Dr Stuart Murray Williams

Tutor in Mission and Director of the Centre for Anabaptist Studies

Email Stuart: anabaptist@bristol-baptist.ac.uk

Stuart Murray Williams spent 12 years as an urban church planter in East London and has continued to be involved in church planting as a trainer, mentor, writer, strategist and consultant. For 9 years he was Oasis Director of Church Planting and Evangelism at Spurgeon’s College, London. Since then, under the auspices of the Anabaptist Network, he has worked as a trainer and consultant, with particular interest in urban mission, church planting and emerging forms of church. He is the founder of Urban Expression. He has written books on church planting, urban mission, emerging church, the challenge of post-Christendom and the Anabaptist tradition.

Research Interests:

The theory and practice of church planting, Anabaptist history and theology and urban missiology. He is currently researching the life and writings of a sixteenth-century German Anabaptist.

Publications

Books
  • The Legacy of Melchior Rinck (Scottdale: Herald Press, 2022)
  • Post-Christendom (revised edition) (London: SCM, 2018)
  • Quand l’Église n’est pas plus au Centre du Village (Editions Mennonites, 2018)
  • Post-Christendom (revised edition) (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2017)
  • The Naked Anabaptist (revised edition) (Scottdale: Herald Press, 2015)
  • A Vast Minority (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2015)
  • Beyond Tithing (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2012)
  • Church Planting in the UK since 2000 (with George Lings) (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2012)
  • Multi-Voiced Church (with Sian Murray Williams) (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2012)
  • The Naked Anabaptist (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2011)
  • Forming Christian Habits in Post-Christendom: the legacy of Alan & Eleanor Kreider (co-editor with James Krabill) (Elkhart: Institute of Mennonite Studies, 2011)
  • Planting Churches: A Framework for Practitioners (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2008)
  • Church Planting in the Inner City (with Juliet Kilpin) (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2007)
  • Mission after Christendom (Sydney: Morling College, 2007)
  • Changing Mission (London: CTBI, 2006)
  • Church after Christendom (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2005)
  • Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2004)
  • Translocal Ministry (editor and contributor) (Didcot: Baptist Union, 2004)
  • Church Planting: Past, Present and Future (with George Lings) (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2003)
  • Anabaptist Stirrings in Britain (Elkhart: Mennonite Board of Missions, 2001)
  • Church Planting: the Spirit at work through our systems (New Life Ministries, 2001)
  • Hope from the Margins (with Anne Wilkinson-Hayes) (Nottingham: Grove Books, 2000)
  • Biblical Interpretation in the Anabaptist Tradition (Kitchener: Pandora Press, 2000)
  • Beyond Tithing (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2000)
  • Coming Home: Stories of Anabaptists in British and Ireland (with Alan Kreider) (Kitchener: Pandora Press, 2000)
  • Church Planting: Laying Foundations (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1998)
  • Explaining Church Discipline (Tonbridge: Sovereign World, 1995)
  • The Challenge of the City (Tonbridge: Sovereign World, 1994)
  • City Vision (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1989)
Contributions to Books
  • ‘Somewheres and Anywheres’ (with Sian Murray Williams) in Helen Paynter & Peter Hatton (Eds.): Attending to the Margins: Essays in Honour of Stephen Finamore (Oxford: Centre for Baptist Studies in Oxford, 2022)
  • ‘Translocal Ministry in Post-Christendom’ in Roger Standing & Paul Goodliff (Eds.): Episkope: The Theory and Practice of Translocal Oversight (London: SCM, 2020)
  • ‘Anabaptists and the Bible’ in Your Word is Truth (Swindon/Geneva: United Bible Societies/WCC, 2018)
  • Afterword to Peter Riedemann: Love Is Like Fire: The Confession of an Anabaptist Prisoner (Robertsbridge: Plough Publishing House, 2016)
  • Epilogue to James Krabill & Stanley Green (Eds.): Fully Engaged: The Missional Church with an Anabaptist Voice (Harrisonburg: Herald Press, 2015)
  • Foreword to Joanna Harader & A O Green (Eds.): A Living Alternative: Anabaptist Christianity in a Post-Christendom World (New York: Ettelloc Publishing, 2014)
  • Contributions to Juliet Kilpin: Urban to the Core (Kibworth Beauchamp: Troubadour, 2013)
  • ‘Mission after Christendom’ in Speaking of Mission (Volume 2) (Sydney: Morling College, 2013)
  • ‘Biblical Interpretation among the Anabaptist Reformers’ in Alan Hauser & Duane Watson (Eds.): A History of Biblical Interpretation,Vol. 2: The Medieval through the Reformation Periods (Eerdmans, 2010)
  • ‘Church Planting, Peace and the Ecclesial Minimum’ in Pieter Lalleman (Ed.): Challenging to Change (London: Spurgeon’s College, 2009)
  • ‘Yearning for the End of Christendom: An Anabaptist Response’ in David Clark (Ed.): The Diaconal Church: Beyond the Mould of Christendom (Epworth, 2008)
  • ‘A Voice from the Past: Anabaptism, Spirituality and Social Justice’ in Following Fire (Melbourne: Urban Neighbours of hope, 2008)
  • ‘Alpha and the Challenge of Post-Christendom’ in Andrew Brookes (Ed.): The Alpha Phenomenon (London: CTBI, 2007)
  • ‘But does it build community?’ in Voices of the Virtual World: Participative technology and the Ecclesial Revolution Wikiklesia Volume 1 (Lulu.com/Wikiklesia, 2007)
  • Afterword to Peter Riedemann: Love Is Like Fire: The Confession of an Anabaptist Prisoner (Robertsbridge: Plough Publishing House, 2006)
  • ‘Rethinking Atonement after Christendom’ in Simon Barrow & Jonathan Bartley (Eds.): Consuming Passion (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2005)
  • ‘New Models of Church’ in Michael Eastman & Steve Latham (Eds.): Urban Church (London: SPCK, 2004)
  • ‘Anabaptists’ in Trevor Hart (Ed.): The Dictionary of Historical Theology (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2001)
  • ‘Anabaptism as a Conversation Partner’ in John Roth (Ed.): Engaging Anabaptism (Scottdale: Herald Press, 2001)
Bible Reading Notes
  • Student Christian Movement (2015)
  • Guidelines (September-December 2014)
  • Guidelines (May-August 2014)
  • Guidelines (January-April 2009)
  • Guidelines (May-August 2006)
Translations/Overseas Versions
  • German translation: Nackter Glaude (The Naked Anabaptist) (Neufeld Verlag, 2014)
  • Japanese translation of The Naked Anabaptist (2013)
  • Swedish translation: Flerstämmig Församling (Multi-Voiced Church) (Evangelie, 2013)
  • French translation: Radicalement Chretien (The Naked Anabaptist) (Excelsis, 2013)
  • Spanish translation: Anabautismo al Desnudo (Herald Press, 2012)
  • Post-Christendom (Anabaptist Network in South Africa, 2012)
  • The Naked Anabaptist (Anabaptist Network in South Africa, 2012)
  • The Power of All (with Sian Murray Williams) (Herald Press, 2012)
  • Indonesian translation of The Naked Anabaptist (2012)
  • Swedish translation: Radikalt Lärjungaskap (The Naked Anabaptist) (Evangelie, 2012)
  • Korean translation of The Naked Anabaptist (2011)
  • Planting Churches in the 21st Century (Herald Press, 2010)
  • The Naked Anabaptist (Herald Press, 2010)
  • Dutch translation of Church Planting in the Inner City (2008)
  • Swedish translation of Hope from the Margins (BU Sweden, 2007)
  • Church Planting: Laying Foundations (US version) (Herald Press, 2001)
  • Romanian translation of Explaining Church Discipline (Editura Invatatorul, 1999)
  • Italian translation of Explaining Church Discipline (Patmos Publications, 1997)
Open/Online Learning Modules
  • Research and Reflection: Resources and Methods – Level 7 module for Bristol Baptist College (2017)
  • Anabaptist Ecclesiology and Missiology – Level 7 module for Bristol Baptist College (2016)
  • Pilgram Marpeck – Level 7 module for Bristol Baptist College (2016)
  • Anabaptist Origins and Distinctives – Level 7 module for Bristol Baptist College (2015)
  • Anabaptists, Authority and the Bible – MTh module for Spurgeon’s College (1998, revised 2008)
  • The Origins and Early History of Anabaptism – MTh module for Spurgeon’s College (1998, revised 2008)
  • The Doctrine of the Church in Baptist and Anabaptist Traditions (with Ian Randall) – MTh module for Spurgeon’s College (1998, revised 2008)
  • Churches and Church Planting in Contemporary Culture – MTh module for Spurgeon’s College (2001, revised 2007)
  • Anabaptism and Mission – Level 2 module for Spurgeon’s College (2004)
  • Church Planting – Level 1 module for Spurgeon’s College (2003)
  • Introduction to Mission – Level 1 module for Spurgeon’s College (1999)
  • Radical Christian Groups – Level 3 module for the Open Theological College (1998)
  • Equipped to Serve II – Level 2 module for the Open Theological College (1997)
Articles

