Baptist Identity and the Story of the Church

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the factors leading to and the main tenets of, the Radical Reformation.
2. Explain how Baptists developed their theology and practice of leadership and congregational governance.
3. Plan a congregational meeting in accordance with Baptist principles – assessment task.
4. Articulate the main features of Baptist belief and practice from their earliest beginnings until the present day
5. Outline an approach to leadership in congregational conflict.
6. Explain and give reasons for the differences among Baptists in various cultural and historical contexts.

• One short paper meeting agenda (500 words) (15%)
• One essay resolving conflict (1000 words) (750 words) (35%)
• One short paper presentation (500 words) (15%)
• One thematic essay (1,000 words) (35%)

Set texts recommended for purchase highlighted in blue*

• Baptist World Alliance, Study and Research Division. We Baptists. Franklin, TN: Providence House, 1999.
• Beasley-Murray, Paul. Radical believers: The Baptist way of being church. Didcot, UK: Baptist Union of Great Britain, 1992.
• Bebbington, David W. Baptists through the centuries: A history of a global people. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2010.
• Brackney, William H. The Baptists. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1994.
• Chatfield, Graeme, ed. Leadership and Baptist Church Governance. Sydney: Morling Press, 2005.
• Deweese, Charles W. An introduction to Baptists. 2nd ed. Atlanta: Baptist History and Heritage Society, 2008.
• Manley, Ken R. Shapers of Our Australian Baptist Identity. Parkville, Vic: Whitley College, 1997.
• Murray, Stuart. The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials of a Radical Faith. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2010.
• Norman, R Stanton. The Baptist Way: Distinctives of a Baptist Church. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2005.
• Petras, Michael. Australian Baptists: Past and Present. Eastwood, NSW: Baptist Historical Society of NSW, 1988.