"May I Again Taste the Sweets of Social Religion": The Ecclesiological Devotion of William Carey

Abstract

William Carey has served as an example for over two hundred years of how to effectively fulfill the Great Commission. One of the primary sources of Carey’s success as a missionary was his devotion to the local church. Chapter 1 introduces the topic of Carey’s ecclesiology and its significance in his life and ministry. Chapter 2 considers Carey’s ecclesiological context by examining Particular Baptist ecclesial thought and its expression within the Northamptonshire Association in the late eighteenth century. Chapter 3 examines Carey’s ecclesiological formation and praxis at Moulton and Leicester, his two pastorates in England. Chapter 4 explores Carey’s ecclesiological commitment during his missionary service in India. Chapter 5 expounds on the way Carey’s devotion to the local church affected the overall success of his ministry. Finally, chapter 6 presents how Carey’s example can serve the church today as it seeks to continue the missionary task.