BAPTIST HISTORY Dr. Paul Kim Pastor Emeritus, Antioch Baptist Church Cambridge, Massachusetts

BAPTISTS IN AMERICA/NEW ENGLAND (1620-1845) Roger Williams – formed the 1st Baptist Church in America in 1638 in Providence, RI John Clarke – Formed a church in Newport, RI by 1644 Baptists organized a church in Boston on May 28, 1665 Baptists organized a church at Kittery, Maine in 1682 The established (Congregational) Church persecuted Baptists for many years, but ultimately Baptists gained recognition as one of the leading denominations in America and in the world.

BAPTISTS IN AMERICA/NEW ENGLAND (Continued) William Screven – organized the first Baptist church in the South, at Charleston, SC He led his congregation to move to Charleston, SC from Kittery, Maine due to persecution The church grew Associations were organized Philadelphia Baptist Association – The first Baptist Association in America, which was established in 1707 with five small churches Charleston Baptist Association – The first Baptist Association in the South, began in 1775

BAPTISTS IN AMERICA/NEW ENGLAND (Continued) Rapid Church Growth 86 new churches in Massachusetts in 1740-90 Virginia – 151 churches NC – 43 churches; SC – 27 churches; and Georgia – 6 churches by 1784 Sandy Creek Church – organized in NC by Shubal Stearns in 1755. In only 17 years this church started 42 new churches and which came 125 ministers. America provided fertile soil for the growth of Baptists through the simplicity of their doctrine, democracy of organization, and appeal to the common person. Baptists organized 15 associations, but there was no unified convention. The national convention was started through the leadership of Luther Rice in Philadelphia in May 1814 to support foreign missions. By 1845, Baptists had sent 99 missionaries and had founded 82 churches in Asia, Africa, and Europe. State Convention – an organization of 25 State Conventions was started by 1843. By 1800, Baptists had outpaced all other religious bodies to become the largest religious group in America!

BAPTISTS IN AMERICA/NEW ENGLAND (Continued) Persecution – Mostly in Massachusetts and Virginia In the 1770’s the civil and religious authorities imprisoned 44 Baptist preachers in Virginia alone. Religious freedom – The U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1789 and the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791. Baptists were ardent patriots during the Revolution and many ministers served as chaplains in the Army.

LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE By Charles W. Deweese Four Centuries of Baptist Support First two English pastors, John Smyth and Thomas Helwys paid the price of the liberty of conscience Roger Williams – Banished from MA by religious authorities to Providence, RI. In 1644 he wrote: “that Christ is King alone over conscience is the sum of all true preaching.” John Clarke – Formed the Second Baptist Church at Newport, RI and was imprisoned in MA for preaching Baptists – They were under persecution for liberty and for opposing taxation to support the Established (Congregational) Church in MA and Virginia Baptists suffered imprisonment, banishment, public whipping, and dismissal from high posts Advocate of Religious Liberty by Isaac Backus of RI and John Leland of VA Freedom is God’s gift to humanity under His authority Three Key Points of Liberty in Baptist History Declare Christ as Lord Approach life with an open Bible and open mind Choose the Liberty of Conscience

VOLUNTARISM By Glenn Hinson Definition – “To be authentic and responsible, faith must be free. Obedience to God must be voluntary, or it is not obedience.” Voluntary Principles: Believer’s Baptism Democratic Polity – One man, one vote in the church Congregational Autonomy – No authority over other churches, associations, conventions, and agencies. Religious Liberty – God alone is Lord of the conscience (Adopted by the 2nd London Confession in 1677) Separation of Church and State – Thomas Helwys and Roger Williams

Voluntarism (continued) Price Paid for the Voluntary Principles John Smyth Thomas Helwys John Murton John Bunyan Religion in America John Leland – Baptist pastor in VA He was a friend of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and supported drafting the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, in order to secure religious liberty and separation of church and state in 1789 Isaac Backus – Evangelist from RI who promoted religious liberty New England – Baptists objected strenuously to taxation for the support of the Established (Congregational) Church in New England. Established Church came to an end in VA in 1787