Articles in Anabaptism Today:

  • Feb 1993: ‘A Decade of Evangelism’
  • Oct 1993: ‘Evangelism in the Radical Tradition’
  • Feb 1995: ‘Anabaptism as a Charismatic Movement’
  • June 1996: ‘Church Planting Anabaptist Style’
  • Feb 1997: ‘Introducing the Anabaptists’
  • Oct 1997: ‘Michael Sattler: An Early Swiss Anabaptist Martyr’
  • Autumn 2000: ‘Living on the Margins’

I have also had articles published in the following journals:

  • Anabaptist Witness
  • Baptists Together
  • British Church Growth Association
  • CBRF Journal (NZ)
  • Cell UK Magazine
  • Christ Seul (France)
  • Christian Family
  • Christian Herald
  • Christian Research Association
  • Church Growth Digest
  • City Cries
  • CMA Magazine
  • Compass
  • Conrad Grebel Review (Canada)
  • Emergent
  • Evangelicals Now
  • Gospel Herald (USA)
  • International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church
  • King’s Educational Supplement
  • Mainstream
  • Manna News
  • Mennonite Board of Missions (USA)
  • Mennonite Quarterly Review (USA)
  • Mission Focus (USA)
  • Mission Insight (USA)
  • Nota Bene
  • On the Road (Australia/New Zealand)
  • Partnership Perspectives
  • Planting Papers
  • Reform (URC)
  • Renewal
  • Talk
  • The Bible in Transmission
  • The Messenger (Canada)
  • The Rutherford Journal
  • Third Way
  • Tomorrow Today
  • Vision (US)
  • Woodlands
  • World Mission