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OUR VISION

As prayerful stewards of God’s resources and in partnership with others we commit to:

  • Nurturing individuals to excel in leadership by:

    • Assisting in the identification and recruitment of quality church leadership

    • Caring for professional church leaders

    • Training and equipping leaders to face the challenges of presenting the Good News in new and varied ways

  • Providing enrichment opportunities for spiritual formation by:

    • Offering quality camps, conferences and other events

    • Celebrating our American Baptist heritage and continuing to develop our American Baptist identity

  • Encouraging biblical reflection and action by Supporting individuals and churches in identifying and responding to justice issues:

    • Engaging in dialogue with other people of faith

    • Modeling authentic Christian community

  • Nurturing ministries and mission by:

    • Planting new churches/ministries

    • Promoting stewardship of life and ministry

    • Encouraging and equipping congregations for transformation in our changing world

    • Challenging and providing opportunities for individuals and churches to engage in mission

    • Providing an effective network for communication and ministry

OUR BELIEFS

10 Facts You Should Know About American Baptists

The 1.3-million members and 5,200 congregations of American Baptist Churches USA share with more than 42 million Baptists around the world a common tradition begun in the early 17th century. That tradition has emphasized the Lordship and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, believers’ baptism, the competency of all believers to be in direct relationship with God and to interpret Scripture, the importance of the local church, the assurance of freedom in worship and opinion, and the need to be Christ’s witnesses within society.


 

The following facts are representative of the tradition and practice of American Baptists.

 

1 American Baptists believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God that serves as the final written authority for living out the Christian faith.

 

2 For American Baptists the local church is the fundamental unit of mission in denominational life.

 

3 American Baptists partake of two ordinances: believers’ baptism and The Lord’s Supper.

 

4 American Baptists believe that the committed individual Christian can and should approach God directly, and that individual gifts of ministry should be shared.
 

5 American Baptists take seriously the call to evangelism and missionary work.
 

6 American Baptists support religious freedom and respect the expressions of faith of others.

 

7 American Baptists acknowledge that God’s family extends beyond our local churches, and that God calls us to cooperative ministries.

 

8 American Baptists have been called to be Christ’s witnesses for justice and wholeness within a broken society.

 

9 American Baptist Churches USA celebrates the racial, cultural and theological diversity witnessed within its membership.

 

10 American Baptists heed the biblical call to renewal and the need for a vital witness in a new millennium.

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