The Oxford Handbook of Baptist Studies presents various areas of Baptist life and thought, both historically and in the present, while offering reflections on the nature of Baptist Studies as an academic discipline. The volume is organized in four parts. The first traces the development of Baptist churches in the centuries since the first Baptist church in 1609, up to the present day when Baptists are a major Protestant denomination in over 134 countries. New studies track the growth of Baptist life from Great Britain and North America to continental Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The Handbook carries this global perspective into the following section devoted to Baptist Practices, both internally in worship and ministry, and externally in areas such as mission, politics, and advocacy. The third section on Theology considers how Baptists have shared in the universal faith of the Christian church, as well as tracing their distinctive approaches to ecclesiology and religious freedom. The last section reflects on Issues that have engaged Baptists yesterday and today. Some issues have deep roots in Baptist history, such as gender, race, peace-making, and the social nature of the gospel. Others raise new challenges in today's context, such as ecumenical and inter-religious relationships. This volume offers an essential resource for Baptist Studies, but also an invitation to explore Baptist life and thought for readers from other Christian communions, faiths, and those without religious affiliation.
