The Essential Handbook of Denominations and Ministries

[Rvaughn]

This is not specific to Baptist history, but is related because the book contains information about Baptist history, theology and denominations:

, edited by George Thomas Kurian & Sarah Claudine Day, Baker Books, 2017, 480 pages.

The two very brief reviews on Amazon are mostly positive. Are any of you familiar with this book? If so, what do you think?

[Sandy]

I'm not familiar with that one. I have the most recent edition of the Handbook of Denominations in the United States, and it is a well researched book that is updated annually. It's a useful resource.

[Rvaughn]

Thanks, Sandy. I have several editions of those, from way back. I consider it a good resource, although I have run across a few bunged up entries. You have the new 14th Edition edited by Roger Olson at Baylor? I have the 13th edition, but haven't purchased the 14th.

One thing I am particularly interested in is how The Essential Handbook of Denominations and Ministries might compare with Handbook of Denominations in the United States.

Thanks again.

[Tim Bonney]

I bought a copy out of interest for my Kindle. The article on United Methodists was good with two minor inaccuracies. The article contended that Bishops are elected for life. That is only true in the US. It also contended that the term “conversion” is often used reffering to justification. My experience is that “conversion” is a term mostly used by southern Methodists and not northern Methodists for the most part.

[Rvaughn]

Thanks. I think we have to take books like this with a few grains of salt. When they take on a project that big, there are bound to be areas of weakness of groups they don't know much about and/or have trouble getting good data from. It is good to read and compare groups you know about in order to get an idea of whether they are doing a decent job in general.

[Haruo]

[Tim Bonney]

[Tim Bonney]

[Haruo]

[Tim Bonney]

[Haruo]

Actually in the case of Charles, I think "conversion" was his own term for the event of May 12?, 1738. And I'm not saying "conversion" is a term appropriate for the incremental growth in Christ that believers experience over the course of their experience of grace, but rather that even among Methodists (or at least among the Wesley brothers and those who quote them) it is the term for a sudden and seismic spurt of growth in Christ, involving a major overturning of some prior conception. It is appropriate to use of Paul on the road to Damascus, appropriate to use of Aldersgate, and appropriate to use of Charles' experience. I can't offhand think of a more appropriate term for such sudden and life-direction-changing experiences. If northern Methodists choose to call such things mere "growth", that is to their impoverishment.

[Tim Bonney]

[Tim Bonney]

Apologies folks for delving too far into Methodism here! Feel free to skip if it doesn't interest you.

Hauro, you might be pleased to know that "conversion" does find its way into one of the descriptions of salvation on the UMC website. The site makes a point of saying that conversion can be instantaneous or gradual. That may be a different definition than you are working with. But it does use the term. http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/our- ... n-heritage

One of the reasons the word may not be heard as much is that Methodists don't think of baptized children who grow up in the faith as "converts." The largest portion of people join my church by baptism followed by confirmation in their Junior High years. They aren't called converts as they are "Baptized members" and then at confirmation become "Professing members." Sacramental theology I'm sure is related to this discussion.