Baptist General Conference Churches

Because Baptist churches are congregationally governed, worship practices vary. Thus, general statements about worship are inappropriate. This article describes the relation of worship to other church ministries in a representative member congregation of the Baptist General Conference. In Baptist polity, each church is autonomous and establishes its worship style independent of any clerical or denominational hierarchy. The following is a description of worship and related ministries in one church associated with the Baptist General Conference, Bethlehem Baptist Church of Minneapolis. Children and Worship Some Baptist General Conference churches have a children's church during the worship hour. Bethlehem Baptist has chosen to include children in its regular worship service, so the children can worship with their parents. The church believes that the parents are the best teachers of children on how to worship and of what it means to worship God as a family. It is especially importa…