FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY, Neville Callam
MARKING THE BAPTIST QUADRICENTENNIAL
During this significant year, when Baptists are celebrating their 400th year of witness, several outstanding publications
are marking the occasion.
William Brackney was ahead of the game, producing A Genetic History of Baptist Thought with special reference to
Baptists in Britain and North America [Mercer, 2004]. In a publication of nearly 600 pages, Brackney begins by tackling
“the problem of Baptist theology” and proceeds to trace features of this theology in confessions, hymns, and the spoken
and written words of Baptist pastors and teachers. He examines publications by a range of Baptist writers in Britain,
Canada and the United States. Of interest is the inclusion in Brackney’s work of insights from what he terms “African
American Baptist Traditions.”
Students of Baptist thought will turn to Brackney’s work again and again for immersion into the rich and varied wells
that dot the variable landscape of the Baptist tradition.
James Leo Garrett has offered Baptist Theology: A Four-Century Study [Mercer, 2009]. A work of monumental
proportions, the book of more than 700 pages is “a study of the doctrinal beliefs of the people called Baptists.” Relying
on published sources, including books of sermons, the text surveys the doctrinal beliefs of Baptist authors and those who
have analyzed their work. It also includes an exposé of Baptist confessions of faith.
Drawing on years of careful research, Garrett has provided a work that will grace the library stacks of Baptist
seminaries for many years to come. It is an invaluable guide for students of Baptist doctrine especially in countries of the
North Atlantic. Garrett has to be commended for collaborating with others to devote almost 50 pages to the thought of
Baptists in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He thereby begins to reflect awareness of the growth of the Baptist movement
in the southern hemisphere. Also encouraging is the inclusion of analysis of such outstanding contemporary Baptist
theologians as Paul Fiddes, Timothy George and Nigel Wright.
It was not the Baptist quadricentennial that inspired the final publication to which we now turn. It was, instead,
the achievement of 80 years of age by outstanding Asian Baptist theologian Lien-Hwa Chow that led the Asia Baptist
Graduate School of Theology (ABGST) to present this festschrift to its first Asian president. Take Roots Downward, Bear
Fruit Upward [ABGST, 2009] is edited by Johnson T. K. Lim.
The book’s 27 chapters cover a wide range of subjects and its authors are mostly Asian. In most cases, the book
reflects a dialogue between Asian and Western perspectives in theology. Its subject matter includes issues related to
Bible and hermeneutics, gender and ecology. Authors include Lilian Hui-Kiau Lim, ABGTS President, Joyce Abugan,
President of the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary, Sunny Boon Sang Tan, Dean of the Malaysia Baptist Theological
Seminary, and other leading Baptist theologians and biblical scholars in Asia.
If some publications this year will treat with what has been happening in the Baptist theological traditions, especially in
the northern hemisphere, Taking Root offers a snapshot of what the future direction of Baptist thought might be like.
Our grateful thanks to the following friends for their gifts to the Baptist World Alliance
Gifts to the Baptist World Alliance in memory of Imogene Stevens were given by:
Arlene Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Felipe Benavides, Winifred J. Clinton, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Furmage, Lillian Sue Allen,
Mr. and Mrs. James D. Jones, Shirley Camp, H. Tom and Shirley Collins, Marion B. Seufert, Ramona H. Britt, Rose
P. Mendlinger, Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Weber
A gift to the Baptist World Alliance in memory of John Russell Camp was given by: Claudia T. Bain
A gift to the Baptist World Alliance in honor of Dr. J. Langley was given by: Joan C. Ratliff
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