to discover how membership structures are—or could be—developed and used in ways that grow healthy disciples. All leaders of Baptist churches are invited to complete a short online survey (20–30 minutes) to help his research. The survey can be
accessed here.Dave explains more about the thinking behind the research project in this article
Does membership make better disciples?
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.