Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland

The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland (ABC, ABCi and ABCI) is a Baptist Christian denomination based in Ireland. It is a group of 117 autonomous Baptist churches working together in fellowship and evangelism, training and caring ministries. The association only acts on behalf of the churches for the work which the churches have agreed to do together.

Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
Logo of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland.
ClassificationProtestant
TheologyEvangelical Baptist
GovernanceCongregational
RegionIreland
Origin1640 (Formally in 1895)
Separated fromCongregational Union of Ireland
Congregations117
Members8,500
Worshipers: 20,000
Ministers100
Missionaries100
Aid organizationAnnuity Fund
Baptist Aid
Orphan Society
Tertiary institutionsIrish Baptist College
Official websitehttp://baptistsinireland.org/

History
Limavady Baptist Church

The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland has its origins in the establishment of Baptist churches in Cork (1640), Dublin (1642) and Waterford (1650). In 1725, there were 11 Baptist churches, and 9 formed the Irish Baptist Association.[1] The Irish Baptist Association was reorganised in 1862, and was replaced by the Baptist Union of Ireland in 1895.[2] Irish Baptists initially had a close relationship with the English Baptists. However, desire for independence caused the Irish Baptists to follow their own path and they set up the Union in 1895.[3] The first Assembly meeting of the newly formed Union took place in May 1895 in Mountpottinger Baptist Church, Belfast with 27 churches present with two more being added to the membership in that meeting. They supported Charles Spurgeon during the Downgrade Controversy that raged in the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The Union returned to its original name of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland in 2000, highlighting that they are an association of churches of like mind which seek to work and fellowship together. According to a denomination census released in 2020, it claimed 117 churches and 8,500 members. [4]

Organisation

Departments include Baptist Women, Baptist Youth, Missions, Welfare, and Training (Irish Baptist Historical Society and Irish Baptist College).[5] The ABC Insight is a bi-monthly magazine serving the churches. The Baptist Centre comprising the administrative offices and the Irish Baptist College is located near Moira, County Down, Northern Ireland. The association holds an annual assembly in May. The Churches Council meets during the week of the annual assembly and also annually in November. The purpose of the Council is to hear reports and conduct business. Matters are handled between sessions by the executive committee elected by the churches at the May Churches Council meeting.

Christian denominations in Ireland
Irish interchurch
Christian denominations
in the United Kingdom
British interchurch

Churches Together in England
Anglican
Baptist
Catholic
Lutheran
Methodist and Holiness
New Church Movement
Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox

Oriental Orthodox
Pentecostal
Presbyterian and Reformed
Other

Training

Promotes training among the churches and operates the Irish Baptist College which seeks to train men and women for pastoral and necessary services.

Caring Ministries

By means of the Orphan Society, Annuity Fund and Baptist Aid provides support for those in need.

Members

Association members are referred to as Irish Baptists, however some choose to refer to themselves as Association Baptists to distinguish them from other Baptists.

See also

References
  1. John H. Y. Briggs, A Dictionary of European Baptist Life and Thought, Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2009, p. 271
  2. Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 111
  3. William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 306
  4. Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, Who We Are, baptistsinireland.org, Ireland, retrieved 5 December 2020
  5. "Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland". Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2008.

Further reading
  • Carson, Alexander (Introduction); Nicholas, Elmer H. (Introduction); Green, Jay. (Preface) (2000) "Baptism, Its Mode and Subjects", Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc, Binding: Hardcover Pub. Date: 2000, ISBN 1-58960-015-0
  • Leonard, Bill J. (c2003) "Baptist Ways", Judson Press, Valley Forge, PA, Binding: (alk. paper), Date: c2003, ISBN 0-8170-1231-1
  • McBeth, Leon H. (c1987) "The Baptist Heritage", Broadman Press, Nashville, TN Date: c1987 ISBN 0-8054-6569-3
  • Wardin, Albert W. (Editor) (c1995) "Baptists Around the World", Broadman & Holman, Nashville, TN Date: c1995. ISBN 0-8054-1076-7
  • White, B. R. (1971–77) "Association records of the Particular Baptists of England, Wales and Ireland to 1660", Baptist Historical Society, London, UK Date: 1971-77 ISBN 0-903166-00-3
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