Baptist General Conference

Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, a congregation in the Baptist General Conference, has in recent years begun to place strong emphasis on observing some seasons of the Christian year. The full traditional year is not observed, however, so that some times may be designated for particular attention to concerns such as missions and family life. Because congregations are independent from any clerical or denominational hierarchy in Baptist polity, this article will describe the state of the Christian year in the worship renewal in one church of the Baptist General Conference rather than attempting to generalize about the entire denomination. Historically, Baptists have distanced themselves from many liturgical forms, such as following the Christian year, normally associated with mainline denominations. However, in the last decade Bethlehem Baptist Church has begun to devote attention to certain seasons of the Christian year-Advent, Christmastide, Lent, Eastertide, and Pentecost. …