The Australian Baptist movement is an intercultural and multigenerational network of people, ministries, programs, and communities across over 1,000 churches nationally. While we celebrate the interindependence and diversity of each entity, we’re united by a common belief — that Jesus Christ is Lord.
So, where does Australian Baptist Ministries fit in? We’re here to encourage, initiate, and facilitate collaborative ministries across the Baptist movement in Australia and beyond.
There’s a Baptist Association in each Australian State, with ACT churches connected to the NSW Association, and NT churches joined with SA's. Key policy, organisational, and functional setups within the Australian Baptist movement take place at these State and Territory Association levels.
The State Associations are affiliated with ABM — that’s us — a national body. Through ABM, they and their local churches partner together in support of key national and international ministries.
It’s that simple.
Each Baptist church and organisation is autonomous, responsible for setting its own vision, budget, programs, activities, and decision-making processes. Local churches choose to affiliate together as part of State Associations for fellowship, encouragement, equipping, accountability, mutual ministry and administrative support.
We believe every believer is free to access God and serve Him in their own way (within biblical lines). As a result, each church is free to shape its own style, language, and ministry. This makes each Baptist church wonderfully unique, and often very different from each other.
While we remain united in our beliefs, Baptist churches can be small or large, traditional or contemporary, complex or simple, and that’s something we celebrate.
Australian Baptist Ministries acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities and the way they have cared for the Lord’s good creation. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. As Christians, we commit ourselves to pray and work for justice and reconciliation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.