Getting Started - Baptist Studies - Pitts Theology Library Research Guides at Emory University

About

"Baptist" is a term claimed by congregations, associations, and conventions who share a doctrine of believer baptism, scriptural authority, congregational autonomy, and separation of church and state.

This guide will point to some basic resources and research strategies for exploring this very diverse group within the Protestant tradition.

Comments (0)

Web Links

Baptist Family Tree
Southern Baptist Convention
The largest of all Baptist groups in the US. Historical and interpretive materials as well as resources for ministry.
American Baptist Churches USA
Web site has general interpretive material and resources for leaders. Some statistical reports are password protected.
Alliance of Baptists
"A clear voice for Christian freedom, distictly Baptist and intentionally ecumenical in an interfaith world." Headquarters in Atlanta.
National Baptist Convention
Web page pf the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the largest African American Baptist Convention in the nation. Has links to resource pages, a brief history, and contacts.
New Baptist Covenant Celebration
Gathering of a new movement which allies dozens of Baptist conventions in North America with moderate theology, strong social action, and still solidly Baptist in values. Endorsed by Jimmy Carter.
Baptist World Alliance
Founded in 1905, this international organization proclaims the world-wide unity of Baptist believers.
Center for Baptist Studies

The Center for Baptist Studies in Macon sponsors and encourages the scholarly study of Baptists through instruction, emphasizes Baptists’ ecumenical relationships to the entire Body of Christ, and interprets issues and trends in contemporary culture.
The Baptist Observer
A web directory of many links helpful to Baptist studies.
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
See the CBF constitution and other information about this cooperative group that first formed loosely in 1990 and has since expanded to include more than 1800 local churches.

Finding Books

Books in the Pitts Theology Library are organized using the Library of Congress system.

Library of Congress Call Numbers for Baptist Studies

BX6201-6227
BX6231-6328
BX6329
BX6330-6331.2
BX6333
BX6334
BX6335-6336
BX6337
BX6338-6339
BX6340-6346.3
BX6349-6470
BX6480-6490
BX6493-6495

General
History, Local divisions
Baptists and other churches
Doctrines
Sermons/Tracts
Controversial Works
Creed Catechisms
Service. Ritual. Liturgy
Sacraments
Government. Discipline
Individual Branches
Individual Baptist churches
Biography

To search the catalog, use the general subject term "Baptists."

Follow with history or doctrine or missions or periodicals or a geographic area such as Georgia or a type of literature such as sermons.

Reference and General Works

Sourcebook for Baptist Heritage - McBeth, H. Leon

Call Number: REF BX6231 .M38 1990

A collection of primary sources from the 17th to 20th Centuries.

Historical Dictionary of the Baptists - Brackney, William

Call Number: REF BX6211 .B73 2009

Besides having a broad international emphasis in entries, the volume has a helpful chronology of Baptist history. It is the work of one person who taught Baptist history for thirty years. Brief unannotated articles, but extensive topical bibliography.

Dictionary of Baptists in America - Leonard, Bill J.

Call Number: REF BX6211 .D53 1994

Short entries on persons, places, organizations, and ideas; most with bibliographical references.

A Baptist Bibliography - Starr, Edward C.

Call Number: REF Z7845 .B2 S8

Comprehensive, multivolume work of importance, despite it's obvious date limitations.

Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists

Call Number: REF BX6211 .E5 1958

Two volume work with supplements in 1971 and 1982. Articles from brief to several pages and annotated.

Baptists in America - Leonard, Bill J.

Call Number: BX6235 .L46 2005

A comprehensive examination of all sub-groups of the Baptist tradition from the largest Southern Baptist Convention to the small primitive sects in the hills of Appalachia.

The Tweve Baptist Tribes in the USA: A Historical and Statistical Analysis - Albert W. Wardin, Jr.

Call Number: BX6235 .W37 2007

ISBN: 9781578430383

Publication Date: 2007

Provides a general history and statistics for Baptist groups according to 12 general subdivisions, including: Ecumenical Mainline, Conservative Evangelical (Northern), Conservative Evangelical (Southern), General/Free Will, and Primitive.