The missiological experience of Georgian Evangelical Christians-Baptists (ECB) has never been studied before and little academic attention has been paid to its life and witness. The thesis aims to analyse which kind of historical, theological and missiological trajectories have contributed to the particular character of the ECB, which gives it the appearance of uniqueness on the global Baptist scene today, and to some extent in the wider church as well. Through tracing a historical progression in the life of the ECB from 1867 to the present day, it argues first for a convergence of historical, social and ecclesial factors which is unique in Eastern Europe. It shows an interaction of Eastern Orthodox, Western Protestant and Molokan traditions in the context of socio-political experiences from the Russian occupation, through the time of the Soviet Union to present independence. Second, it argues that there has been a consistent interaction of mission, culture, and church in the activity of the ECB throughout the period under the investigation. Third, it argues from the ECB case for the essential place in mission of two key but often-neglected elements: liturgy and aesthetics. It shows that while these elements have been accentuated in the period since independence from the Soviet Union, they have a foundation in the early history of the ECB. Overall, the thesis traces the history and particular character of Georgian congregations of Evangelicals and Baptists and their mission, as distinct from treating Baptists in Georgia simply as one branch of the former Soviet All Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists. The thesis uses primary sources: archival materials, papers, correspondence in Georgian and Russian, German, English. Most of them have never been studied and circulated in academic circles. Some of the key documents have been translated into English and attached to the thesis in appendices.

The study of history is the interpretation of events in their relationships at a particular time. This is a subjective exercise with some degree of objectivity and this thesis is no exception. It is a study by a Jamaican Baptist minister who has always been a Baptist, examining the changing relationships of four events which find a focus in one of them - a mission of the Jamaican Baptist Church to Africa in 1843. Firstly, this is a study of the development of a 'church consciousness' among the Baptists in the island between 1783 and 1843, for without this a mission would have been impossible. There has been an investigation of the church structure and programme in an attempt to discover whether there existed a relationship between their ethnic composition and an African mission. Simultaneously, there has been an assessment of the importance of 'Africa' as an ideal both for the Anti-Slavery Movement and for the freed-slave in the churches. Secondly, this is a study of rivalry between Missionary Societies in the local situation. There has been an examination of the changing relationships between the B.M.S and both the Jamaica and African missions, especially after 1843. This assessment has proved a useful model with which to examine the tensions which are likely to occur between a missionfield and missionary-agency. With this in mind, the Missionary Societies have been examined as regards the events of 1842 and the independence of the Jamaican Baptist churches. Thirdly, this is a study of the settlement and penetration of Fernando Po (Santa Isabel) and the adjacent mainland by the Baptists between 1841 and 1853, with an emphasis upon the life and work of the Jamaica-related missionaries. Fourthly, this is a study of the changing policy of the B.M.S. to Blacks. It examines the place of 'Race' or the interpretations of 'Race' in the outworking of Committee decisions and assesses its influence upon financial policy and ecclesiological definitions of the mission church.

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This research is a fulfilment of the author’s long-standing desire to furnish the Korea Baptist convention with its complete history. Particular emphasis has been given to the ideological development of the denomination from its origin in 1889 to present. It is hoped that this research will provided intellectual guidance for the convention and serve as a credible chapter in the historical and theological development of Korean Christianity especially Baptists and Pentecostals-Charismatics. Being the first attempt in compiling a comprehensive, scientific history of the denomination, this work based largely upon primary sources, many of them are unpublished. The methodology utilized by the author incorporated both documentary study and observation or interview. Accordingly, Korean documents are extensively used, while English sources comprise equally important grounds of information. Proper names have been trans-literate as closely to their original sound as possible. In pursuing the study the author has followed a strictly objective method. Any deficiency that might be found in this undertaking belongs solely to the realm of his judgment. As a foreigner the author is well aware of the lack of his rhetorical subtlety in English language. The writer hopes that this research will give a momentum for both Korea Baptist Convention and Pentecostals-Charismatics within Korean Christianity to reflect on the efforts which had been made for the expansion of Christianity in Korea, and to catch a vision for the future work, which God will reveal through his word and His Spirit.

