For the third round of conversations between Baptists and Methodists, members from both Baptist World Alliance (BWA), including Alabama’s Timothy George, and World Methodist Council (WMC) met Feb. 3–10 at Elstal Theological Seminary near Berlin, Germany, to dialogue about “faith working through love.”
‘Making Disciples’
The meeting focused on “Making Disciples: Baptism and Christian Initiation” and included historical, theological, liturgical and ecumenical perspectives on baptism and the process of Christian initiation (baptism, confirmation, eucharist). Both groups gave reports on baptismal practices in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.
BWA and WMC participants also gathered for worship at Schoneberg Baptist Church, Berlin, where they saw 11 baptisms take place.
During the week the group traveled to Wittenberg to visit The Luther House reformation museum and Castle Church, where Martin Luther posted his 95 theses.
George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham, was among the BWA delegation that participated in the conversations in Germany.
A meeting with Methodist Superintendent Gabriel Straka also was on the itinerary for the group, as well as lunch with Rosemarie Wenner, bishop of the United Methodist Church in Germany; Michael Noss, president of the German Baptist Union; Christoph Stiba, general secretary of the German Baptist Union; and Michael Kisskalt, rector of Elstal School of Theology.
Also during the meeting Elstal School of Theology professor Uwe Swarat presented a paper on Baptist doctrine as reflected in worldwide theological conversations.
The next session of conversations will take place in Kingston, Jamaica, and will focus on the call to discipleship.
(TAB, BWA)
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