Canadian Baptists of Western Canada
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, formerly the Baptist Union of Western Canada, is a moderate Christian
denomination
with churches in British Columbia
, Alberta
, Saskatchewan
, Manitoba
, Yukon Territories and the Northwest Territories
. The group's theological positions are evangelical
.
began in Manitoba in the 1860s, organizing formally in 1884 with the establishment of the Baptist Convention of Manitoba and the Northwest. In 1897, British Columbian Baptists organized their own Convention. These Conventions, and others, united to form the Baptist Convention of Western Canada in 1907. The name was changed to the Baptist Union of Western Canada (BUWC) in 1909, by which it was known until 2007. In 1944, the BUWC joined with the United Baptist Convention of the Maritimes and the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec to form the Baptist Federation of Canada (BFC) as a national coordinating body. It was joined by l'Union d'Eglises Baptistes Francaises au Canada in 1970. These four bodies remained federated until 1995 when the federation, by now renamed Canadian Baptist Federation (CBF), merged with Canadian Baptist Ministries, which now functions as the shared outreach arm of all four associations.
In 2007, the BUWC changed its name to the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada to better reflect its national identity and western focus.
Key figures in CBWC history include: Tommy Douglas
, a Baptist Minister in Weyburn Saskatchewan and healthcare reforming politician, William Aberhart
(Bible Bill), an Albertan radio personality and Albertan Premier. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
was also a Canadian Baptist.
They have ordained female pastors since 1959.
, a global fellowship of 214 Baptist conventions and unions sharing a common faith.
Sister denominations in Canada include the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, l'Union d'Églises Baptistes Françaises au Canada, and the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. With these sister denominations, the CBWC shares oversight of Canadian Baptist Ministries, an agency for international missions, relief and development.
Carey Theological College
in Vancouver provides much of the denomination’s graduate level theological training for pastors and lay leaders. The William Carey Institute in Vancouver provides undergraduate training.
The CBWC owns or is affiliated with six children’s camps across Western Canada: Keats Camps in BC, Gull Lake Centre, Mill Creek Baptist Camp and Camp Wapiti in Alberta, and The Quest at Christopher Lake and Katepwa Baptist Kamp in Saskatchewan.
Food banks and ministries to vulnerable or impoverished people operate under the auspices of Canadian Baptist churches known as the Mustard Seed in Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria. Many other CBWC churches run community outreach ministries in their communities.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
with churches in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Yukon Territories and the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. The group's theological positions are evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
.
History
Baptists in western CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
began in Manitoba in the 1860s, organizing formally in 1884 with the establishment of the Baptist Convention of Manitoba and the Northwest. In 1897, British Columbian Baptists organized their own Convention. These Conventions, and others, united to form the Baptist Convention of Western Canada in 1907. The name was changed to the Baptist Union of Western Canada (BUWC) in 1909, by which it was known until 2007. In 1944, the BUWC joined with the United Baptist Convention of the Maritimes and the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec to form the Baptist Federation of Canada (BFC) as a national coordinating body. It was joined by l'Union d'Eglises Baptistes Francaises au Canada in 1970. These four bodies remained federated until 1995 when the federation, by now renamed Canadian Baptist Federation (CBF), merged with Canadian Baptist Ministries, which now functions as the shared outreach arm of all four associations.
In 2007, the BUWC changed its name to the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada to better reflect its national identity and western focus.
Key figures in CBWC history include: Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
, a Baptist Minister in Weyburn Saskatchewan and healthcare reforming politician, William Aberhart
William Aberhart
William Aberhart , also known as Bible Bill for his outspoken Baptist views, was a Canadian politician and the seventh Premier of Alberta between 1935 and 1943. The Social Credit party believed the reason for the depression was that people did not have enough money to spend, so the government...
(Bible Bill), an Albertan radio personality and Albertan Premier. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
was also a Canadian Baptist.
Key beliefs
Key beliefs include:- Christian faith arises from choosing a personal relationship with Christ
- The priesthood of all believers
- Believers baptism, usually by full immersion, rather than infant baptism
- There are two ordinances: baptism and communion
- Separation of church and state
- Voluntary association of churches
- Commitment to evangelism and social justice
They have ordained female pastors since 1959.
Organization
The Canadian Baptists of Western Canada is organized into three regions: British Columbia and the Yukon, Alberta and the NWT, the Heartland of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The work of the denomination is overseen by the Executive Minister, three Regional Ministers and various ministry and administrative staff. A Board of Directors elected from member churches at a bi-annual Assembly is responsible for the overall governance of the CBWC. The CBWC’s head offices are in Calgary, Alberta.Affiliations and associated ministries
The Canadian Baptists of Western Canada belong to the Baptist World AllianceBaptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
, a global fellowship of 214 Baptist conventions and unions sharing a common faith.
Sister denominations in Canada include the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, l'Union d'Églises Baptistes Françaises au Canada, and the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. With these sister denominations, the CBWC shares oversight of Canadian Baptist Ministries, an agency for international missions, relief and development.
Carey Theological College
Carey Theological College
Carey Theological College is an evangelical Christian seminary based in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is a ministry of the Baptist Union of Western Canada....
in Vancouver provides much of the denomination’s graduate level theological training for pastors and lay leaders. The William Carey Institute in Vancouver provides undergraduate training.
The CBWC owns or is affiliated with six children’s camps across Western Canada: Keats Camps in BC, Gull Lake Centre, Mill Creek Baptist Camp and Camp Wapiti in Alberta, and The Quest at Christopher Lake and Katepwa Baptist Kamp in Saskatchewan.
Food banks and ministries to vulnerable or impoverished people operate under the auspices of Canadian Baptist churches known as the Mustard Seed in Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria. Many other CBWC churches run community outreach ministries in their communities.