Associated Baptist Press on Baptist reception of the liturgical riches of the whole church

Photo by First Baptist Church,
Dayton, Ohio

A story published yesterday by Associated Baptist Press explores the growing phenomenon of Baptist churches doing intentional retrieval and reception of the liturgical practices that belong to the whole church in its historical and contemporary expressions. A previous post on Ecclesial Theology called attention to the book Gathering Together: Baptists at Work in Worship referenced in the story. I granted an interview for the ABP story, which includes a couple of quotations from me. Here's an excerpt from the beginning of the article:

Pastors and scholars familiar with a new book about liturgical worship say its publication signals the practice’s spread in Baptist churches who realize ancient Christian practices are inherently missional and may lure younger generations to the faith.

Gathering Togther: Baptists at Work in Worship is a collection of essays with an index containing resources including creeds and procedures for employing sacraments.

“It represents an increasingly widespread Baptist recognition that our tradition by itself is not sufficient,” said Steve Harmon, an adjunct professor of Christian theology at the Gardner-Webb University divinity school and author of Towards Baptist Catholicity: Essays on Tradition and the Baptist Vision.

Harmon, who also endorsed the new book of essays and practices, said its release this month coincides with growing enthusiasm for liturgical practices among divinity students and reports of churches blending contemplative forms into existing worship styles.

“My sense is it’s slowly picking up steam instead of being in the same churches,” he said.

Harmon isn’t alone in his intuition....(read the full story on Associated Baptist Press)