In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Mason Ballard—Lead Pastor of Resurrection Church in Charleston, WV—about the doctrine of catholicity (little‑c) and how recovering a sense of the church’s universality across time and space has transformed his ministry. Mason explains how Baptist convictions harmonize with the historic Christian confession of ‘one holy, catholic, and apostolic church,’ why ‘catholic’ doesn’t mean ‘Roman Catholic,’ and how embracing the wholeness of the global and historic church shapes worship, partnership, posture, and humility. They discuss practical expressions of catholicity in church planting, liturgy, ecumenical charity, and ministry context as well as cautions for those rediscovering ancient practices for the first time.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

catholicity, universal church, Baptist identity, retrieval, liturgy, worship, church history, unity, ecumenism, Mason Ballard, Resurrection Church

Takeaways

• Catholicity means ‘universal’—a doctrine about the wholeness of Christ’s church across time and space.

• Affirming catholicity does not mean affirming Roman Catholicism; Baptists can joyfully confess the church’s universality.

• Catholicity shapes posture: awareness of the broader church, humility, charity, and discernment in cooperation.

• The doctrine calls pastors and churches to listen to voices from church history and global Christianity.

• