Baptists

==Baptist churches==
{{Main|List of Baptist denominations}}
[[File:Baptist Hospital Mutengene.jpg|thumb|Baptist Hospital Mutengene ([[Tiko]]), member of the [[Cameroon Baptist Convention]]]]
[[File:Vaasan Baptistikirkko 06-2023 1.jpg|thumb|The [[Vaasa Finnish Baptist Church|Finnish-language Baptist Church]] in [[Vaasa|Vaasa, Finland]]]]
Some Baptist church congregations choose to be independent of larger church organizations ([[Independent Baptist]]). Other Baptist churches choose to be part of an international or national Baptist [[Christian denomination]] or association while still adhering to a [[congregationalist polity]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Family Trees |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/history/family-trees?F=96 |publisher=[[Association of Religion Data Archives]] |access-date=28 November 2023 |quote=Modern Baptists are a group of Christian denominations and churches who subscribe to a theology of believer's baptism (as opposed to infant baptism), salvation through faith alone, Scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice, and the autonomy of the local church.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1= Williams |first1= Michael Edward|last2= Shurden |first2= Walter B.|title= Turning Points in Baptist History |date=2008|publisher= Mercer University Press |pages=63, 72|language=en |quote= 63: "Baptists' practice of congregational church government means that all authority and power in Baptist life is focused in the local congregation of believers, not in any extra-local ecclesiastical body. From their beginnings, especially in America, the Baptist people consistently and repeatedly affirmed the local church as the center of their life together. For that reason there is no "The Baptist Church" in the same sense that there is "The Methodist Church," "The Episcopal Church," or "The Presbyterian Church." There are only "Baptist churches." Baptists have formed "conventions" of churches, "unions" of churches, and "associations" of churches, but final authority in Baptist life resides in the local congregation of believers. That authority does not rest in a denomination or any extra-local church body of any kind, civil or ecclesiastical." 72: " If you examine Baptist associations among different national Baptist bodies in contemporary America or if you compare Baptist associations in various countries today, you will find a wide divergence in the nature and practice of associations. This leads to the conclusion that Baptists really have no consistent or obvious theology of church order beyond the local church. Baptists do not have an ecclesiology beyond the local church that tells them how they must organize or structure their local churches into a Baptist denomination. For the most part, each group of Baptists has been guided primarily by practical issues, though they usually conscript both the Bible and Baptist theology in making the case for church connectionalism." }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Blankman |first1=Drew |last2=Augustine |first2=Todd |title=Pocket Dictionary of North American Denominations: Over 100 Christian Groups Clearly & Concisely Defined |date=17 April 2010 |publisher=InterVarsity Press |isbn=978-0-8308-6706-6 |page=88 |language=en}}</ref><ref> Stephen R. Holmes, ''Baptist Theology'', T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 2012, p. 104-105</ref> This cooperative relationship allows the development of common organizations, for [[Christian mission|mission]] and societal purposes, such as [[Christian humanitarian aid|humanitarian aid]], schools, [[Bible college |theological institutes]] and hospitals.<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, US, 2020, p. 173–174</ref> 

The majority of Baptist churches are part of national denominations (or 'associations' or 'cooperative groups'), as well as the [[Baptist World Alliance]] (BWA), formed in 1905 by 24 Baptist denominations from various countries.<ref>Robert E. Johnson, ''A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 238</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1= Brackney |first1= William H.|title= Historical Dictionary of the Baptists |date=2009|publisher= Scarecrow Press |pages=38–40|language=en |quote= ASSOCIATIONS, BAPTIST. Groups of Baptist churches formed for the purpose of mutual support, aid to destitute congregations, and advice on matters of order, discipline, expansion, and identity. Based upon a principle common to most Christian organizations, Baptists have almost from their beginnings associated in this way with other churches of like faith and order. The Baptist association is not considered a superior body to the local congregation but rather an advisory body voluntarily covenanting with local churches for specific tasks.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1= Weaver |first1= C. Douglas |title= In Search of the New Testament Church: The Baptist Story |date=2008|publisher= Mercer University Press |pages=26|language=en |quote= Interdependence of Churches: Associations. Baptist life has accented the independence of the local church more than the interdependence of churches. At the same time, Baptists from their earliest decades of existence sought to practice cooperative work with other Baptist churches in associations. Churches met for fellowship and mutual encouragement and sought doctrinal unity with like-minded churches.}}</ref> The BWA's goals include caring for the needy, leading in world evangelism and defending human rights and religious freedom.