Our Beliefs

While our Statement of Faith is held in common with all other Christian churches, there are a number of things that set Baptist churches apart from others. However, it is by no means true that all of these are unique to us. For example most people think of believer's baptism as the distinguishing feature of Baptists, though they are not the only Christians to practice it. Nor are they the only Christians to believe in congregational church government, the priesthood of all believers, or the separation of church and state. It is the combination of these various beliefs which make Baptists distinctive.

“Jesus is Lord” is the distinctive confession of faith. As individuals and as churches, Baptists seek to make Jesus Lord of every aspect of their lives.

Baptists believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that the Holy Spirit through the Bible shows us God's way for living. As radical believers, Baptists seek to root their lives in the revelation of God's truth.

On the basis of the New Testament, Baptists claim that baptism is for believers only. Baptism is only for those who are able to declare ‘Jesus is Lord’. As a symbol of Jesus' claim on their lives, Baptists practise baptism by immersion, in which candidates publicly declare their desire to die to self and to live for Christ. Baptism involves not only commitment to Christ, but also to Christ’s Church. Therefore, to be baptised is also to become part of the body of Christ. For this reason, membership of a local church should follow baptism.

Baptists understand the church as a community of believers gathered by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ for worship, witness and service. Central to Baptist worship is prayer and praise, listening to God's word in preaching and meeting together for communion. Becoming a member of a Baptist church means entering into a covenant with the other members and agreeing to follow Christ together. (For more details see ‘Our Members’)

In the Baptist model of a believer's church every member has a role to play, whether in teaching, faith-sharing, evangelism, social action, pastoring, guiding, serving, prophetic insight, praying, healing, administration or hospitality. No one person has all the gifts, and so it is important that we join together and serve each other.

In a Baptist church, an illustration of the priesthood of all believers is the church meeting. This is the occasion when members come together to prayerfully discern God's will for their life together. In Baptist churches the final authority rests not with the ministers or Leadership Team but with the members gathered together in church meetings. It is the church meeting which, for instance, appoints ministers, and members of the Leadership Team, agrees financial policy and determines mission strategy. Church meetings tend to take place four times a year.

Local churches will usually call a minister to serve among them. Ministers function as church members with special responsibilities in caring for the members and leading in the church's mission. Their authority is recognised by the congregation who, acting under God's guidance, have called the minister to this position. They are almost invariably recognised as being suitable for ministry by the wider family of churches.

A Baptist church is sometimes referred to as a democracy. This could not be further from the truth since a democracy refers to ‘rule by the people’. In fact it is a theocracy, denoting ‘rule by God’. In a church meeting, the members are not concerned with ‘having their say’, but rather with letting God have His say.

Baptist churches have always come together in regional, national and international associations for support and fellowship. On the basis of the New Testament, Baptists believe that churches should not live in isolation from one another but rather be inter-dependent.

Baptists believe that all Christians have a duty to share their faith with others. In fact, the father of the modern missionary movement is generally accepted to be the Baptist William Carey. Along with this emphasis on evangelism, however, Baptists recognise that mission includes social action and involves promoting justice, social welfare, healing, education and peace in the world.

Religious freedom for all has always been a keystone of the Baptist way. Within Baptist churches, tolerance for differences of outlook and diversity of practice is encouraged. It is important to remember that ‘tolerating’ does not mean ‘agreeing’. In fact, if two parties agree then there is nothing to tolerate. Tolerance involves believing that another person is wrong, but also believing that they are allowed to be wrong.

The major source of this information is http://www.baptist.org.uk/baptist.html where more information can be found.