Baptists and Calvinism: my friend, Jimmy Allen of Heritage Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina, recently shared with me a "Baptists and Calvinism" story

Baptist History and Heritage, Spring, 2004 by Pamela R. Durso

One Sunday morning just prior to the worship service, a young couple entered Ruby Reid Child Development Center, where the church was then meeting. Jimmy, being the friendly pastor he is, welcomed the couple and offered to show them the facilities and introduce them to members. The young man responded to Jimmy's invitation by asking, "What is the church's stance on TULIP?" And Jimmy responded, "We welcome and appreciate all flowers." (1) Actually, Jimmy's response was more appropriate and thoughtful, but he was taken back by the question. Being quizzed on their church's stance on the five points of Calvinism is not a daily occurrence for most Baptist pastors, and yet the incident demonstrates the growing interest in Calvinism among younger Baptists.

While there is a new awareness of and an increasing commitment to Calvinistic teachings today, Calvinism has long been a vital part of Baptist theology. From the 1630s, Particular Baptists believed and preached Calvinistic theology; and this form of Baptist doctrine dominated the scene for many years in England. Calvinism has continued to be part of the Baptist scene throughout our history. David Dockery, president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, recently stated at a conference, "Are Southern Baptists Calvinists? Yes and no. Yes because some Southern Baptists subscribe to Calvinist beliefs in some form; no because all do not." (2) In addition to some Southern Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Regular Baptists, and Reformed Baptists also hold to a Calvinistic theology.

No recent statistical study has been done about Baptist theological positions; thus, no one really knows how widespread Calvinism is among today's Baptists, nor does anyone know how pervasive Arminianism is within the Baptist world. Disagreements exist, even among the writers of articles in this journal, about the current significance and the historical status of Calvinism. Yet, as Dockery concluded in his recent speech, "If we get hung up on these questions rather than concentrate on a lost world, we have missed the boat. We must find areas of commonality and then give freedom in some areas where we disagree." (3)

In addition to five excellent articles on Baptists and Calvinism, the journal includes two articles about W. O. Carver, the founder of our society. Mark Wilson writes about a controversy in which Carver was involved, and Henlee Barnette writes of the many missionaries sent out by Southern Baptists because of the influence of Carver. On a personal note, Barnette will celebrate his 93rd birthday on August 14. His friend and "secretary," Catherine McAuley, notes that he is a voracious reader and still writes something every day. We are grateful that he has shared his memories of W. O. Carver with us and reminded us of the great influence Carver had.

The final two articles deal with issues with which Baptists continue to struggle: women in ministry and the evangelization of Muslims. DeLane Ryals offers a most interesting and insightful look at the women who served as ministers in the Metro New York Association from 1970 to 1995, and Galen Johnson's "William Carey's Muslim Encounters in India" provides a glimpse of Baptists' earliest attempts in evangelizing Muslims.

The Spring 2004 issue of the journal contains pertinent, helpful articles that address current-day topics of importance. Special thanks go to Mel Hawkins, Baptist History and Heritage's editor during the initial planning stages of this issue.

(1.) Jimmy Allen, e-mail message to author, April 1, 2004.

(2.) David S. Dockery, "Dockery: Common ground, freedom to disagree can keep Baptists from dividing over Calvinism," Baptists Today 22, no. 4 (April 2004): 16.

(3.) Ibid.