General Six-Principle Baptists

History

The history of General Six-Principle Baptists in America began in Rhode Island in 1652 when the historic First Baptist Church, once associated with Roger Williams, split.[1] The occasion was the development within the congregation of an Arminian majority who held to the six principles of Hebrew 6:1–2: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, the laying-on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Of these, the laying-on of hands was the only doctrine really distinctive to this body, and that only because it was advocated as mandatory. This rite was used at the baptism and reception of new members symbolizing the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some Calvinistic Baptist churches were also "Six-Principle," but they did not survive as a separate body. Even the influential Philadelphia Baptist Association (org. 1707) added an article concerning laying-on of hands to their 1742 reprint of the 1689 London Baptist Confession. A distinguishing feature of these "General" Six-Principle Baptists was that they would not commune with other Baptists who did not observe the laying-on of hands. In 1656, members left the First Baptist Church in Newport, the church of John Clarke and Obadiah Holmes, and formed a second Six-Principle Baptist Church.

First Baptist Church in America

Churches were planted and conferences rose up in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. The Rhode Island Yearly Meeting was formed in 1670, becoming the first Baptist association in America. It was incorporated in 1895 as the General Six-Principle Baptist Conference of Rhode Island. The word "Hope" and the emblem of the anchor (both taken from Hebrews 6) on the flag and Seal of Rhode Island attest to the historical influence of Six-Principle Baptists in that state. The New York Yearly Conference was organized around 1824. After 1865, it became known as the General Six-Principle Baptist Association of Pennsylvania. The Six-Principle Baptists of New England were called "General", distinguishing that they held the general view of Christ's atonement (making salvation possible for all men) rather than the particular view (that he atoned for the elect only).

Six-Principle Baptists also existed in England, probably pre-dating those in America.[2] The Standard Confession of 1660 specifies the doctrine of laying-on of hands. According to Henry Vedder,

In March 1690, the churches holding these views formed an Association. This continued with varying fortunes for some years; at its strongest, numbering but eleven churches in England, though there were others in Wales when the Calvinistic Baptists withdrew, and the rest of the churches were gradually absorbed into the General body.

Stony Lane Six Principle Baptist Church in North Kingstown, Rhode Island

In 1954, the Rhode Island Conference lifted their ban on communing with other Christians, preparing the way for their assimilation into the broader Baptist community. One of the last historical churches to survive is the Stony Lane Six Principle Baptist Church in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.[3] According to their pastor Rev. John Wheeler, "We keep the name only for historical purposes and to our knowledge we are the last church to use it in our official name. We don't include it in our stationary etc., nor do we hold to the specific teaching of highlighting Hebrews 6:1–2 over other parts of Scripture."[4] According to Albert Wardin, there is also "one church, located in Pennsylvania, which still carries Six Principle in its name, but its current pastor does not observe all the six principles."[5] The Pine Grove Church of Nicholson, Pennsylvania and the Stony Lane Church were the last two churches to be considered historically Six-Principle Baptist.

Reorganization

Saddened by the dissolution of the historic Six-Principle denomination, a small group of Baptist ministers began a reorganization of the movement in 2001. This incorporated reorganization movement was officially renamed on July 10, 2003, as the General Association of Six-Principle Baptist Churches, Inc. It is also known as the General Association of Six-Principle Baptists which is more descriptive of the fact that the General Association includes not only churches, but individuals, ministers, and ministries.

Since its reorganization, the denomination has grown steadily. All of the ministers credentialed by the General Association serve as Missionaries of the General Association.

Beliefs

The "six-principles"[6] adhered to are those listed in Hebrews 6:1–2:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

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References
  1. Lemons, J. Stanley. First: The First Baptist Church in America, pp. 13-19, Charitable Baptist Society, Providence, RI, 2001.
  2. Knight, Richard. History of the General Or Six-Principle Baptists in Europe and America, pp. 11-17, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, S.C. Reprint, 2014.
  3. Stony Lane Six Principle Baptist Church website 2009
  4. Stony Lane Six Principle Baptist Church website 2009
  5. Wardin, Albert W. Baptists Around the World, p. 53, Broadman and Holman Publishing, Nashville, 1995.
  6. http://www.ethicsdaily.com/six-principle-baptists-cms-3102

Further reading
  • Annual Reports, Rhode Island Conference
  • Richard Knight, History of The General or Six Principle Baptists in Europe and America, (Smith and Parmenter, 1827)
  • A Short History of Baptists, by Henry Vedder
  • Baptists Around the World, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
  • Dictionary of Baptists in America, Bill J. Leonard, editor
  • Doing Diversity Baptist Style, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
  • Elder John Gorton and the Six Principle Baptist Church of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, by Cherry Fletcher Bamberg
  • The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness, by H. Leon McBeth
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