Using the Model of Church Authority Proposed by the Cambridge Platform of Discipline Today

What is it about?

Early in their history, Baptist churches set out on a different trajectory than Congregationalist churches. As scholars give new attention to the shared roots of these churches, Baptists stand to learn from developments in the understanding of the church among late 17th-century New England Congregationalists. This article argues that the developed understanding of New England Congregationalists defined the church as believers united by mutual agreement with definite leaders, not merely churches united by mutual agreement.

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Why is it important?

Much has been written on the way Baptist churches are governed, but the discussion would be greatly benefitted by revisiting the theology of the early Baptist movement and their Congregational peers. By considering these early sources, this paper offers new resources for reforming the theology and practice of Baptist churches.