Baptizing, Gathering and Sending: Anabaptist Mission in the Sixteenth-Century Context

by Colin Godwin

Anabaptist leaders and authors Hans Hut, Conrad Grebel, Pilgram Marpeck, Menno Simons, Peter Riedemann, Balthasar Hubmaier, Melchior Hoffmann and even David Joris describe mission as a key component of belief and practice. However, despite detailed research, there has been no new broad conceptualization of Anabaptist mission since the post-WW II era which has left current scholars largely dependent on research done decades ago. In Baptizing, Gathering, and Sending, Colin Godwin re-evaluates Anabaptist mission in its historical and theological context. Framed by the missionary intent and practice of the Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed Churches, Godwin argues for a distinct Anabaptist missionary experience.

“ Baptizing, Gathering, and Sending is an exploration of the missionary practices and beliefs of Anabaptist founders with the aim of stirring contemporary Anabaptists to a historically informed mission. Author Colin Godwin carefully narrates the social and religious climate of the sixteenth century in which the Anabaptist movement was birthed, wades through primary resources, and offers contemporary application and reflection for our crumbling Christendom context.” - Chris Lenshyn in Anabaptist Witness 1.1 (2014), 167.

422 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012