As American Baptists, we bring a unique and vital witness to the broader Christian community—one that’s deeply rooted in both conviction and courageous action. I want to briefly highlight five distinctives that shape our identity and continue to guide our mission in the world today.
- An Educated Clergy
We believe in a clergy that is not only called but also prepared—equipped by the Holy Spirit and through rigorous theological education.
This is not about hierarchy; it is about stewardship. Baptist ministers are expected to wrestle with Scripture, theology, history, and the realities of pastoral care so they can serve with both heart and wisdom.
Education empowers pastors to lead faithfully and think critically—especially in a complex and changing world.
Scriptural Foundation:
- 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
- Proverbs 4:7 – “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
- Diversity, Justice, and Equity
In 1845, Baptists in the North refused to appoint slaveholders as missionaries. That moral stand led to the separation from the South, but more importantly, it made clear that the gospel cannot be aligned with the oppression of others.
Our legacy includes a bold commitment to justice. Today, that continues through our pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion. These are not political trends; they are spiritual imperatives rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus.
Scriptural Foundation:
- Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
- Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Justice is not peripheral—it is central to God’s desire for human community and wholeness.
- Women in Ministry
We affirm that the Spirit of God calls both women and men to preach, lead, pastor, and serve.
This is not merely a matter of policy, but of pneumatology—recognizing how the Spirit gifts the church through all its members.
American Baptists have long stood for the full ordination and empowerment of women in ministry, and this continues to be a defining mark of our witness.
Scriptural Foundation:
- Acts 2:17-18 – “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy… Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’”
- Romans 16:1-2 – “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.”
- Collaborative, Not Colonial, Missions
Our mission philosophy resists domination and embraces partnership.
We do not go to “bring God” to others—we go to join God already at work in every culture and community.
Our global relationships are rooted in mutuality, humility, and shared leadership. We walk alongside—not ahead of—our mission partners, and we build relationships based on presence, not control.
Scriptural Foundation:
- Philippians 1:3-5 – “I thank my God every time I remember you… because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
- Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always.”
Jesus commands us to go—but the model is one of teaching, presence, and mutual discipleship, not cultural conquest.
- An Empowered Laity
One of our most powerful and often under-celebrated distinctives is the role of the laity.
Baptists have long held that every believer is a priest, called and capable of interpreting Scripture, sharing the gospel, and participating in the life of the church.
Our churches are not clergy-driven institutions—they are Spirit-empowered communities, where deacons, teachers, musicians, caregivers, and leaders of all kinds contribute to the mission and health of the church.
We believe the church thrives when all the people of God are active participants, not passive spectators.
Scriptural Foundation:
- 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”
- Ephesians 4:11-12 – “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
This is the priesthood of all believers: the idea that ministry is not the task of a few, but the vocation of the whole people of God.
Conclusion
These five distinctives—an educated clergy, a commitment to justice and equity, the full affirmation of women in ministry, a collaborative approach to missions, and an empowered laity—are not just historical markers.
They are living commitments that call us to embody a faithful, liberating, and inclusive gospel.
Let us continue to live into these truths—with conviction, with courage, and with hope.
