Baptists to Focus on Freedom at Forthcoming Assembly

Baptists from across the country will be head to Brighton this Friday for the Baptist Assembly, the biggest Baptist event of the year.

Over 2,000 people are expected to attend the four-day gathering of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and BMS World Mission from 4 to 7 May 2007.

The Assembly theme, 'In Search of Freedom', will mark the bicentenary of the passing of the act to abolish the slave trade in 1807, and will look at modern forms of slavery in the world today - including the launch of 'In Transit', a new campaign against human trafficking, and a public resolution supporting migrant workers.

The resolution calls upon the Government to provide adequate legal protection for migrant workers and their families in the UK and asks churches to provide essential care and support for migrant workers and their families, and to speak out against instances of injustice and exploitation.

BMS World Mission will highlight ways in which it has led campaigns for freedom in the past, and showcase its ongoing freedom projects as well as plans for the future.

Sessions will be led by key BMS partners from Jamaica and India, while General Director Alistair Brown will challenge delegates to face up to slavery of the present as well as the past, arguing that UK lifestyles still condemn many in the world to a lifetime of bonded labour and poverty.

For Jonathan Edwards it will be his first Baptist Assembly as BUGB General Secretary after being voted into the position at the assembly last year. "Baptist Assembly is an incredibly important part of our life together as Baptists and I have always found it an encouraging and challenging occasion," he said.

"I am very much looking forward to my first assembly as General Secretary and am praying that everyone will sense the presence of God with us in a powerful way."

Mr Edwards is giving the Sunday night address entitled 'Catching God's Vision for Church in the 21st Century'. Also on Sunday evening there will be the recognition of ministers who have completed their probationary period of service.