"What is the Baptist Pietist CLARION?"

By G. William Carlson, Professor of History and Political Science, Bethel University

The primary mission of The Baptist Pietist CLARION, first published in March of 2002, is to defend the Swedish Baptist Pietist heritage, as it was reflected in the writings of John Alexis Edgren and further developed by leaders throughout the history of the Baptist General Conference (BGC).

The term "Clarion" refers to an effort to clearly communicate a message that is important and vital to the community. Since 1921, it has been the name of the student newspaper at Bethel and expresses the belief that all that we do in life communicates that Christ is Our Lord and Savior and that we do all for the glory of Jesus Christ.

This journal is an independent effort and not affiliated with the BGC or Bethel University and Seminary.

The Baptist General Conference emerged from the Swedish Baptist Pietist Tradition and is committed to the following:

• Sola Scriptura - the Bible is the sole basis for theological truth.
• Affirmation of Faith (1951) - the consensus, non-creedal statement of faith that unites members of the BGC.
• Necessity of personal conversion - the primary focus of the church is to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
• Great Commission - commitment to missions and evangelism.
• Holy living - intentional Christian discipleship through Bible reading, prayer, and cultivation of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
• Irenic spirit - speak truth in love, avoid harsh polemics, and reject irresponsible heresy hunting.
• Religious liberty - each person is responsible to God alone in matters of faith and conduct, and the church and state must be kept separate.
  

Past Issues

March 2002 (Vol. I, No. 1) [currently unavailable online]

June 2002 (Vol. I, No. 2)

• Virgil Olson, "One Step from Extinction"
• Ron Saari, "Ypsilanti, Michigan: Here We Come!"
• John F. Anderson, "Bicentennial Tribute to the 'Wall of Separation'"
• Vic Winquist, "Our Voice for Religious Liberty: The Baptist Joint Committee of Public Affairs"
• G. William Carlson, "Greg Boyd Resigns from Bethel, Spring 2002"
• Greg Boyd, "Keep Their Eyes Fixed on You"
• G. William Carlson, "Looking Out the Window"
• G. William Carlson, "Rev. Neal Floberg, Champion of Baptist Pietism"
• Neal Floberg, "God is Far Too Big to Fit into Any Theological Boxes"
• "Bethel Seminars Presented at 2002 BGC Annual Meeting"

July 2003 (Vol. II, No. 1)

• Richard Turnwall, "F.O. Nilsson, A Baptist Heretic"
• Ron Saari & G.W. Carlson, "A Clarion Call for Baptist Pietism"
• Jim Spicklemier, "'Baptist' is not a Dirty Word"
• "Former Bethel Seminary Dean Defines Baptist Distinctives"
• Virgil Olson, "Why I'm a Baptist"
• John F. Anderson, "Why I'm a Baptist"
• "Baptist Pietist Commitments"
• Terri Hansen, "The Anatomy of Adversity"
• G. William Carlson, "Celebrating the Life of a Faithful Baptist Saint"
• G. William Carlson, "A Mother Who Took the Time to Pray"

July 2004 (Vol. III, No. 1)

• Nancy Lundquist, "Celebrating the Goodness of God at Bethel"
• Ron Saari, "A Baptist Pastor Celebrates a Sabbatical Experience"
• G. William Carlson, "Inside this Issue of the Clarion"
• Carole Lundquist Spickelmier, "Growing up in a Pietist Home"
• Terri Hansen, "A New Vocabulary: Christian Spirituality in the Life of Carl Lundquist"
• Carl Lundquist, "Understanding Christian Spirituality"
• Carl Lundquist, "God's Miracle on Lake Valentine"
• G. William Carlson, "Swedish Baptist Hymnody: Dr. C. Howard Smith and the Pietist Tradition"
• G. William Carlson, "The Prayer Witness of Dr. Gordon Johnson"
• G. William Carlson, "Gordon Johnson's Chapel Prayers"
• G. William Carlson, "The Pietist Poetry of Signe Olson"

July 2005 (Vol. IV, No. 1)

• Vic Winquist, "Religious Liberty: All Americans Believe in It. Or Do They?"
• Dwight Jessup, "The Baptist General Conference and the Baptist Joint Committee: Vigilance in Protecting Our Religious Liberty"
• G. William Carlson, "Inside this Issue of the Clarion"
• V. Elving Anderson, "C. Emanuel Carlson as Historian and Educator: Personal Reflections"
• John F. Anderson, "Onward and Upward: Reflections on the Life and Teaching Impact of Dr. Walfred H. Peterson"
• G. William Carlson, "Dunn Praises C. Emanuel Carlson for Defending Religious Liberty and Church-State Separation"
• C. Emanuel Carlson, "Religious Liberty: On Learning the Meaning of Prayer"
• G. William Carlson, "Defend and Extend God-Given Religious Liberty for All: The Missions of C. Emanuel Carlson and Walfred H. Peterson"
• Ron Saari, "Generosity: An Essential to Kingdom Life"
• G. William Carlson, "The Pietist Poetry of Signe Olson Peterson: Early Poems Translated by Tom Coleman"

September 2006 (Vol. V, No. 1)

• Wayne Roberts, "The Cost of Not Forgetting"
• Terri L. Hansen, "Forgiveness: Truly Divine!"
• Chris Armstrong, "Pietist Values: A Summary"
• Laura Gilbertson, "Ubuntu and Forgiveness: Lessons from South Africa"
• G. William Carlson and Diana Magnuson, "God's Gift of Forgiveness: An Evangelistic Tract of John Alexis Edgren"
  
• John Alexis Edgren, "On the Sea of Life"
  
• "'Forgive': The Pietist Poetry of Signe Olson Peterson"
  
• "Christians as Forgiven People: Karl Karlson on The Lord's Prayer"
  
• Ron W. Saari, "Christian Freedoms Baptists Value: Religious Liberty and Soul Liberty - Galatians 5:1, 13-14"
• "Living as Forgiven People: Prayers of Gordon Johnson"
• G. William Carlson, "Living as Forgiven People: Ten Principles of Authentic Forgiveness"
• G. William Carlson and Terri Hansen, "Forgiven and Forgiving People: A Selective Bibliography"
• "New Books by BGC and Bethel Authors"