Baptist Theology and Polity

Course Code: BTT09

Resources for Constructing Theologies: Baptist Theology and Polity

BD III, Semester 1, 2 Credit Hours, College Paper

Course Objectives:

1. To enable students to understand the doctrines and traditions of their denominations.
2. To help the students to draw resources from their denominational root, traditions and practices and help engage on contemporary issues relating to denominations, sectarian groups and parachurches.
3. To challenge the students to engage in the process of contextual reformulations of the Christian faith and praxis in the light of their experiences.

Pedagogical Methods:

The concerned teacher should give proper lectures on the historical understanding of the Baptist and its doctrines, traditions and practices. The students may be assigned to read few important books.

Course Requirements:

• Final Examination: 60%
• Internal Assessment: 40%

Course Outline:

UNIT I: Historical Development of the Baptist

• Baptist History in Europe and America.
• Baptist History in India.
• Baptist History in North East India.

UNIT II: Doctrines

• Baptist Belief.
• Salvation: Justification by Grace through Faith.
• Holy Spirit and Trinity.
• Confession and Conversion.
• Eschatology.

UNIT III: Church Governance

• Congregational Church Governance System.
• Local Autonomy.
• Office of the Pastor.
• Office of the Deacon and Departments.
• Church Association.
• Church and State.

UNIT IV: Ordinances and Practices

• Baptism.
• Lord’s Supper.

UNIT V: Worship and Ministry

• Worship.
• Preaching.
• Mission.
• Prayer.
• Status of Women in the Church.
• Baptist Social Teaching.
• Theological Reflections: Child Dedication, Free will Concept, Sects & Cults.

Bibliography:

Required Books:

• Champion, L.G. Baptists and Unity. London: A. R. Mowbray & Cd. Ltd., 1962.
• Lumpkin, William L. Baptist Confession of Faith. Revised Edition. Philadelphia: Judson Press, 2011, 1959, 1969.
• Maring, Norman, H.S. and Winthrop S. Hudson. A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice. Valley Forge: The Judson Press, 1963.
• Rao, O.M. Baptist Distinctives. Gauhati: CLC, 1980/2000.
• Robinson, H.W. The Life and Faith of the Baptists. London: The Kingsgate Press, 1946.
• Straton, Hillyer H. Baptists: Their Message and Mission. Chicago: The Judson Press, 1950.

Supplementary Books:

• Baker Robert, A. The Baptist March in History. Nashville: Convention Press, 1958.
• Bebbington, David W. Baptists Through the Centuries: A History of a Global People. Baylor University Press, 2010.
• Brackney W.H. ed. Baptist Life and Thought: 1600-1980: A Source Book. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1983.
• Browne, B.P. Tales of Baptist Daring. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1961.
• Bryant, CJE. ed. One World, One Lord, One Witness. London: WordBooks, 1969.
• Burroughs, P.E. The Baptist People. Nashville: The Sunday School Board of Southern Baptist Convention, 1973.
• Bush, L. Russ and Tom J. Nettles. Baptists and the Bible. Chicago: Moody Press, 1981.
• Ferm, Vergilius, ed. The American Church of the Protestant Heritage. New York: Philosophical Library, 1953.
• Frank, T. et al. Baptist Who Dared. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1980.
• Freeman, Curtis W., et al. eds. Baptist Roots: A Reader in the Theology of a Christian People. Philadelphia: Judson Press, 1999.
• Gine, Pratap Chandra. The Versatile William Carey. Edited. Serampore: The Council of Serampore College, 2008.
• Gine, Pratap Chandra. A Journey from Carey to Tagore: Socio-Cultural Transformation, Co-edited with Tapan Kr. Banerjee. Serampore: Council of Serampore College, 2011.
• Gine, Pratap Chandra. William Carey and National Harmony, Co-edited with Ratna Dutta. Serampore: Council of Serampore College, 2012.
• Graves, James P. et al. Three Churches: One Spirit. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1978.
• Harrison, Paul M. Authority and Power in the Free Church Tradition. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1959.
• Hiscox, E.T. The New Directory For Baptist Churches. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1947.
• Hobbs, H.H. & E.Y. Mullins. The Axioms of Religion. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1978.
• Kerstan, R. J. and Ruby J. Burke, eds. Out of Darkness into the Light of Christ. Virginia: BWA.
• Newman, A. Henry. A History of the Baptist Churches in the United States. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1915.
• Nordenhaug, Josef, ed. The Truth That Makes Men Free. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1966.
• Payne, E.A. The Fellowship of Believers. London: The Carey Kingsgate Press, 1954.
• Ranfree, Hany H. Heritage and Horizon – The Baptist Story in Canada. Mississauga: Canadian Baptist Federation, 1988.
• Ryan, Wendy E. ed. Together in Christ – Officer Report of the Sixteenth Congress. Baptist World Congress. McLean: BWA, 1995.
• Skoglund, John S. A Manual of Worship. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1968.
• Stevens, Dorothy A. ed. Baptists Under the Cross. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1953.
• Zeliang, E. History of Christianity in Manipur – Source Materials. Guwahati: CLC, 2005.
• No Author. Baptist Advance. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964.

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