Liberty For a New Pattern

Abstract

""CHAOTIC MAY BE too strong a word to be used in describing the denominational structure of the Baptists, but there are few who will deny there is confusion and disorder. Some sort of re-organizatiqn is necessary if Baptists are to make an effective witness in the critical age in which we live. Since a major obstacle to any attempt to make sense of our denominational relationships is the rather widespread belief that the present structure is in some way derived from New Testament principles or at least from historic principles, it is important to point out that this is not true. Our denominational structure has not been the product of biblical, theological, or even rational considerations. It was developed on an ad hoe basis as an efficient money-raising technique and to serve certain sectional and partisan concerns"