Pastoral Theology in the Baptist Tradition
Distinctives and Directions for the Contemporary Church
About
A veteran Baptist pastor and ministry professor offers a distinctive free church vision for pastoral leadership, attending to voices from the past four centuries as they speak about the practice of ministry. The book contains theological reflection on current ministry issues among Baptists based on biblical and historical foundations and reflects a diversity of Baptist life across time and around the world, including many different voices. Each chapter contains reflection questions to help readers consider the implications of Baptist thinking.
Contents
Introduction
Part 1: Becoming a Pastor
1. Pastoral Identity: The Shepherd and the Flock
2. The Call to Ministry: More Than a Job
3. Ordination: Set Apart to Serve
4. Women in Ministry: Your Daughters Shall Prophesy
Part 2: Proclamation: Pastor as Prophet
5. The Preaching Ministry: Fire in My Bones
6. Witness to the World: Sent to Proclaim
Part 3: Care: Pastor as Priest
7. Worship and the Ordinances: Directing Attention to God
8. Pastoral Care: Tending the Flock
9. Spiritual Formation: Teaching Them to Obey All That I Have Commanded
Part 4: Leadership: Pastor as Servant
10. Pastoral Authority: Serving Something Larger
11. The Equipping Leader: Sharing Ministry
12. Dreaming of the Future: Offering Hope
Conclusion
Appendix: A Baptist Who's Who
Indexes
Endorsements
"This book by an experienced pastor, teacher, and scholar is a wonderful gift to anyone seeking to understand the vocation of ministry in the Baptist tradition. The images of prophet, priest, and servant guide its insightful account of the call to care for and lead the people of God. The rich description is informed by rigorous biblical analysis, solid theological reflection, and diverse historical examples. This will be an important resource for years to come."
Curtis W. Freeman, research professor of theology and director of the Baptist House of Studies, Duke Divinity School
"In Pastoral Theology in the Baptist Tradition, Robert Creech gives us a pearl of great price. This book is a rich and multifaceted resource for Baptist identity and history, truth and conviction on contemporary issues in the tradition, and a theologically robust vision for the vocation of the pastor and the witness of the church. Job well done!"
Jared E. Alcántara, associate professor of preaching, Truett Theological Seminary
"Robert Creech offers us a pastoral theology that 'brings a shepherding perspective' right out of his own shepherding experience. This winsomely written book is a rich theological resource that honors the diversity of Baptist thought in a variety of contexts, takes seriously its tradition, and points pastors to an embodied way of ministry that is as relevant today as ever. It is a gift not just to Baptists but to the whole church."
Tod Bolsinger, associate professor of leadership formation, Fuller Theological Seminary
"The pastoral office is multifaceted in shape and form. The one called to serve God's people is expected to be and do many things. Creech does a marvelous job of drawing attention to the many ways God uses the pastor to advance the cause of Christ in the world. The church will be blessed if it takes this book and digests it so that we might better appreciate the God who calls the pastor and the pastor who obeys the call of God."
Ralph Douglas West, senior pastor, The Church Without Walls, Houston, Texas
"R. Robert Creech's examination of the biblical, historical, and theological foundations of pastoral ministry adds a distinctly Baptist voice to this field of study. Creech explores the who of pastoral ministry as well as the what of pastoral roles of prophet, priest, and servant. Along the way, he addresses with care and skill an issue on which Baptists differ: the ordination of women as pastors. Creech's study will challenge readers to think through their philosophy of ministry, and the book deserves a place on any course syllabus used in preparing pastors for Christian ministry."
Adam Harwood, McFarland Chair of Theology and director of the Baptist Center for Theology & Ministry, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
"Robert Creech has written a stellar text on Baptist theology. He writes as a Baptist pastor and professor who loves the tradition that formed him and who both affirms and thoughtfully stands apart from it. The book fills a huge void in Baptist literature and is written in a scholarly yet highly accessible manner. He grounds the work theologically, traces its development historically, and offers his own theological reflection as a loving critic. I commend this work to you."
Jim Herrington, former executive director of Union Baptist Association, Houston, Texas; coach and consultant with The Leader's Journey
"New pastors need seasoned pastors who will walk alongside them as they navigate the contours of pastoral ministry. These experienced pastors provide vital mentoring in the classroom and in the congregation. Robert Creech is just such a person. In this book, he unearths a treasure of Baptist theology and practice for those yearning to make sense of what it means to be a pastor. Creech highlights three pastoral tasks: preaching, pastoral care, and leadership. Each chapter demonstrates how these tasks are rooted in Scripture, how they have been rehearsed throughout history by Baptist pastors, and how we can reflect theologically about these tasks. By engaging the work of theologians like James McClendon and pastors like Martin Luther King Jr., Creech reminds us that the heritage Baptists inherit is as diverse as it is deep. Those longing for a biblical alternative to the 'pastor as CEO' model of pastoral work will find a refreshing vision, rooted in a rich heritage, for faithful pastoral ministry."
Emmanuel C. Roldan, senior pastor, Primera Iglesia Bautista, Waco, Texas
"Finally, we have a Baptist perspective to add to the pastoral theology guild. In Pastoral Theology in the Baptist Tradition, Robert Creech brilliantly explores fundamental and perennial pastoral undertakings from his experience in Baptist life. Readers will be both informed and inspired by Creech's work. While proudly providing the reader a Baptist-shaped lens to peer into pastoral theology, those from other faith traditions who dare to read this book will not feel excluded. Creech invites adherents from all faith traditions to constructively critique, cultivate, and commend their way of thinking about and performing pastoral ministry."
Delvin Atchison, senior pastor, Westside Baptist Church, Lewisville, Texas
The Author
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Rachel Halloran R. Robert Creech
R. Robert Creech (PhD, Baylor University) is Hubert H. and Gladys S. Raborn Professor of Pastoral Leadership and director of pastoral ministries at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. He formerly taught...
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