Baptist Church Research Articles

Himne sebagai Inspirasi Konsep Redesain Gereja Baptis Efrata di Bandung

The Efrata Baptist Church in Bandung was established in 1967 planning renovations to increase the congregation's capacity. Building renovations put more emphasis on optimizing the existing buildings. For this reason, it is necessary to redesign, among others: seating capacity, interior atmosphere, baptismal pool, and building facades. The design objective is to prepare a church design that is functional and has a narrative of Christian values. The method uses a design method with a semiotic approach. The design stage starts from data collection, data analysis stage, synthesis stage to the application of the design concept. The redesign concept was inspired by the lyrics of the Cwm Rhondda hymn. This is because music and church cannot be separated. And one genre of church music that is familiar with the Baptist church is hymns. The lyrics of the Cwm Rhondda hymn are applied through the architectural elements of the church.

“We are with Mexico”, the change in discourse of the Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist Churches in the face of the religious reforms of 1988-1992

In December 1988, during his inauguration speech, Carlos Salinas de Gortari proposed the modernization of relations between the Mexican State and the Church. From that moment on, and during the following four years, academics, legislators, and leaders of different Protestant Churches participated in discussions about the relevance and perils of making legal changes in religious matters. This debate led to the transformation of the relationship between the Mexican State and the creation of the legal figure of Religious Associations. Based on research in newspaper sources such as documents and official announcements of the Churches, the change in the discourse during the four years that the debate on the reforms in religious matters lasted is analyzed. Keys words: Protestantism, Protestant Churches, constitutional amendments, Religious Associations.

Middletown Baptist Church, New Jersey. Edited by John D. Inscore Essick. Baptists in Early North America 8, series editor William H. Brackney. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 2022. 290 pp. $60 cloth. - Abbott's Creek, North Carolina, Baptist Church. Edited by J. Kristian Pratt. Baptists in Early North America 9, series editor William H. Brackney. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press,

Middletown Baptist Church, New Jersey. Edited by John D. Inscore Essick. Baptists in Early North America 8, series editor William H. Brackney. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 2022. 290 pp. $60 cloth. - Abbott's Creek, North Carolina, Baptist Church. Edited by J. Kristian Pratt. Baptists in Early North America 9, series editor William H. Brackney. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press,

Vznik a zánik narativu na příkladu putování jedné svatojánské sochy

Using the example of the statue of St John of Nepomuk outside Saint John the Baptist Church (Na Prádle) in Prague’s Lesser Town, the author presents a reflection on the wide range of ideas upon which the narrative of a historical monument located in the city’s landscape depends on. This sculpture is especially admired as an example of Baroque art. The location of this statue in front of Saint John the Baptist Church is one of the factors that creates the impression of a picturesque and visually attractive spot. At the same time, however, this statue is known to have been originally located on the opposite shore of the Vltava River. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was part of a religious cult, and its presence in the Cattle Market (now Charles Square) was seen as part of a greater pilgrimage site in which St John of Nepomuk was revered. By studying sources and literature, the author gradually uncovers layers of meanings intertwined with this particular work. At the same time, the author reflects on the possible consequences of transferring (not only) religious monuments from their original locations, especially with regard to the city’s memory.

Religious Institutions’ Capacity Determinants and Environmental Conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Case of the Baptist Church in Central Africa in Goma, North Kivu

Religious Institutions’ Capacity Determinants and Environmental Conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Case of the Baptist Church in Central Africa in Goma, North Kivu

Study on the Reasons for the Relocation of Guangzhiyuan to Jinan Nanguan

From Yuan Shikai acting as the governor of Shandong to 1904, the status and influence of Jinan in Shandong Province increased rapidly, while the Baptist Church was almost blank in Jinan. In order to consolidate and expand the religious power, the Baptist Church, in accordance with the missionary strategy of paying equal attention to the upper and lower levels, carefully planned to move some of the cultural relics of “Bogutang” to Jinan and build “Guangzhiyuan” in Nanguan, Jinan. The construction of Guangzhiyuan enhanced the social influence of Baptist Church in Jinan, improved the status of religious society in Jinan, and laid a good foundation for the opening and development of Jinan parish.

