Baptists Together in Christ, 1905-2005: A Hundred-Year History of the Baptist World Alliance.

Baptists Together in Christ, 1905-2005: A Hundred-Year History of the Baptist World Alliance. Edited by Richard V. Pierard, Elan Jean Young Bentley, and Gerald L. Borchert. Brimingham, AL: Samford University Press, 2005, 358 pp.

The Baptist World Alliance celebrated its 100th anniversary at the World Congress in Birmingham, England, in 2005. Baptists Together in Christ chronicles the first century of the Baptist World Alliance.

Although unusual for an institutional history, the book is an edited work. Richard V. Pierard served as the general editor. The ten chapters that comprise the book are written by various Baptist scholars from around the world. The book, organized chronologically, provides an excellent overview of BWA history and is a good resource for Baptist historians or laity who seek more knowledge about the heritage of this international Baptist entity.

The first chapter of the book, written by Horace O. Russell, chronicled the events leading to the BWA's founding in 1905. Russell successfully examined the forces in both North America and Great Britain that ultimately resulted in the formation of this world Baptist organization. Also notable is a chapter written by Erich Geldbach, titled, "The Years of Anxiety and World War II." Geldbach described the 1934 World Congress, which met in Berlin, noting the political context associated with the meeting and the newly empowered Nazi Party. Chapter ten, written by Ken R. Manley, described the BWA's recent history and included a discussion of the controversy related to granting membership to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the subsequent withdrawal of the Southern Baptist Convention. Other chapter writers included John H. Y. Briggs, Robert S. Wilson, W. Morgan Patterson, Richard V. Pierard, James Leo Garrett, Jr., Faith Bowers, Ian M. Randall, and Albert W. Wardin, Jr.

One of the most impressive qualities of this book is the excellent editorial work of Richard V. Pierard. Frequently, edited works read more like a mosaic than a unified work. Pierard should be commended for his fine work that resulted in an institutional history that is seamless, comprehensive, and the best history of the BWA to date. University, seminary, and divinity school libraries should purchase this book. Church libraries will also find the book to be an important resource.--Reviewed by Glenn Jonas, chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina.