What it means to be a Baptist . . .

To be a Baptist is to be a Christian.  That is, to know Jesus Christ as Lord and therefore Saviour and through him to know God as Father and to share the life of God in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  One of the distinguishing features of Baptists is the believer’s Baptism by full immersion in water.

Baptism for Believers Only - Based upon the teachings in the Bible and the practice of the Church in the New Testament we believe that Baptism is for anyone who confesses that ‘Jesus is Lord’ of their lives.

The Bible - is the inspired Word of God and inerrant shows us God’s way for living.

The Local Church - Baptists understand that the church is not so much a particular place or building, but rather as a community of believers who gather together to worship God and work together to witness and serve our community in the name of Jesus.

Interdependence - Baptists put a particular emphasis on the local church.  We believe that churches should not live in isolation from one another but rather be interdependent and so churches come together in regional, national and international spheres to promote and support each other.

Sharing the Faith - Baptists believe that each Christian has a duty to share their faith with others recognising that the mission includes social action and involves promoting justice, social welfare, healing, education and peace in the world.

Religious Freedom - Religious freedom for all has always been a keystone of the Baptist way. Within Baptist churches, tolerance for differences of outlook and diversity of practice is accepted.

The Basis of the Baptist Union is:

• That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice as revealed in the Holy Scriptures and that each Church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws.
   
• That Christian Baptism is the immersion in water into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, of those who have professed repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Scriptures; was buried and then rose again on the third day.
   
• That it is the duty of every disciple to bear personal witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to take part in the evangelisation of the world.