Contents

Part 1: CONGREGATIONALISM

Chapter 1: Some Historical Roots of Congregationalism by Michael A. G. Haykin
Chapter 2: The Biblical and Theological Case for Congregationalism by Stephen J. Wellum and Kirk Wellum

Part 2: THE ORDINANCES

Chapter 3: Five Preliminary Issues for Understanding the Ordinances by Shawn D. Wright
Chapter 4: Baptism in the Bible by Thomas R. Schreiner
Chapter 5: Baptism in History, Theology, and the Church by Shawn D. Wright
Chapter 6: The Lord’s Supper in the Bible by Thomas R. Schreiner
Chapter 7: The Lord’s Supper in History, Theology, and the Church by Shawn D. Wright

Part 3: CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND DISCIPLINE

Chapter 8: The Why and Who of Church Membership by John Hammett
Chapter 9: The What and How of Church Membership by John Hammett
Chapter 10: The Why, How, and When of Church Discipline by Thomas White

Part 4: ELDERS AND DEACONS

Chapter 11: Elders and Deacons in History by Mark Dever
Chapter 12: The Scriptural Basis for Elders by Benjamin L. Merkle
Chapter 13: The Biblical Qualifications for Elders by Benjamin L. Merkle
Chapter 14: The Biblical Role of Elders by Benjamin L. Merkle
Chapter 15: Practical issues in Elder Ministry by Andrew Davis
Chapter 16: The Office of Deacon by Benjamin L. Merkle
Chapter 17: Practical Issues in Deacon Ministry by Andrew Davis

Part 5: THE CHURCH AND CHURCHES

Chapter 18: A Congregational Approach to Unity, Holiness, and Apostolicity: Faith and Order by Jonathan Leeman
Chapter 19: A Congregational Approach to Catholicity: Independence and Interdependence by Jonathan Leeman

Ours is an anti-polity age, perhaps more than any other time in the history of the church. Yet polity remains as important now as it was in the New Testament.
What then is a right or biblical polity? The contributors to this volume make an exegetical and theological case for a Baptist polity. Right polity, they argue, is congregationalism, elder leadership, diaconal service, regenerate church membership, church discipline, and a Baptist approach to the ordinances.
Each section explores the pastoral applications of these arguments. How do congregationalism and elder leadership work together? When should a church practice church discipline? How can one church work with another in matters of membership and discipline?
To be read sequentially or used as a reference guide, Baptist Foundations provides a contemporary treatment of Baptist church government and structures, the first of its kind in decades.