Baptists in Belgium

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Baptists in Belgium have been around since the late 19th century . They are united in a federation. The official name of this association is

  • in German : Union of Baptists in Belgium
  • in French : Union des Baptistes en Belgique
  • in Dutch : Unie van Baptisten in België

history

The starting point for the emergence of Belgian Baptist churches was northern France . Baptist migrant workers in this region brought their denominational beliefs across the border in the late 19th century . In Lüttich ( Liège in French , Luik in Dutch ) the first Baptist church of the Kingdom of Belgium was founded in 1892 . As early as 1922 , several Belgian Baptist congregations formed a national federation. Until 1997, Baptists were often viewed as a sect.

Organization and statistics

The individual local congregations are - as everywhere with the Baptists - autonomous . Each congregation sends delegates according to its size to the annual conference, which takes place in different locations. This is where decisions are made about all common concerns and the common Union budget. An elected executive committee ensures that the resolutions are implemented.

In 2013 there were 23 independent Baptist congregations in Belgium with a total of around 1,100 members (excluding non-baptized children and friends of the congregations).

The Union of Baptists in Belgium enjoys public law status as a confession within the Evangelical Protestant Church ( Administratieve Raad van de Protestants-Evangelische Eredienst / Conseil Administratif du Culte Protestant-Évangélique ).

International connections

The Belgian Baptist Union is a member of the European Baptist Federation and the World Baptist Federation . There is a close connection to the Baptists united in the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches , as well as to the Northern French Baptist congregations.

literature

  • Albert W. Wardin, Jr .: Baptists Around the World. A comprehensive handbook . Broadman & Holman, Nashville TN 1995, ISBN 0-8054-1076-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ International . apd.info. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  2. ^ Union des Baptistes en Belgique: Date des statistiques (2013) ; accessed on May 6, 2016
  3. ↑ Conseil Administratif du Culte Protestant-Évangélique: "Lieux de culte" (search with "Union des Baptistes en Belgique" in "Et / ou recherche par denominiation")