A Comprehensive Guide to Baptist Polity and Practice: A Review of A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar
A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar
If you are a Baptist or interested in learning more about the Baptist tradition, you might want to read A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice, a classic book that explains the history, beliefs, and practices of Baptists. But what if you prefer reading ebooks rather than print books? How can you get a copy of A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar, a compressed file format that can save you space and time? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will tell you what A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice is, why you should read it, and how you can get it as an ebook rar file.
A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar
What is A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice?
A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice is a book written by Norman H. Maring, a Baptist minister and professor, with the collaboration of Winthrop S. Hudson, a Baptist historian. The book was first published in 1963 under the title A Short Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice, and was revised and expanded in 1991. The book is considered one of the most comprehensive and authoritative guides to Baptist polity and practice, covering topics such as the New Testament concept of the church, church membership, baptism, the Lord's Supper, church officers, associations, conventions, ecumenical relationships, and more.
The author and the background of the book
Norman H. Maring (1914-2006) was a prominent Baptist leader who served as a pastor, missionary, educator, administrator, writer, and ecumenist. He taught at Crozer Theological Seminary, Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Andover Newton Theological School, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary), and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served as president of American Baptist Churches USA (then Northern Baptist Convention) in 1959-1960, as well as president of National Council of Churches in 1979-1980. He was involved in various ecumenical dialogues with other Christian denominations, such as Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Orthodox, Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, Mennonites, Quakers, Moravians, Reformed Church in America.
Maring wrote A Short Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice in response to a request from Judson Press, the publishing arm of American Baptist Churches USA. He wanted to provide a concise but comprehensive introduction to Baptist polity and practice for students, pastors, lay leaders, and interested readers. He collaborated with Winthrop S. Hudson (1911-2001), a distinguished Baptist historian who taught at Colgate Rochester Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary. Hudson contributed to some chapters on historical aspects of Baptist polity and practice, such as the origin and development of Baptists, the Baptist association, and the Baptist conventions.
The main themes and topics of the book
The book has 11 chapters, each dealing with a major theme or topic of Baptist polity and practice. The chapters are:
Identifying the Baptists: This chapter discusses the origin and development of Baptists, their distinctive characteristics, their diversity and unity, and their relation to other Christian groups.
The New Testament Concept of the Church: This chapter examines the biblical basis of Baptist polity and practice, focusing on the nature, purpose, and mission of the church as a community of believers.
The Church and the Churches: This chapter explores the relationship between the universal church and the local churches, as well as the autonomy and interdependence of Baptist churches.
The Local Church: This chapter describes the organization, functions, and activities of the local church, such as worship, education, fellowship, service, evangelism, and social action.
Church Membership: Qualifications and Responsibilities: This chapter explains the criteria and process of becoming a member of a Baptist church, as well as the rights and duties of church members.
The Baptist Ministry: This chapter defines the concept and role of ministry in Baptist churches, as well as the qualifications, ordination, and accountability of ministers.
Other Officers of the Local Church: This chapter identifies and describes the other officers of the local church besides ministers, such as deacons, trustees, clerks, treasurers, moderators, etc.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper: This chapter discusses the meaning, mode, subjects, and administration of baptism and the Lord's Supper in Baptist churches.
The Baptist Association: This chapter traces the history and purpose of the Baptist association, a voluntary organization of local churches for mutual support and cooperation.
State and National Conventions: This chapter explains the origin and function of state and national conventions, which are larger bodies that represent and coordinate Baptist churches in a region or country.
Ecumenical Relationships: This chapter reviews the history and current status of Baptist involvement in ecumenical movements and dialogues with other Christian denominations.
The structure and style of the book
The book is structured in a logical and clear way, following a chronological and thematic order. Each chapter begins with an introduction that summarizes the main points and ends with a conclusion that reinforces them. The book also provides a list of suggested readings at the end for further study. The book is written in a clear, contemporary style using inclusive language. The book avoids technical jargon and uses examples and illustrations to make complex concepts accessible. The book also uses tables to present information in a concise way. For example, here is a table that compares different modes of baptism among Baptists:
ModeMeaningAdvocates
ImmersionSymbolizes death to sin and resurrection to new life in ChristMost Baptists
PouringSymbolizes cleansing from sin and outpouring of the Holy SpiritAmerican Baptist Churches USA
SprinklingSymbolizes covenant sign and seal of God's graceAmerican Baptist Churches USA
Why should you read A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice?
There are many reasons why you should read A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice, whether you are a Baptist or not. Here are some of them:
The benefits of reading the book for Baptists
If you are a Baptist, reading this book will help you:
Understand your own identity, heritage, and beliefs as a Baptist.
Appreciate your own diversity and unity as a part of a global Baptist family.
Participate more effectively in your local church's life and ministry.
Engage more responsibly in your association's and convention's work and witness.
Relate more respectfully to other Christian groups with whom you share common faith and mission.
The relevance of the book for today's church and society
If you are not a Baptist but interested in learning more about them, reading this book will help you:
Recognize the contributions of Baptists to Christianity and society throughout history.
Acknowledge the challenges that Baptists face in and richness of Baptist expressions of faith and worship in different cultures and contexts.
Conclusion
A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice is a book that every Baptist and anyone interested in Baptists should read. It is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to Baptist history, beliefs, and practices. It is also a relevant and helpful resource for Baptist ministry and mission in today's world. You can get the book as an ebook rar file from various sources and platforms, and enjoy its advantages and features. We hope this article has inspired you to read A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar and learn more about Baptists.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar:
Who wrote A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice?
A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice was written by Norman H. Maring, a Baptist minister and professor, with the collaboration of Winthrop S. Hudson, a Baptist historian.
When was A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice published?
A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice was first published in 1963 under the title A Short Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice, and was revised and expanded in 1991.
What are some of the topics covered in A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice?
Some of the topics covered in A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice are the New Testament concept of the church, church membership, baptism, the Lord's Supper, church officers, associations, conventions, ecumenical relationships, etc.
Why should I read A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice?
You should read A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice because it will help you understand your own identity, heritage, and beliefs as a Baptist; appreciate your own diversity and unity as a part of a global Baptist family; participate more effectively in your local church's life and ministry; engage more responsibly in your association's and convention's work and witness; relate more respectfully to other Christian groups with whom you share common faith and mission; recognize the contributions of Baptists to Christianity and society throughout history; acknowledge the challenges that Baptists face in the contemporary world and how they can respond to them faithfully and creatively; learn from the insights and experiences of Baptists on issues such as religious liberty, church-state separation, congregational autonomy, ecumenical dialogue, social justice, and mission; appreciate the diversity and richness of Baptist expressions of faith and worship in different cultures and contexts.
How can I get A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar?
You can get A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice ebook rar from various sources and platforms, such as Judson Press, Amazon, Google Books, or Archive.org. You can also use search engines, torrent sites, or ebook readers to find and access the ebook rar file.
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