Upon This Rock: The Baptist Understanding of the Church Book

Acknowledgments vii

Dedication viii

The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000 ix

Author Introductions x

Introduction: The Duty of Baptists to Teach Their Distinctive Views? Jason G. Duesing 1

1 "Upon this Rock I Will Build My Church" A Theological Exposition of Matthew 16:13-20 Malcolm B. Yamell III 24

2 Autonomy of the Local Church: Crucial Baptist Distinctive David Allen 57

3 Covenant or Confusion? "Associated by Covenant in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel" Emir F. Caner 84

4 Observing Two Ordinances-Are They Merely Symbols? Paige Patterson 102

5 Under the Lordship of Christ through Democratic Processes James Leo Garrett Jr. 116

6 A Denomination of Churches: Biblical and Useful Bart Barber 133

7 The Church and Its Officers: A Pastor's Perspective Byron McWilliams 152

8 The Offices and Women: Can Women Be Pastors? or Deacons? Thomas White Joy White 174

9 The Universal and Local Church Thomas White 208

Author Index 240

Scripture Index 242