Baptist polity is the subject of a new publication by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies.
Walking Together: The Struggle of Baptists with Polity in the 21st Century is an examination of how Baptists govern their churches and includes papers presented on the topic at a convocation held last fall.
Included is a study of various Baptist models of polity compiled by Bruce Gourley, associate director of the Center for Baptist Studies at Mercer University; a survey of the inclusion and exclusion of women in Baptist life from the 1600s to the present, written by Pam Durso, associate director of the Baptist History & Heritage Society; and a historical overview of pastoral authority within a congregational form of church government, prepared by Robert E. Johnson, professor of church history and missiology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary.
Walking Together also includes the papers of the Center's Heritage Fellows of 2004-05. The Fellows, who are college students selected for intensive study of Baptist heritage and principles, were assigned to study 12 Baptist churches, examining the ways in which the various congregations were governed. The Fellows were Kate Major of the College of William and Mary, Elizabeth Rose of Virginia Tech and Megan Smith of the University of Richmond.
Each year Fellows are appointed and given a specific project. The previous class studied Baptist social ministry and the current class is examining current missions delivery systems.
Walking Together is available for $10, plus $2 shipping and handling, and can be ordered from the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies, P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173. For further information contact the Center at (804) 289-8434.
Special to the Herald