Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism

by David S. Dockery (Editor), Ray Van Neste (Editor), Jerry Tidwell (Editor)

Overview

Are church denominations necessary; do they even have a future? Such questions are explored in Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism, based on a conference of the same name held at Union University where Evangelical and Southern Baptist scholars addressed challenging issues of theology, polity, and practice. Contributors include:

Ed Stetzer ("Denominationalism: Is There a Future?")

James Patterson ("Reflections on 400 Years of the Baptist Movement")

Harry L. Poe ("The Gospel and Its Meaning")

Timothy George ("Baptists and Their Relations with Other Christians")

Duane Liftin ("The Future of American Evangelicalism")

Ray Van Neste ("Pastoral Ministry in Southern Baptist and Evangelical Life")

Mark DeVine ("Emergent or Emerging")

Daniel Akin ("The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention")

Michael Lindsay ("The Changing Religious Landscape in North America")

Jerry Tidwell ("Missions and Evangelism")

David S. Dockery ("So Many Denominations")

Nathan Finn ("Passing on the Faith to the Next Generation")

R. Albert Mohler Jr. (title essay)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433671203
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/15/2011
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

David S. Dockery is president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. He also serves as chairman of the board of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, has written close to thirty books, and is a contributing editor for Christianity Today magazine.

Ray Van Neste is assistant professor of Christian Studies and director of the R. C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies at Union University.

Jerry Tidwell is senior vice president for Church Relations at Union University and former president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors ix

Preface xv

Denominationalism: Historical Trends, Future Challenges

1 So Many Denominations: The Rise, Decline, and Future of Denominationalism David S. Dockery 3

2 Denominationalism: Is There a Future? Ed Stetzer 35

3 Denominationalism and the Changing Religious Landscape D. Michael Lindsay 61

4 The Faith, My Faith, and the Church's Faith Timothy George 81

Evangelicals and Southern Baptists: Identity, Beliefs, and Ministry

5 The Future of Evangelicalism (and Southern Baptists) Duane Litfin 97

6 The Care for Souls: Reconsidering Pastoral Ministry in Southern Baptist and Evangelical Contexts Ray Van Neste 113

7 Awakenings and Their Impact on Baptists and Evangelicals: Sorting Out the Myths in the History of Missions and Evangelism Jerry N. Tidwell 135

8 Recovering the Gospel for the Twenty-first Century Harry L. Poe 147

9 Emergent or Emerging? Questions for Southern Baptists and American Evangelicals Mark DeVine 171

Southern Baptists: Understanding the Past in Order to Explore the Future

10 Reflections on 400 Years of the Baptist Movement: Who We Are, What We Believe James A. Patterson 191

11 Southern Baptists and Evangelicals: Passing on the Faith to the Next Generation Nathan A. Finn 231

12 The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention Daniel Akin 261

13 Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism R. Albert Mohler Jr. 279

Name/Subject Index 293

Scripture Index 299