Baptism Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspectives

In this book, Gordon Heath and James Dvorak bring together three traditions that are not often brought together under one roof: Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant. Authors from a number of Protestant traditions, as well as one from Orthodoxy and one from Catholicism, have contributed to a volume that provides a grander vision of the diversity of the church as well as a deeper sense of the differences that divide and the similarities that unite. This book provides a much-needed and helpful forum for a variety of Christian positions to be presented and defended so that Christians can at least operate out of understanding rather than ignorance. The authors also hope that such understanding will nudge people closer together as baptized followers of Jesus Christ. The gracious spirit of each contributor to this volume indicates that it is possible. All contributors in this volume write about their own tradition, and a number write not just as academics but also as ordained leaders in their churches. The insider's perspective that each author brings allows passionate presentations of each perspective but also committed defenses of the same.