Baptist Church

Note: This chapter relies principally on information found on the World Wide Web at www.baptist.org (Baptist.Org) and its subsidiary websites, and at www.cbmin.org (Canadian Baptist Ministries). Both websites are resources for Baptists worldwide.

Description

The Baptist Church originated in England in the 16th century, around the same time as Congregationalism.

There were two emergent Baptist churches, the Particular Baptists and the General Baptists. Particular Baptists believed that Christ died only for the salvation of a certain number of people, and General Baptists believed that Christ died for the salvation of all. Both Churches were based in Calvinist theology, although the latter was a more moderate form of Calvinism.

Both Churches were congregationist, believing that churches should be self-governed and should function like other Protestant churches. Eventually, however, the General Baptist following dwindled, and the remaining few congregations became Unitarian. The Particular Baptists became more prominent during an evangelical revival in Britain. At this point, the Church’s doctrine became more Evangelical than Calvinist.

Baptists believe that baptism is symbolic of the adoption of faith in an individual, and so only believers are baptized. Baptism is also representative of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Accordingly, full immersion, signifying death, and re-emergence from the water, signifying the new life in Christ, constitute the way Baptism is administered. The Church recognizes as members only those who have demonstrated their faith in Christianity and in the Baptist Church. Baptists understand that God is one Person, but the Trinity is recognized in the sense that God has manifested as three substances. The Father, as Creator, has always been in existence; the Son, Jesus Christ, comes from the Father; and the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son.

Not all Baptists are alike. Members and congregations may adhere to fundamental or reformed religious practices and beliefs. They may profess strongly conservative social views founded on their particular religious beliefs and biblical interpretation, or they may prefer to apply the independence associated with the government of Baptist congregations to their personal values.

Religious Elements

Scriptural and Doctrinal Sources

• The Bible, particularly the New Testament, is regarded as the sole source of teaching in the Church.

• Baptists do not place as much emphasis on creeds or confessions of faith as other Christian denominations, though some have been published or used in churches.

Sacraments

For Baptists, there are no sacraments that impart a special state of grace or sanctification. However, traditional Christian practices instituted by Jesus Christ hold a special place in the teachings of the Church. They are termed ordinances, which the faithful are commanded to observe:

• Baptism by water for adults and for young children, though not infants, at the wishes of their parents. The baptism is by immersion in water.

• The Lord’s Supper, usually once or twice a month.

Moral Code

• Founded on the Bible, particularly the New Testament.

Houses of Worship

• Houses of worship vary in architectural style from early Canadian wood structures to neo-Gothic and modern buildings of stone and brick. The interior layout is patterned on that of the modified Roman basilica of Europe and North America and consists of a narthex (vestibule); a nave (large space for the congregation); and a chancel, or sanctuary (elevated space around the altar for clergy, choir, acolytes), which is separated from the nave by a rood screen or railing. Ornamentation, imagery and iconography are avoided. The size of the building generally reflects the size of the congregation. Churches commonly have a bell tower or a steeple bearing a cross.

Devotional Practices and Services

• Worship consists of prayer, sermon and singing and is similar to the worship style of other Protestant churches.

Clergy, Organization and Government

• There are five major groupings of Baptists in Canada:

• Baptist Federation of Canada
• Fellowship of Evangelical Baptists
• North American Baptists
• General Conference of Baptists
• Southern Baptists of Canada.

• Additional congregations remain independent.

• The congregation functions as a group, making decisions concerning who is called to be pastor, who is included or excluded from the congregation, and how faith in Christ should be demonstrated by the Church.

• Individual congregations are linked through assemblies at the local, regional or national level.

• The assemblies do not have authority over individual congregations; they simply meet to address the concerns of the congregations.

• The pastor leads the congregation; lay people and deacons are responsible for corporate church affairs and direction of church boards.

• After completion of required training, ordination and accreditation, members of the clergy are called to service by congregations.

• Baptists believe in the “priesthood of all believers,” a doctrine whereby all believers could, in theory, perform all functions of ministry. In practice, ordained ministers perform the functions reserved by law and tradition for licensed members of the clergy.

Propagation of Faith

• Evangelism through missions and partnerships around the world.

Major Celebrations and Observances

Days of Regular Observance

• Every Sunday (day of worship).

• Christmas (birth of Jesus Christ).

• Easter (Christ’s death and resurrection): from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Dress Requirements

• None.

Dietary Requirements

• None

Medical and Health Requirements

• Abortion is permitted only in extreme circumstances, when no other option is available or the life of the mother is threatened.

• Baptists encourage abstinence from alcohol and tobacco.

• Nonmedicinal use of drugs is considered immoral.

Death and Burial

• No prescribed rituals.

• Funeral and burial practices common to Protestant Christian churches.

Sources of Additional Information

http://www.baptist.org — home page for all Baptists.
http://www.cbmin.org/ — website of the Canadian Baptist Ministries, the international organization serving Canadian Baptists around the world.
Canadian Baptist Ministries
7185 Millcreek Drive
Mississauga, ON L5N 5R4
Phone: (905) 821-3533