Ecumenism in St Andrews: A fact and a mandate

In a three-way conversation, ministers from Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches in St Andrews, Fife reflect on their experience of ecumenical theology and local church practice. As they wrestle with the reality of the Church’s disunity, they seek to draw out some specific biblical, theological, and practical resources which have been especially helpful in their own ecumenical practice as local church ministers. What clearly emerges as a central feature is the gift which denominational differences and diversities can bring out of ecumenical efforts. Encountering sisters and brothers in other ecclesial communities can play a crucial role in enriching our own ecclesial identities, but, as these authors emphasise, it requires pushing against the consumerist competition which can easily creep up on us in a shrinking church ‘market’. Remaining open to the gift of another – in this case, another Christian communal expression – is at the heart of anything that can be called genuine ecumenism.

Spitituality and Work Engagement in Ministry at the Indonesian Baptist Church Immanuel Simolangit

Every church congregation is expected to have engagement in ministry. However, in reality, there are still many congregations that are not actively engaged. At Indonesian Baptist Church Immanuel Simolangit, Surabaya itself, some members are reluctant to participate in worship, resulting in a lack of engagement in ministry. This study aims to determine whether there is an influence of spirituality on work engagement in ministry at Indonesian Baptist Church Immanuel Simolangit. The method used is quantitative research. The results of this study indicate that there is an influence of spirituality on work engagement in ministry at Indonesian Baptist Church Immanuel Simolangit. The calculation of simple correlation between spirituality and work engagement in ministry found an R value of 0.810, which is positively correlated. This means that the strength of the relationship between spirituality and work engagement in ministry at Indonesian Baptist Church Immanuel Simolangit is 0.810, falling into the category of very high correlation.

Black Appalachia's Oldest Old: Untold Stories of Experienced Racism and Coping With Religious Practices/Beliefs.

Racism and religion are recognized as prevailing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). To explore ways in which racism and religion looms in the daily lives of African Americans, we analyzed the experiences of African Americans born during the Jim Crow years and living in the Southern Appalachian Region of the United States. Twenty-seven African Americans participated in this qualitative descriptive study that utilized criterion sampling, open-ended semistructured interviews, and content analysis to identify a typology of categories related to experienced racism and ways in which religion was used in response to those experiences. Participants were an average age of 82.22 years (SD = 5.07); primarily women (n = 19, 70.4%); married (n = 11, 40.7%); junior high school (n = 6, 22.2%), high school or general educational diploma (n = 7, 25.9%), completed college or professional school (n = 6, 22.2%); were retired (n = 27, 100.0%); and affiliated with Baptist churches (n = 18, 66.7%). Experiences with racism included inequities in healthcare and education, and racially motivated physical violence. Religious practices/beliefs included forgiveness, humility, and humanity. Racism experienced by African American participants was likely countered by religious practices/beliefs inspired through intergenerational teachings with affiliations to the Black Church. These experiences of the oldest old ) African Americans living in communities of the Southern Appalachia, United States, illustrate the pervasive nature of racism. The religious beliefs that are frequently transmitted intergenerationally through the Black Church are relevant to understand present-day encounters with racism among African Americans and possibly other communities of color.

John Clifford, (1836–1923): Liberal, Socialist, Free Churchman, Companion of Honour

ABSTRACT This paper provides background and context for a day conference marking the centenary of the death of the Revd John Clifford, a leading British Baptist minister of the late 19th and early 20th century. Brought up in a working class home on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border, Clifford was trained at the Leicester General Baptist College, and spent his entire ministry at Praed Street/Westbourne Park Baptist Church in West London. There he studied at the University of London, gaining outstanding results in several Bachelor's degrees. He campaigned successfully to bring the Baptist Union and the New Connexion of General Baptists together in 1891. As President of the Baptist Union in 1888–89, he was involved in the Union's handling of the 'Downgrade Controversy' that had led to the withdrawal of C.H. Spurgeon (who remained a friend) from the Baptist Union, but did not secure his return. The later part of his career was dominated by the Education controversy, particularly in the passive resistance campaign in which many nonconformists refused to pay their education rate under the 1902 Education Act.

