On Saturday 23rd April, the National Annual Baptist Assembly was held successfully at Hall 1 of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, England. Over 1,500 leaders from all over the UK gathered to celebrate the diversity of the Baptist family through bible studies, worships and discussion sessions.

In the run-up to the General Election in the UK on 5th May, certain election issues and public concerns have become the spotlight of the Assembly.

Traditionally, the annual Assembly lasts for four days with long discussion sessions. However, due to the preparations for the massive Baptist World Centenary Congress in July, the Assembly was shortened to one day with the discussion sessions replaced by a Question Time in the afternoon. Issues of immigration and poverty were debated.

As different party leaders could not reach a consensus on the appropriate immigration and asylum seekers policies in the UK, it has become a very sensitive topic in the coming election.

Joe Aldred, Secretary for Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, one of the members of the panel, encouraged Baptist delegates to look at immigration in a positive light.

"All of us that live in these islands are immigrants. It is just that some of us are more recent immigrants than others. And in the same way we have been able to settle, to prosper, we should bear in mind that we owe that to others that need the same hospitality," Aldred said.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), the official national ecumenical body, issued a statement earlier to urge all politicians to respect the dignity and diversity of members of all communities. They should not use the asylum seekers as a "political football" and spread false concerns about immigration that will lead to an increase in hatred and attacks on ethnic minorities. The Methodist Church of the Great Britain has also expressed similar concerns over the risk.

Kate Coleman, newly elected Vice President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) echoed that immigrants should be considered precious as they in fact offer a lot to the country. Ms Coleman herself is the first black woman to hold the post.

"There are positive aspects to the debate of immigration. Immigrants just don't bring negative issues, they bring positive blessings to the nation just as Jesus brought positive blessings to ourselves," she said.

"Jesus is a divine immigrant who comes from heaven to us, speaking a language that we often don't understand, finding himself rejected, finding himself harassed, finding himself in the place that many immigrants are in this nation today," she further explained.

Concerning the anti-poverty effort that was ranked as a top concern among the UK voters, Stephen Rand said, "Part of what Christianity is all about is concern for the poor around the world and that message needs to be heard by all governments."

Alistair Brown, General Director of BMS World Mission previously endorsed the Make Poverty History campaign, "Poverty is a stench in the nostrils of God. We often think that poverty is evitable. It is not and together we can change it. That is why BMS World Mission, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and many other Christians are part of the Make Poverty History Campaign. Together we can change the lives of people in this world for the good and for God's glory."

Rachel Lampard, Secretary for Parliamentary & Political Affairs for the Methodist Church, encouraged delegates not only to vote in the upcoming General Election but also to be involved in politics, "We have to broaden our understanding of politics. Democracy, voting is a very important part of it, but actually we are all very political beings, and we are called to be political beings as part of our Christian faith."

The Assembly is the annual gathering of British Baptists, arranged jointly by the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) and BMS World Mission. It was decided in the Assembly that a four day event will be held in Brighton from 28th April to 1st May 2006.