STRONG PLACE BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW YORK 1848

 Strong Place Baptist Church founded in 1848, Brooklyn New York, is found to be Non Calvinist at its founding. The articles of faith, clearly demonstrate a desire to not only state John 3:16, which implies they held to general atonement, but also have no mention of election, which is rare considering even most Non Calvinist articles mention it. Article IV seems to state a corporate view of election. Read CLOSELY how one is "chosen". "That all who obey the gospel... that in consequence (not of their own merit)... are regenerated by the Holy Spirit." Regeneration occurs as a consequence of obeying the gospel (believing).

If this were not enough, when sent a copy of these articles,and being specifically asked about Article IV, Dr. Roger Olsen a leading Arminian Baptist theologian, said "Any good Arminian could heartily affirm that statement. Roger" 

It seems that many Baptists in the North toned down the Philadelphia Confession, or outright deleted the deterministic portions, rewriting the part with which they disagreed. These articles, by the inclusion of John 3:16, goes even further than the New Hampshire Confession, that was beginning to be embraced by many Non Calvinist Baptists, even though sometimes modified. 

 Notice also that TOTAL depravity is not described, only a "falling" and and that we are "inclined to evil".  Article  VI seems more in line with preservation, with perseverance merely a by product.

 ARTICLES OF FAITH

 We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men i divinely inspired ; that it is the only sufficient and perfect rule of faith and practice ; and that, among others, it teaches the following important truths :


ARTICLE I. That there is only one living and true God, infinite in every natural and moral excellence ; and that He has revealed himself as the Father, and the Son, (or the Word), and the Holy Ghost — the same in respect to Divine essence, whatever distinction there may be in some respects, — and supremely worthy to be loved, revered, obeyed, confided in, and praised.

ARTICLE II. That man was created holy, but by willfully violating the law of his maker, he fell from that state ; by nature, there is in us no holiness ; we are all inclined to evil ; and, in that all have sinned, all are " children of wrath," justly exposed to death and other evils, temporal, spiritual, and eternal.


ARTICLE III. That the only way of deliverance from this state of guilt and condemnation, is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, who miraculously assumed our nature, or became incarnate, and " whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood," having " so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."
 

ARTICLE IV. That all who truly obey the Gospel, "were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world," by Him who sees " the end from the beginning ;" that in consequence not of their own merit, but of God's own purpose and grace, they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, without whose influence none would ever repent and believe, as it is the duty of every one immediately to do.

 ARTICLE V. That the great Gospel blessing, which Christ of his fulness bestows on such as believe in Him, is Justification ; that such justification consists in the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life, on principles of righteousness ; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through his own redemption and righteousness ; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, securing every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
 

ARTICLE VI. That nothing can separate true believers from the love of God ; that they will be " kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation ;" the sure and final proof of their being true believers, consisting in the continuance of their attachment and obedience to Christ till the close of life.

 ARTICLE VII. That a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel — observing the ordinances of Christ — governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only proper officers are Bishops or Pastors, and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties, are more specially defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus. 

ARTICLE VIII. That the only proper subjects of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, are professed believers ; that baptism is really and validly administered only by immersion " in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;" and that it is, by scriptural example, a pre-requisite to church relationship and communion at the Lord's Table.

ARTICLE IX.  That according to the example of the apostles and earliest disciples, sanctioned by the repeated presence of Christ himself, after his resurrection, the first day of the week is to be observed as the Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath.

ARTICLE X.  That there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust ; and that the Lord Jesus Christ will come to judge both the living and the dead — when those who shall have continued or died impenitent and unreconciled to God, will be sentenced to endless punishment, according to the desert of their sins ; and those who shall have truly repented and turned to God, relying solely on the merits of Him who suffered " the just for the unjust," will be completely delivered from the dominion of sin, and be admitted into the holy and heavenly mansions with fulness of joy ; so shall they be forever with the Lord.

The history, including the artciles of faith can be read here or here.