Pulpit Interpretation in the Cameroon Baptist Convention Churches

This article examines how the Cameroon Baptist Church (CBC) makes efforts to pass across the gospel message to their target population through sermon interpreting. It highlights how interpretation of sermons are carried out by lay interpreters given the necessity of interpretation in bilingual congregations. The two languages concerned are French and English, the two official languages of Cameroon. The linguistic nature of Cameroon obliges the CBC to organize bilingual church services so as to minister alternately to their bilingual audience. While interpreting is necessary and obligatory given the target church population, the problem is the quality of interpretation due to unskilled interpreters that sometimes misinterpret messages leading to break down in communication. Break downs in sermon interpretations can really be misleading because the word of God is Yes and Amen. It is therefore concluded that given the centrality of interpreting in the CBC settings, it is important for the CBC to train interpreters and make use of them for the well being of evangelism.

Towards A Viable Framework for Social Media Utilization in Mediative Dialogue Adoptable by Baptist Pastors

Many faith-based organizations, especially the Nigerian Baptist Convention, have deployed many means to promote peaceful coexistence in the society in an attempt to achieve Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. One such means is mediative dialogue through social media. As the world has metamorphosed digitally and social media changes communication means globally, using social media through mediative dialogue will likely improve promoting peaceful coexistence through mediative dialogue by faith-based organizations. The study examined how the Convention’s pastors use social media to promote peaceful coexistence through mediative dialogue in Baptist churches within the Ibadan metropolis. The study was done through three qualitative research methods: sample surveys, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. The study focused on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram. The study discovers that many Baptist pastors in Ibadan have been using at least one social media platform. The study is corroborated by reviewing other related literatures. Specific responses and reviews were also given on each of the focused social media platforms. The study is concluded by giving some recommendations to faith-based organizations generally and pastors of the Nigerian Baptist Convention specifically on how to deploy social media in the process of promoting peaceful coexistence in the society through mediative dialogue.

Conflict Resolution and the Autonomy of the Local Baptist Church: A Critical Review

One peculiar distinctiveness of the Baptists is the autonomous status of a local Baptist church from other churches and even higher authorities of the religious denomination. This paper reviews this church polity in tandem with conflict resolution mechanisms in a local church. Semi- structured interviews were used to determine how the polity affects resolving conflicts in a local church. Some available documents and literatures are reviewed and analysed in relation to the autonomy of a local Nigerian Baptist church and conflict resolution mechanisms. It is discovered that while the church polity has its benefits, there are some impediments it has against smooth conflict resolution mechanisms in the local church. Therefore, it is recommended that the Nigerian Baptist Convention, as a faith-based organisation, and churches cooperating with it should revisit the principle of autonomy of a local church. Responsible and regulated autonomy should be considered as total autonomy of a local church can lead to disorder and anarchy in the organisation.

The Wapping Baptists: Murky Origins and the Silence of John Spilsbery

ABSTRACT The Wapping Baptist church has often been referred to as the oldest Baptist church in London. Historians have confidently placed its origins as early as 1633 when a small group of those adopting believer’s baptism departed from the semi-separatist Jacob-Lathrop-Jessey church, then soon to be pastored by the influential John Spilsbery. However, there is no primary source evidence connecting those of this early exodus to the later Wapping Baptists, and similarly, there is no evidence to suggest that Spilsbery was ever at Wapping (the first suggestion not appearing until 1808). This article will not, unfortunately, clarify the Wapping church origins – they remain murky and obscure – however, it will raise doubt surrounding the traditional narrative.

