Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry

Directed by Dr. Tommy Doughty

The Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry exists to provide theological and ministerial resources to enrich and energize ministry in Baptist churches. Our goal is to bring together professor and practitioner to produce and apply these resources to Baptist life, polity, and ministry.

The mission of the BCTM is to develop, preserve, and communicate the distinctive theological identity of Baptists. Some of the best minds for developing theology from a distinctively Baptist perspective are found in our Baptist seminaries, colleges, and universities, as well as in many Baptist churches. The Baptist Center serves as a “converging point” to develop theology that shapes the beliefs of the Church, structures the life of the Church, directs the decision-making processes of the Church, and defines the ministry practices of the Church.

The Baptist distinctives that have fostered so much ministry and mission in previous generations are waning in today’s Baptist churches. A renewed vision for what it means to be a Baptist is desperately needed. The Center attempts to recover and communicate this vision by exploring and publicizing our Baptist heritage, distinctives, and polity.

The Baptist Center strives to “push theology out of presentations and books and into the pews of our churches.” The Center is devoted to ensuring that the “theological reflection of the academy” results in “ministry that lives in the church.” The integration of theology targets concerns such as motivation for ministry, integrity within ministry, methods of ministry, and goals for ministry.

The BCTM seeks to interact with and assist Baptist churches in their obedience to the Great Commandment and participation in the Great Commission. “Theology is the servant of the Church.” The Baptist Center specifically targets issues directly related to Baptist life and ministry through a variety of platforms, networks, partnerships, meetings, and publications. The various forums that address issues relevant to Baptist life and ministry include the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry, professional meetings and conferences, a variety of publications, and online resources. The BCTM is also involved with the the Institute of Christian Apologetics and the Institute for Faith and the Public Square (see Catalog Index to find more information on these special events).