Baptist Union of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Baptist Union of New Zealand is an association of Baptist
churches in the country of New Zealand
.
Several Baptists settled in New Zealand in the 1840s, but the first Baptist minister, Decimus Dolamore from Yorkshire, England, did not arrive until May 1851. Dolamore settled in Nelson and was involved in the formation of the first Baptist Church in New Zealand - Nelson Baptist Church - that same year. He was instrumental in obtaining a change in the law to allow Baptist ministers to perform marriage ceremonies. Until 1854, only Catholic
and Anglican priests were allowed to do so. Dolamore later went to Christchurch
and was the first minister for that congregation.
The Canterbury Baptist Association was formed in 1874. This association started the New Zealand Baptist magazine, which has been published monthly since January 1881. The Baptist Union of New Zealand was formed at Wellington in October 1882. At the time the Union was formed, there were 22 Baptist churches, with 1,890 members. The New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society was formed at the 1885 conference of the Baptist Union. At the 1891 conference, the Union established a plan to divide the country into four districts - "Otago/Southland" (org. 1892), "Auckland" (org. 1892), "Canterbury
& Westland
" (org. 1892), and "Central" (org. 1896). Central District was later divided into the Central District Association and the "Wellington
" Association, and "South Auckland" was formed in 1939. South Auckland was later divided into the "Waikato
" Association and the "Bay of Plenty" Association (now Bay of Plenty & Eastland). The "Top of the South" Association was formed in 1990. Some groups were called "auxiliary" and some "association", but in 1957, the term "auxiliary" was dropped in favor of the term "association". There are currently 9 associations. The Baptist National Centre is the registered office of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society and Baptist Care Limited, and is located in Penrose
.
According to Union statements, they believe "the true humanity and Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; the atonement made on the cross by our Lord for the sin of the world; the person of the Holy Spirit as the one who sets apart, empowers, and imparts spiritual gifts to the church; the inspiration of the Bible and its authority in all matters of faith and practice; salvation and membership in the Church by faith in Christ alone; membership of the church for the regenerate; [and] the immersion of believers as the scriptural form of water baptism."
Theologically, the Baptist Union member churches are deeply influenced by the charismatic renewal movement even though there is no official position regarding the charismatic movement
. A study in 1989 indicates 69% of churches belonging to the Baptist Union identified with the charismatic movement. A smaller portion of member churches are Reformed
in doctrine.
The Union supports education through Carey Baptist College
in Penrose
, and Te Whare Amorangi, designed for Maori men and women, in Papatoetoe
.
In 2006, Baptist Union membership included 23,118 baptized believers in 244 churches and fellowships.
The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
in Christchurch Central City
was damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake
and collapsed in the subsequent February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches in the country of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Several Baptists settled in New Zealand in the 1840s, but the first Baptist minister, Decimus Dolamore from Yorkshire, England, did not arrive until May 1851. Dolamore settled in Nelson and was involved in the formation of the first Baptist Church in New Zealand - Nelson Baptist Church - that same year. He was instrumental in obtaining a change in the law to allow Baptist ministers to perform marriage ceremonies. Until 1854, only Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and Anglican priests were allowed to do so. Dolamore later went to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and was the first minister for that congregation.
The Canterbury Baptist Association was formed in 1874. This association started the New Zealand Baptist magazine, which has been published monthly since January 1881. The Baptist Union of New Zealand was formed at Wellington in October 1882. At the time the Union was formed, there were 22 Baptist churches, with 1,890 members. The New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society was formed at the 1885 conference of the Baptist Union. At the 1891 conference, the Union established a plan to divide the country into four districts - "Otago/Southland" (org. 1892), "Auckland" (org. 1892), "Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
& Westland
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
" (org. 1892), and "Central" (org. 1896). Central District was later divided into the Central District Association and the "Wellington
Wellington Region
The Wellington region of New Zealand occupies the southern end of the North Island.-Governance:The official Wellington Region, as administered by the Wellington Regional Council covers the conurbation around the capital city, Wellington, and the cities of Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Upper Hutt, each...
" Association, and "South Auckland" was formed in 1939. South Auckland was later divided into the "Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
" Association and the "Bay of Plenty" Association (now Bay of Plenty & Eastland). The "Top of the South" Association was formed in 1990. Some groups were called "auxiliary" and some "association", but in 1957, the term "auxiliary" was dropped in favor of the term "association". There are currently 9 associations. The Baptist National Centre is the registered office of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society and Baptist Care Limited, and is located in Penrose
Penrose, New Zealand
Penrose is an industrial suburb in Auckland City, New Zealand. It is located to the southeast of the city centre, at a distance of about nine kilometres, between the suburbs of Oranga and Mount Wellington, and close to the Mangere Inlet, an arm of the Manukau Harbour...
.
According to Union statements, they believe "the true humanity and Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; the atonement made on the cross by our Lord for the sin of the world; the person of the Holy Spirit as the one who sets apart, empowers, and imparts spiritual gifts to the church; the inspiration of the Bible and its authority in all matters of faith and practice; salvation and membership in the Church by faith in Christ alone; membership of the church for the regenerate; [and] the immersion of believers as the scriptural form of water baptism."
Theologically, the Baptist Union member churches are deeply influenced by the charismatic renewal movement even though there is no official position regarding the charismatic movement
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
. A study in 1989 indicates 69% of churches belonging to the Baptist Union identified with the charismatic movement. A smaller portion of member churches are Reformed
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
in doctrine.
The Union supports education through Carey Baptist College
Carey Baptist College
Carey Baptist College is a Bible and theological college for training in mission, ministry, and formation based in Auckland, New Zealand.It is the theological college of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand....
in Penrose
Penrose, New Zealand
Penrose is an industrial suburb in Auckland City, New Zealand. It is located to the southeast of the city centre, at a distance of about nine kilometres, between the suburbs of Oranga and Mount Wellington, and close to the Mangere Inlet, an arm of the Manukau Harbour...
, and Te Whare Amorangi, designed for Maori men and women, in Papatoetoe
Papatoetoe
Papatoetoe is a suburb in the Auckland conurbation in northern New Zealand. One of the larger suburbs of the area commonly known as South Auckland, it is located to the northwest of central Manukau, and 18 kilometres southeast of Auckland city centre....
.
In 2006, Baptist Union membership included 23,118 baptized believers in 244 churches and fellowships.
The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
Oxford Terrace Baptist Church is located in the Christchurch Central City on a prominent corner property fronting the Avon River, the main building was significantly damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake and collapsed in the subsequent February 2011 Christchurch earthquake...
in Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
was damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake
2010 Canterbury earthquake
The 2010 Canterbury earthquake was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am on local time ....
and collapsed in the subsequent February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Prominent New Zealand Baptists
- Decimus Dolamore - first Baptist minister in New Zealand
- Thomas Spurgeon - successful evangelist and son of famous English Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon
- Charles Dallaston - the Father of the Baptist Union