The Disparities in the Treatment of African American Women in the Southern Black Baptist Church

Although the backbone of the African American community, the Black Church still engages in discriminatory practices against women. The Black Church was born to help African Americans survive in a world that discriminated against them, and yet it discriminates against its own Black women. This study focuses on the disparities in the treatment of African American women and men in the Southern Black Baptist Church. Based on ethnographic interviews of women who actively hold leadership roles in prominent Southern Black Baptist Churches, I highlight the magnitude of the problem Black women face, and show that the continued discrimination is resulting in many women leaving the Black Church. The Black Church will continue to be the backbone of the African American community, but until the Black Church faces its own issues of gender discrimination, it will not advance.

Seeger Lecture, Society for Ethnomusicology Virtual Meeting 2021

Seeger Lecture, Society for Ethnomusicology Virtual Meeting 2021

The Case of the Theological Education and Missional Formation of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches

This paper aims to provide a glimpse of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches’ (CPBC) theological education and missional formation specifically through the Central Philippine University College of Theology (CPU CT). In her beginnings and how the CPU CT treaded the path of the pandemic, I have given specific attention to the use of Hiligaynon and woman lenses. Both the indigenous Hiligaynon and woman perspectives have often been left out in reading history and in interpreting the present. The use of both indigenous Hiligaynon and woman perspectives shows a history that is affirming of the devalued indigenous Hiligaynon and woman perspectives because of hegemonic colonial and patriarchal thinking. A step forward or sideward for the CPU CT could be taking a more affirming and empowering take toward embracing the Hiligaynon culture, language and spirituality as well as intentionally recognizing the space and being of women in doing theology and mission.

Clawing Through Bits of Glass and Bricks: James Baldwin and Reinhold Niebuhr on the Birmingham Church Bombing

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the unpublished dialogue between James Baldwin and Reinhold Niebuhr where they discussed the role of the Christian church in the wake of six child murders in Birmingham, Alabama on September 15, 1963. On that catastrophic day—one that is impossible to forget—the Ku Klux Klan bombed The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, and two black boys were subsequently shot and killed. In the wake of that violence, this article will show that for Baldwin, the dynamite that exploded the face of the “alabaster Christ” from the stained‐glass window presents an opportunity for not only a new depiction of Jesus in terms of presentation—but more significantly—a brand‐new Christology rooted in black liberation. Such a reading provides us with an unusual constructive theological position offered by Baldwin, especially once it is read alongside a public essay written by the Association of Artists for Freedom advocating for Black Christmas.

A Pentecostalism on the margins

Pentecostalism in Brazil has always raised many questions, some already answered and others still being elaborated. The Swedish Baptist Church, founded among Swedish settlers in Guarani (RS), established itself promoting a different type of Pentecostalism, therefore, this essay wants to propose some questions, in order to answer them. Are there gaps in the analysis of the beginning of Pentecostalism in Brazil? Can we use an exclusive way to understand such a fluid religiosity? Analytical exhaustion is a concern in this text, which argues that we return the tools to broaden, deepen and extend them, so that we can proceed with research on the religion that grew the most in Brazil in the 20th century. All facets already analyzed bring contributions to current research, but in some aspects it is already possible to verify exhaustion, something understandable, when there are new perspectives of observation on the phenomenon. The contribution proposed here is, based on the example of the IBS, to be careful not to close questions on this extensive, deep and plural theme. 1.097 / 5.000 Resultados de tradução star_border Pentecostalism in Brazil has always raised many questions, some already answered and others still being elaborated. The Swedish Baptist Church, founded among Swedish settlers in Guarani (RS), established itself promoting a different type of Pentecostalism, therefore, this essay wants to propose some questions, in order to answer them. Are there gaps in the analysis of the beginning of Pentecostalism in Brazil? Can we use an exclusive way to understand such a fluid religiosity? Analytical exhaustion is a concern in this text, which argues that we return the tools to broaden, deepen and extend them, so that we can proceed with research on the religion that grew the most in Brazil in the 20th century. All facets already analyzed bring contributions to current research, but in some aspects it is already possible to verify exhaustion, something understandable, when there are new perspectives of observation on the phenomenon. The contribution proposed here is, based on the example of the IBS, to be careful not to close questions on this extensive, deep and plural theme.

