A Question for Baptists: How Important is the Name?

Ron Bean
Forum category
Church & Ministry

These are honest questions:

If an independent Baptist Church drops Baptist from its name but maintains the same doctrine and practice, would it be considered a Baptist church?

In ________ Baptist Church all decisions are made by the pastor with no opposition tolerated; would it be considered a Baptist church?

If a Baptist church has multiple elders, is it a Baptist church?

Finally, would you have close and co-operating fellowship with any or all of these churches?

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Discussion

Profile picture for user Rob Fall
Rob Fall
Sun, 02/08/15 5:07 pm





  1. If an independent Baptist Church drops Baptist from its name but maintains the same doctrine and practice, would it be considered a Baptist church?


  2. In ________ Baptist Church all decisions are made by the pastor with no opposition tolerated; would it be considered a Baptist church?


  3. If a Baptist church has multiple elders, is it a Baptist church?


  4. Finally, would you have close and co-operating fellowship with any or all of these churches?




  1. Yes, as long as they have otherwise been neutralized by compromise. And the name change is not compromise.


  2. Yes, but I would consider it aberrant. My POV is Baptist churches are run like a New England town meeting not a monarchy.


  3. Yes, multiple elders is well within the Baptist way of doing church. Though it is not the exclusive way.


  4. I feel more comfortable with the first and third. I doubt I’d be comfortable with dealing with a monarch.




Hoping to shed more light than heat..