Baptist Union Presidency for Hayley Young 

The Revd Hayley Young has been elected President of our Baptist Union 2022-23

Hayley is the Regional Minister: Mission Enabler for the South Wales Baptist Association (SWaBA). She was one of four candidates in this year's voting process, with the Revd Beth Powney, Regional Minister Team Leader Eastern Baptist Association; the Revd Stephen Greasley, minister Gillingham Baptist Church, Kent; and the Revds Kath and Andrew Dodd of Hawkshead Hill Baptist Church in the Lake District also receiving nominations. 

Hayley has been in local pastoral ministry for 13 years serving in churches in Southern Counties Baptist Association, Central Baptist Association and now SWaBA. She was called into ministry in her early 20s and was ordained when aged 24 after studying at Spurgeon's College.

She explained that her Presidential theme, if elected, is ‘Building a Bigger Table’.

'As a Baptist Movement we have the opportunity to bring Jesus to our communities by expanding a table: providing the kind of hospitality that Jesus offers.

'We have a challenge ahead of us about how we can create a bigger table: to welcome more people. To spend time listening, learning, hearing, knowing and respecting everyone.

'As a Baptist Movement we have a challenge ahead of us about how we relate to the culture around us and the digital world. Everything is changing at a fast rate. In the midst of this change, we have a generation that are already redefining the world in which they want to live.

'I would like to encourage our churches and missional communities to find ways of creating authentic community online; embracing our Baptist DNA of radical dissent and enabling a culture where all generations are involved and heard.'
 
She added, 'As disciples of Jesus, our distinctions all reveal the unlimited beauty of God; who is the source of each of us. I believe this rich diversity is the Holy Ground where God speaks. It is this diversity that means we need to learn how to create a bigger table together.'

Following this year's Baptist Assembly, Hayley will serve as Vice President 2021-22, before assuming the presidency in 2022-2023. 

Our current President is the Revd Yinka Oyekan, whose theme How Do We Grow from Here? built upon that of his predecessor, the Revd Ken Benjamin. 

The Revd Geoff Colmer will become Baptist Union President 2021-22 during the Sunday morning service (16 May) at the Baptist Assembly. His year will have a focus on "being attentive to rhythms of grace".  

Reflecting on the vote, Hayley said, 'It is an honour and privilege to be called to serve our wider Baptist family in this role. I am really looking forward to encouraging us all in Building a Bigger Table though hearing, listening and knowing God and each other.

'I am really excited to follow on from Geoff’s theme of being attentive to God; my prayer is that out of our attentiveness we will be in a strong place to build together and welcome everyone to God’s table in our various contexts.'

To find out more about Hayley's candidacy, here's a short video she prepared.

The President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain is elected annually. Their main role is as a communicator/facilitator of our Union’s vision and mission. The President travels around our Union, engaging with local churches, regional Associations and Colleges.