Ministers of a New Medium: Broadcasting Theology in the Radio Ministries of Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier by Kirk D. Farney

Reviewed by: Ministers of a New Medium: Broadcasting Theology in the Radio Ministries of Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier by Kirk D. Farney Kathryn M. Galchutt Ministers of a New Medium: Broadcasting Theology in the Radio Ministries of Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier. By Kirk D. Farney. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2022. 345 pp. In our multi-media saturated times, it is difficult to imagine the singular importance of radio during its golden age, from the 1920s to the 1950s. During that era before television, the essayist E. B. White described radio as having a "godlike presence" in homes across America. In his book Kirk Farney notes that radio had a range of qualities, from intimate to communal, from democratic to authoritative. Yet Farney's study is less concerned with the medium of radio and more concerned with the impact of two men and the messages they spoke to millions during the 1930s and 1940s. The Lutheran pastor Walter A. Maier (1893–1950) and the Roman Catholic priest Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) were two of the most popular and prominent broadcasters during radio's golden age. Both men came from religious backgrounds that were considered on the periphery of mainstream American Protestant religion. Maier came from a German-American Lutheran background and was a member of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, a synod which some saw as an ethnic and theological enclave. Sheen came from a primarily Irish-American Catholic background and sought to counter the historic anti-Catholicism in American society. Farney explains how Maier and Sheen preached messages rooted in their own religious traditions, yet succeeded in appealing to wider audiences. Both men "combined a traditional theological conservatism with an equally traditional American idealism" (133). Maier and Sheen took to the airwaves after the Modernist and Fundamentalist debates of the 1920s. Both men were vocal critics of modernist [End Page 191] theology. They preached messages of traditional Christian theology, putting a strong emphasis on the doctrines of the atonement, sin, and grace. Given the well-known antagonism between Protestants and Catholics, it is remarkable that the Protestant Maier and the Catholic Sheen asserted such similar teachings about the foundations for faith and life (160). Maier and Sheen also made connections with the difficult times in which they were living, commenting on the economic challenges of the Great Depression, the conflicts and controversies of World War II, and the threat of communism. Both were careful to avoid partisan politics. But they reflected a spirit of American patriotism while also calling on Americans to repent and to avoid a stance of national self-righteousness. Farney notes that Maier and Sheen were critical of racial and ethnic discrimination in America and urged the church to recognize the equality of all people before God (257). Farney could have done more to explain the significance of their stances in the context of American race relations in the 1930s and 1940s. Both men reached out to many beyond their respective religious communities. Farney describes how Sheen received considerable attention for the prominent converts to Catholicism whom he reached, including Henry Ford II and the American Communist Party leader Louis Budenz. Besides the famous, Sheen also reached "the obscure … of all races and incomes" (297). Farney describes Maier's contacts with political, military, and cultural leaders, but did not mention specific converts. More could be done to examine those who made a commitment to Lutheranism because of Maier's "The Lutheran Hour." Among these are Mary Banta, who contributed to the development of True Light Lutheran Church, a Chinese-American congregation in Manhattan and Chris McNair, who lost his daughter Denise in the Klan bombing of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1963. Exploring the international impact of the "Catholic Hour" and "The Lutheran Hour" is another potential area of future research. Farney has written a very significant study of two of the most important radio preachers in American history, examining the similar ministries of a Lutheran pastor and Catholic priest. The parallels ended when Maier died relatively early of a massive heart attack [End Page 192] in 1950 and Sheen transitioned to even greater fame with a...