Baptist churches have always understood that though every local church is complete in itself, each church may pursue voluntary associations in order to promote their health and the work of the gospel. But with cooperation comes challenges. How big can an association get before it becomes unwieldy? How broad or narrow should its doctrinal standards be? How do you balance denominational influence with congregational authority?
In the beginning of the 19th century, coming on the heels of the evangelical revival of the previous century, Baptist churches began to see significant growth in Britain. This growth accompanied significant opportunities for cooperation.
Let me tell you the tale of two Baptist associations.
THE BAPTIST UNION
In 1812, under the leadership of John Rippon, 45 Particular Baptist ministers in London set down their names as members of a new organization: the Baptist Union. With an explicit doctrinal statement and a commitment to Baptist principles, the Union sought to create a national Baptist identity throughout Britain.
However, for the first two decades, the association lacked a clear vision, and so it ended up being mostly a social gathering of like-minded ministers. Twenty years after its founding, in 1832, the group reorganized. They decided to
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