American Baptist Churches In The Usa

Although rooted in that wing of the Reformation which made the most radical shift away from highly developed liturgical structure, American Baptist churches are nevertheless undergoing a radical rethinking of the role and shape of worship in congregational life. No longer simply a vehicle for evangelism, worship is emerging as a context for community building and the nurture of believers. Like other English-speaking Baptists, the American Baptist Churches in the USA (one of more than thirty distinct Baptist denominations in North America) trace their history and heritage to the congregationalist Puritans and separatists from the Church of England. This denomination, as other Baptist groups, is a voluntary association of autonomous local churches organized for mutual aid and the support of common missions and ministries. Thus, there are American Baptist churches, but no American Baptist Church. In discussing events, trends, and developments among American Baptists, one should always r…