DESCRIPTION:

Beside Catholic and Protestant, there is a third historic ecclesial type, often named Baptist (or baptist--a spelling to match lower case "catholic" and "protestant"). This type recurs over the centuries, but its characteristic theology remains little examined and often unknown. To remedy this lack, this seminar seeks the central features of Baptist (or baptist) theology. The goals of the seminar are correctly to locate the Baptist movement in the Christian spectrum and to identify its definitive vision.

Three aspects of this work make it relevant for Christian ministry: Formational: Many Fuller students seek an appropriate ecclesial setting for the ministry to which they know they are called. Ecumenical: The unity of God's people requires that each part discover itself so that it can contribute its true character to the whole. Pedagogical: If the church would be the church, it must theologically examine its constitutive character.

Read and discuss extracts from primary baptist theological writings from the 15th century to the present with current interpretations of these.

Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim's Progress. Penguin, 1965.

Durnbaugh, Donald. The Believers' Church. Herald, 1985.

Klaassen, W. Anabaptism: Neither Catholic nor Protestant. Conrad, 1981.

Lumpkin, W. L. Baptist Confessions of Faith. Judson, 1988.

McClendon, James. Systematic Theology, Volumes I and II. Abingdon, 1986-94.

Pipkin, H. Wayne. Essays in Anabaptist Theology. Institute of Mennonite Studies, 1994.

Yoder, J. H. The Fullness of Christ. Brethren, 1987.

Course Reader, Fuller Bookstore.

Carroll, J. M. The Trail of Blood. Any edition.

Toews, Paul, ed. Mennonites & Baptists. Kindred, 1993.

Other works represented in Reader as appropriate.

Attend all sessions prepared for well-informed discussion of the assigned readings for the day. A midterm examination will check progress in the seminar. By term's end submit a paper of 3,500 to 4,000 words, or for doctoral students a paper written to CATS standards, on an individually assigned topic closely related to the second seminar task.

Advanced M.Div. or M.A. standing as determined by your FTS advisor, or Ph.D. enrollment.

Elective.

None.