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Baptists
and Other Christians in Australia: Missing in Action, Lost Opportunity
or Mission Accomplished? |
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by David Parker |
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Paper presented at International
Conference on Baptist Studies V
&
Australian Baptist Research Forum
III |
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Whitley College, Melbourne,
Australia
15 - 18 July 2009 |
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(c) David Parker 2009 |
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OUTLINE
I Introduction
II The Australian Story
III Cameos
United Evangelical Church
Baptists
Presidents
Churches of Christ
IV Formal relations with other
churches
Interdenominational Christianity
Ecumenism
V The Baptist Vision
VI Regeneration - The Integrating
Factor
VII Biblical/Theological Basis
VIII A Distinctive Feature
IX Positive contribution
X Conclusion
Mixed Prospects
Vision for the Community
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To view whole paper (PDF), click here |
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Abstract
Charles Stewart, Queensland's first
Baptist minister, had a very enlightened approach to the important
question of Baptist identity and relations with other churches.
However, as a study of examples covering the establishment of
later churches, denominational leaders and their policies indicate,
his vision was not sustained. In fact, after nearly 200 years
in Australia, the original inspiration seems to have faded and
the observance of historic Baptist principles is piece-meal.
Key elements seem to be dropped at will, suggesting that the
distinctive features are not regarded as an integrated whole,
even though this is what accounts for the emergence of Baptists
at the beginning as the end product of the logical progression
from the Reformers through the Puritans and the Separatists to
our founding fathers.
Various themes have been used as the
central foundational principle of Baptist witness but there is
a strong biblical and theological case for salvation understood
as regeneration (or the gathered church), which is more specific
view than 'the gospel'; it also provides more content than biblical
authority or Lordship of Christ on their own. While this is a
theme that is well able to energise, motivate and direct the
Baptist vision, it can also be related to the wider view of the
kingdom of God, consideration of which can open the way for good
relations with others (as Stewart showed) even in the absence
of complete agreement with their tenets.
If Baptists can regain this perspective,
it will stand them in good stead as they seem to engage in a
vital mission to the world and make a valuable contribution to
the Christian community at a critical time in history. |
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