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This study investigates the Native Baptists and the dynamics between their Biblical hermeneutic and the 1865 Native Baptist War. This work outlines, for the first time, the origin, structure and development of the Native Baptists. This study also discerns the main themes of the Native Baptists as equality and justice and their Biblical hermeneutic as a hermeneutic of liberation. The main thesis is that the Native Baptists' interpretation of Scriptures and Scripture -related sources influenced the nature and scope of the 1865 Native Baptist War. To achieve the goals of this study, this writer relied heavily on archival and contemporary documents. One of the major features of this study is that, for the first time, it provides an in-depth analysis of a major original source, which the first Native Baptists wrote about themselves. Another unique feature is the meticulous analysis of Paul Bogle's marked hymns, letter and speech and George William Gordon' s speeches in the House of Assembly. In order to examine and outline the origin, structure and development of the Native Baptists, this writer was informed by the social history of religion approach. And to reflect on their themes and Biblical hermeneutic this writer attributed the use of the Reader -Response approach to the Native Baptists. Using these approaches, this writer discovered, contrary to the dominant position in scholarly writings on Native Baptists, that the Native Baptists were orthodox, well organized, engaged in marches for justice and desired the liberation of the oppressed and the oppressors. This work gives a more accurate picture of who the Native Baptists were and how their interpretation of the Bible and sacred literature contributed to the way things happened in the 1865 Native Baptist War. A further study of the Native Baptists needs to determine if there is a co-relationship between the demise of the Native Baptists' institutional structures and the seeming retreat of present-day Baptists from political activism.

‘Knowledge of their past will inform the decisions [Baptists] take today which will shape their tomorrow.’ These words of Baptist historian Barrie White along with some from Archbishop Rowan Williams, that to ‘engage with the Church’s past is to see something of the Church’s future’ which ‘makes for the health of the church…’ lie at the heart of my thesis that denominational history has the potential to form a valuable and engaging resource for theological reflection within the field usually termed church health, and specifically in the consideration of change, actual or potential, in pastoral practice. As a Practical Theologian, central to my approach is a belief that such reflection should be undertaken by and for the people who make up local congregations. My particular interest is in assisting local churches (congregations) to approach and manage change in ways that avoid the potential for destructive conflict: might it be that examples from denominational history form a valuable resource for reflection on processes that might be employed to approach contemporary issues? An initial survey of materials suggests that it might, but that in its current form it is largely inaccessible (literally and in relation to how it is presented). This submission presents a portfolio of work, based on the popular 'pastoral cycle' approach, exploring this possibility and establishing a way forward for developing a more accessible and engaging method to 'tell the story'.After a thorough literature, which presents an overview of developments in the disciplines of church health and history alongside an outline of readily available Baptist history, my publishable article develops a renewed vision for the Baptist Historical Society, the voluntary body which produces the majority of UK Baptist historical writing, taking account of insights gained. Specifically, the potential for a more narrative/literary approach with a recovery of theological/spiritual language is identified as a way forward in increasing accessibility and usability of this rich resource in the way I advocate. Three possible approaches to developing resources are identified and explored in the research proposal, ranging from almost entirely empirical to totally theoretical, with justification of why each constitutes Practical Theology. Emphasis shifts away from the central thesis in the reflective paper which explores questions of 'readers' and 'writers' in relation to my own work as a researcher and a practical theologian. A final reflection, in lieu of a conclusion, draws threads together and affirms my conviction that denominational history has the potential to provide a rich and fruitful resource for theological reflection in the area of church health.

The subject treated in this thesis is the doctrine of the church among the English Calvinistic Baptists in the period, circa 1640-1660. This timeframe covers the significant phase of early Calvinistic Baptist emergence in society and literary output. The thesis seeks to explore the development of theological commitments regarding the nature of the church within the turbulent historical context of the time. The background to the emergence of the Calvinistic Baptists was the demise of the Anglican Church of England, the establishment by Act of Parliament of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, and the establishment of a Presbyterian Church of England. The English experiment with Presbyterianism began and ended in the years covered in this work. Ecclesiology was thus one of the most important doctrines under consideration in the phase of English history. This thesis is a contribution to understanding alternative forms of ecclesiology outside of the mainstream National Church settlement. It will be argued in this thesis that the emergence and development of Calvinistic Baptist ecclesiology was a natural development of one stream of Puritan theology of the church. This was the tradition associated with Robert Brown, and the English separatist movement dating from the 1570s. This tradition was refined and made experimental in the work of Henry Jacob. Having developed his ecclesiology in the Netherlands, in 1616 Jacob founded a congregation in Southwark, London from which Calvinistic Baptists would emerge with distinct baptismal convictions by 1638. Central to Jacob's ideology was the belief that a rightly ordered church acknowledged Christ as King over his people. The Christological priority of early Calvinistic Baptist ecclesiology will constitute the primary contribution of this thesis to investigation of dissenting theology in the period.