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Baptist Foundations Summary

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In a culture that encourages self-governing and individualist approaches to church management, a Baptist perspective on polity appears not only timely but vital. Mark Dever, Jonathan Leeman et al. provide in Baptist Foundations a distinctly Baptist view for the effective functionality of today’s church. Topics explored in the work cover issues of congregationalism, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, church membership, church discipline, and elders and deacons. The authors provide historical background, Biblical context and practical application for these issues which are pertinent to the continued sustainability of the church in the form that has stood for centuries and to which we are familiar. There are several areas of personal interest in this …show more content…

If a member sees themselves as a functioning part of a larger system they potentially may be more attune to the collective need. The congregational model allows for this unified group of believers, bound by a mutual covenant to govern their own body. In chapter two the authors provide several strong arguments for congregational governance based on the formation of God’s covenant with the church and extending to Jesus as the head of the church and the membership as the facilitators of governing functions under the leadership of a Pastor or …show more content…

Therefore, balanced reflection is warranted as to some of the foreseeable weaknesses of plural eldership. The authors argue that a plurality of elders typifies the essence of congregationalism; however, it may be disputed that potentially this type of leadership actually diminishes congregational participation in decision making. When decisions pass through a group of elders, then a group of deacons to finally the congregation, most of the operational decisions have already been made, possibly overlooking valuable input from the membership. Additionally, it could be argued that this practice substantially diminishes the role of women in church decision making. Qualifications for both elder and deacon exclude women from the office therefore the only acceptable participation of decision making falls within the realm of the congregational vote. The greatest advantage of a congregational structure is the ability to work together as one entity including both male and female church members. Evidence is found in the New Testament of a church that held a unique view of equality in a time of pronounced inequality as seen with women and slaves (Romans 16:12; Galatians 3:26; Philippians

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