James Wm. McClendon (1924-2000) may be characterized as an inspiring Atlantic theologian. His three volumes on systematic theology exhibit profound knowledge of European and American theology, as it specifically revolves around the retrieval of the baptistic tradition. It also profoundly affected theological thinking on both sides of the Atlantic.  He combines the Free Church mentality with robust orientations of Barthian, Mennonite and narrative-hermeneutical background. Anyhow, the result is a challenging and in McClendon’s days a timely presentation of baptistic theology as a way of living and thinking the truth of Christ.

At the onset of the third millennium McClendon’s theology proves even more beneficial and relevant than decades before, because in the present demise of grand narrative of the church, Christian life should be spoken of in terms of diaspora ecclesiology. The church is, and will become, a social-religious minority. Hence, Christianity will not predominantly be studied as a historical and dogmatic reality, but as a lived conviction and a lived religion. Whosoever thinks and believes as a Christian lives like a Christian.

Henk Bakker (1960) is the current chairholder of the James Wm. McClendon Chair for Baptistic and Evangelical Theologies. Born and raised in a typical Dutch Protestant environment, he became fascinated by the Gospel life and turned to believers baptism in 1978. He studied in Leuven (Ba, and Lic./Ma), Utrecht University (Ma in New Testament) and Groningen as promovendus (PhD). During his study and life, Henk developed a broad interest in sources (mainly early christian writings), New Testament Theology and the connection to the local church (in practical theology). He has been teaching at the Christian University of Applied Sciences (Ede, Netherlands), the Dutch Baptist Seminary and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.