We are approaching a significant shift in our ministerial landscape due to impending retirements and increased demands, writes Lee Johnson.  

In response, here is an introduction to a renewed vision for ministerial formation and leadership development across Baptists Together 

If you speak to our Colleges or Associations, you’ll hear a mixture of hope and concern. Hope, because God is still calling people into ministry, still transforming communities, still drawing people to Jesus – realities born out in the stats Lynn Green shared at Baptist Assembly in 2026. Concern, because we are in a time of transition. Many of our ministers are approaching retirement; and the demands placed on leaders today are heavier, more complex, and more emotionally costly than perhaps they once were. 

We need a renewed vision. Over the past year, the Ministries Team has been working on a fresh vision for ministerial formation and leadership development across Baptists Together. It’s a vision shaped by prayer, by listening to others, and by the reality that around 250 ministers will retire or leave the accredited list for other reasons by the end of 2028. That’s a significant shift in our ministerial landscape and if we do nothing, the impact on our churches will be felt for years to come. 

Yet it also feels like we have reached a moment where recruiting more ministers, even if that is possible, is not enough. We need, dare I say it — more healthy ministers — women and men who can lead from a place of emotional, spiritual, relational and even physical wellbeing. The introduction of Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) has gone some way towards fostering this. But it is time to go further. My recent vision document shared at Core Leadership Team suggests we need healthy leaders who ‘exercise influence with integrity, resilience, and wisdom’. These values must be at the heart of those ministers we are seeking to form. 

At the centre of the renewed vision is our shared identity. We are a people shaped by the Declaration of Principle, by congregational discernment under Christ, and by the belief that every person bears the image of God. At its best our identity should be lived out in covenantal relationships, mutual accountability, and a commitment to safeguarding and justice that reaches across our whole family. In a broken world, this shared identity is not a luxury: it needs to be the anchor we all hold to. 

The vision is shaped around four pillars: Formation, Identity, Mission and Justice. These aren’t separate objectives; they need to be interwoven commitments that shape the kind of ministers God is calling us to form. 
 

Formation is not about a three-year college programme; it is a lifelong journey. from the first sensing of a call to the final day of ministry, leaders need spaces to grow in wisdom, character and Christlikeness. The vision document describes this as ‘an ecosystem of lifelong formation that cultivates healthy rhythms of discipleship, theological reflection, emotional resilience, spiritual maturity, and a deep commitment to justice, mercy, and humility.’  

 This vision for formation strengthens wellbeing and equips leaders to serve with integrity and joy. 

 

Identity flows from formation. As leaders grow and learn, they will be rooted more deeply in who we are as Baptists — a people committed to discernment, accountability, equity and the just treatment of all people.  

This pillar reminds us that leadership is never a solo endeavour. It is always held within community. 
 

Mission is the outward expression of our identity. We seek to form leaders who can guide communities into gospel transformation. Our Declaration of Principle reminds us that we are all called ‘to take part in the evangelisation of the world’.  

We need leaders who can proclaim the good news of Jesus with clarity and compassion. 

 

Justice can never be seen as an optional extra. Justice is the mark of Christlike leadership. The vision document reminds us that we must be committed to forming ‘just leaders who guide others toward Jesus through Christlike character, ethical practice, and a commitment to justice’. Justice is not established simply when a person is appointed to lead in this area, regionally or nationally. Nor will it grow through projects or statements initiated by the Specialist Teams. It will only emerge when all our leaders embed justice in their practice. Justice needs to be our culture. 


We have sought to set measurable, aspirational goals for every pillar. These goals will stretch us, but I believe they reflect the scale of the moment we are in. 
 

We aim to see 360 new ministers accredited, recognised, or on the pathway. With around 100 currently in training for either Accredited Ministry or Recognised Local Ministry, this means an average intake of 90 per year over the next three years. 

We want to see 75 per cent of our accredited and recognised ministers engaging with Continued Ministerial Development. 
 

We want 75 per cent of accredited and recognised ministers to have engaged with at least one aspect of the wider life of Baptists Together in the previous year.  

 

We will have gathered and shared more than 100 new stories of gospel transformation — stories of baptisms, mission, justice initiatives, pioneering work and community impact. Stories that will help us to see where God is at work and inspire others to join in. 
 

100 per cent of accredited and recognised ministers would have completed ‘Just Leadership’ training, which we have begun to create. This is essential for building a culture where equity, safeguarding and integrity are non negotiable. 


This vision matters because the health of our churches is inseparable from the health of our ministers and leaders. If we want communities that are safe, vibrant, mission shaped and rooted in Christ, then we need ministers and leaders who are safe, vibrant, mission shaped and rooted in Christ.  

This vision matters because God is still calling people. The Spirit has not stopped stirring hearts. Our task is to create the kind of ecosystem where those who are called today can be heard, tested, nurtured and sustained. 

This vision matters because the next few years will, in my view, shape the future of Baptist life in Britain. We can either drift into decline or step forward with courage, clarity and hope. 

This vision is not the work of one person, team or office.  

It is a shared calling across our whole family — churches, Associations, Colleges, ministers, chaplains, pioneers, CYF (children, youth and families) workers, and all who serve in leadership. 

If we commit to this together, we can grow not just more ministers, but healthier ministers. Leaders who are rooted in Christ, shaped by Scripture, accountable in community, courageous in mission, and committed to justice. 

Leaders who can guide others toward Jesus. 

Leaders who can help bring gospel transformation with integrity, wisdom and joy. 
 

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Lee Johnson is Ministries Team Leader at Baptists Together

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