Here we describe our church in terms of its position organisationally and theologically. Related issues and the history of our church are the subjects of separate pages.

Our Membership in the Global Christian Community

The Canberra Baptist Church is part of the world wide Christian movement comprised of many denominations and churches. Within this wide variety we belong to those who trace their origin back to the Reformation in 16th century continental Europe and to the renewal movement of 17th century England. Baptists have been part of our Australian history since the beginning of European settlement.

Who are Baptists?

We have been called "Baptists" because we baptise those who have made their own decision to become Christians and who want to become members of the church.

The Ecumenical Christian Family

The name "Jesus Christ" is more important to us than the name "Baptist". In his name we extend fellowship to all Christians and all churches who believe in Christ and follow him according to the biblical scriptures.

World-wide Assistance

Baptist churches in Australia cooperatively help "younger" churches in Asian and African countries and in Papua New Guinea. Our churches also respond to humanitarian, social and educational needs. We do this through Baptist World Aid, and by building and maintaining hospitals, aged persons' nursing homes, hostels, schools and theological colleges.

Some Theological Emphases that Shape Our Christian Identity

• We are part of the world-wide church which confesses that God has made himself known in Jesus Christ and is present with us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
• We affirm personal faith in Christ and seek to take our faith seriously in our everyday life.
• We recognise the authority of the Bible because it is there that we can read, understand and appropriate the story of Jesus.
• We understand the church to be a fellowship of believers, regularly sharing the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
• God's communication with humanity invites the faith response of each person. We therefore do not baptise infants and we normally link baptism with the invitation to active membership in the church.
• We affirm the freedom and responsibility of each congregation to shape its life together in worship, teaching ministry and mission.
• We affirm the freedom and liberty of conscience and therefore we believe that the state or other human and historical institutions should have no ultimate authority over the human conscience.
• At the same time we acknowledge our responsibility for society and nature, and therefore we engage in evangelism, mission, social activity and ecological concerns in order to make known God's concern for his creation.