God has given this particular community of believers called Baptists a distinctive history and experience. As we share in common with Christians everywhere, so Baptists everywhere celebrate a common heritage.

THEREFORE

With Baptist brothers and sisters around the world, we believe:

• That the Bible is the final authority and trustworthy for faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit within the community of faith;
• That the Church is a gathered fellowship of regenerated believers, a sign of the coming universal reign of God;
• That the freedom to respond to the Lordship of Christ in all circumstances is fundamental to the Christian gospel and to human dignity; and
• That witness to Christ is the ongoing task of every Christian and of every church.
• Within the larger Baptist family, American Baptists emphasize convictions which direct our special task and ministry.

We affirm that God through Jesus Christ calls us to be:

A Redeemed People

• who claim a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ;
• who follow the Lord in believer’s baptism;
• who gather as a believer’s church;
• who share in the meal of the kingdom known as the Lord’s Supper;
• who honor the priesthood of all believers; and
• who live their faith as visible saints.

A Biblical People

• who affirm the centrality of Scripture in our lives;
• who pursue the study of God’s inspired Word as a mandate for faith and practice; and
• who seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the understanding of Scripture, while respecting the common interpretation of Scripture within the community of believers.
• Who submit to the teaching of Scripture that God's design for sexual intimacy places it within the context of marriage between one man and one woman, and acknowledge that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Biblical teaching.

A Worshiping People

• who gather regularly to praise God;
• who receive nourishment by communion with the Risen Christ;
• who share an open and public confession of faith; and
• who believe that personal devotion brings vitality to corporate celebration.

A Mission People

• who strive to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples;
• who invite persons to receive salvation and follow Christ;
• who engage in educational, social, and health ministries;
• who seek justice for all persons; and
• who provide prayer and financial support to sustain a worldwide mission outreach.

An Interdependent People

• who affirm the Church’s unity as given in Jesus Christ;
• who gladly embody in our practice the ministry of the whole people of God;
• who recognize God’s gifts for ministry and honor all offices of pastoral ministry;
• who live and work together "in association"; and
• who bring the free church tradition to cooperative and ecumenical Christianity.

A Caring People

• who care for the needy, the weak, and the oppressed;
• who care for the earth and for all its creatures.

An Inclusive People

• who, gifted by a variety of backgrounds, find unity in diversity and diversity in unity;
• who embrace a pluralism of race, ethnicity, and gender; and
• who acknowledge that there are individual differences of conviction and theology.

A Contemporary People

• who have a remembrance for the past and a vision for the future;
• who are committed to religious liberty and to the separation of church and state;
• who call our present world to make Jesus Christ Lord of all life; and
• who trust the Holy Spirit for insight and power to live in the present age.

We further believe

• That God has called us forth to such an hour as this;
• That we live with a realizable hope;
• That all things are held together in Christ;
• That all creation will find its ultimate fulfillment in God;
• That we shall see the One whose we are; and
• That Jesus shall reign for ever and ever.

Visit the American Baptists web site