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The European Baptist Federation
A Case Study in European Baptist Interdependency 1950-2006
Foreword by Ian M. Randall
Series: Studies in Baptist History and Thought
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
338 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 x 0.68 in
- Paperback
- 9781608991631
- Published: November 2009
$45.00 / £40.00
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A criticism often leveled at Baptists is that they have no theology of ecclesial reality beyond the local. In this book Keith Jones describes the history and current reality of the European Baptist Federation (EBF), which brings together over fifty national Baptist groups in Europe and the Middle East and seeks to demonstrate that there is an ecclesial reality within the organization, expressed in its communal life, mission activity, working on theological education, in relationship to other Christian world communions and in its decision making processes. The role of the pivotal figure of the General Secretary of the EBF is examined with particular reference to two significant figures. The relationship of European Baptists during the cold war era is explored, as is the relationship to two key mission agencies from the USA who have done much work in Europe. This represents ground-breaking work in terms of an examination of how Baptists in Europe work together trans-nationally.
Keith G. Jones was born and grew up in Bradford, Yorkshire. He is a British Baptist minister having served in local pastoral ministry in Yorkshire, as General Secretary of the Yorkshire Baptist Association and as Deputy General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Since 1998 he has been Rector of the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague. He is married to Denise and they have two sons.
'Keith Jones' study of the European Baptist Federation breaks new ground in both church history and theology. No-one reading this book can be left in doubt that Baptists, for all their emphasis on the local congregation, see real theological significance in forms of wider fellowship and missionary structure. A work of first-rate importance, it will inform and challenge Baptists themselves, and will enlighten ecumenical dialogue with other church traditions.'
-Keith W. Clements, former General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches, is a Baptist minister and a writer on modern theology and church history
'Baptists find it relatively easy to delineate their ecclesiology of the local church but more difficult to focus on the theological significance of larger ecclesiastical units. This is where the present volume provides such helpful insights as to how Baptists develop both the practice and the theology of larger endeavors in associate engagement, which Indicates why a theology that speaks only of the independence of the local church is a dangerous heresy, since properly Baptists must always talk about interdependent gathering communities, coming together under God for the mission with which he charges them. All this underlines why every Baptist library, as well as anybody seriously concerned about the health of Baptist life, needs to possess this book.'
- John H. Y. Briggs, Senior Research Fellow and Director, the Centre for Baptist History and Heritage, Regent's Park College, University of Oxford, and Professor Emeritus, the University of Birmingham
'It is high time the story of the European Baptist Federation was told, and here the subject has found its author. Dr Jones's mastery of his sources is thorough; he has filled a significant gap in Baptist history; and his book should be read by Baptists, by their ecumenical partners, and even by non-ecumenical Baptists.'
- Alan P.F. Sell, Distinguished Fellow and Visiting Professor at Acadia University Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada
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