The Oxford Handbook of Baptist Studies 

Edited by Paul S. Fiddes, David Bebbington, Elizabeth H. Flowers and Steven R. Harmon, this is 'an extremely valuable addition to Baptist literature and will hopefully encourage further work and study of Baptist thought and practice'

The Oxford Handbook of Baptist Studies 
Edited by Paul S. Fiddes, David Bebbington, Elizabeth H. Flowers and Steven R. Harmon
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780192855633
Reviewed by Andy Goodliff

This new book has been several years in the making as it brings together multiple authors and offers 45 chapters on Baptist history, practices, theology, and issues. It is a landmark achievement, appearing in this series from Oxford University Press, which gives a credibility (although Oxford Handbooks are becoming increasingly wide-ranging and niche).

The book recognises there is something called Baptist studies, in a similar way to Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and the like. The book as such is a demonstration Baptists have a living tradition that is part of the 'contesting catholicity’ (to borrow a term from Curtis Freeman) of the Christian faith. As such the book will offer those non-Baptists a guide to who Baptists are, and, to those who are Baptists, it provides a global introduction and presentation of Baptist identity.

The editors have invited leading names from the Baptist world, many from the UK — Ruth Gouldbourne, Karen Smith, Chris Ellis, Ian Randall, John Briggs, Tony Peck, John Weaver, Paul Weller, Helen Paynter, in addition to Paul Fiddes — as well newer (younger) voices from North America, like Laura Levens and Andrew Gardner.

There are only a couple of voices not working in the Western world — Matthews Ojo from Nigeria and Atola Longkumer from India — which might be considered a weakness, but demonstrates Baptist studies is more well established in Britain, Europe and the USA.

The first and last chapters are arguably two of the most important. Paul Fiddes' introductory chapter sets out the state of Baptist studies today, acknowledging how it has grown through journals, book series and college institutions in what he calls a ‘translocal community’.

The last chapter by Elizabeth Flowers and Steven Harmon offers some future directions for Baptist history (increasingly global), Baptist practices and issues (continuing the recovery of women and marginal voices), and Baptist theology (ecumenically engaged). In all areas there is a focus on location and context.

Between these two chapters is a rich feast. The history chapters cover familiar ground of 17th beginnings to 20th century growth, but also provides chapters that identify Baptist history in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Oceania, which are much less well known and have in the past been given much less attention.

The practice chapters offer those on worship, spirituality, baptism, preaching, as might be expected, but add to them studies on politics, advocacy, and the arts and sciences.

The theology section looks at Baptists on Trinity and Christology, Scripture, Salvation, Eschatology, Ecclesiology, and Church and State.

The final section on Issues draws attention to those areas where there has been, and continues to be, diversity and disagreement — women, social gospel, ecumenism, race, and sexuality, among others. 

The majority of chapters in this volume will serve the reader well in offering an overview and interpretation of their subject matter. This is the purpose of a Handbook or Companion.

However, some chapters are disappointing. The chapter on ministry and the one on race are too narrow and local. The chapter on ministry focuses on ministry in one church, and so feels out of place and leaves a lot of literature out. Likewise, the chapter on race is limited entirely to the USA, and makes no mention of how issues of race have been engaged with (for example) in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, where there is a growing literature.

The chapters on Politics and on Advocacy are welcome additions and make a good argument for them to be seen as practices alongside the more traditional Baptist practices of baptism and preaching.

The chapter on Arts and the Sciences again brings attention to these areas of culture, but I'm not sure if it is a Practice, and might be better located under Issues. What is missing is a chapter on the church preaching or congregational government; while it is covered by Fiddes in his chapter on ecclesiology, it is surely a key Baptist practice that should be included if there is ever a second edition. 

The editors should be congratulated on this labour of love and seeing it to completion. It is an extremely valuable addition to Baptist literature and will hopefully encourage further work and study of Baptist thought and practice.

While its hardback price will see it limit its initial accessibility to those without access to a college library or able to read online, a paperback will be published next year at a price more affordable to those who minister or teach. It will definitely be on my reading list for those studying Baptist history and principles. 
 

Andy Goodliff is the minister of Belle Vue Baptist Church, Southend. He is a lecturer in Baptist History at Regent's Park College, Oxford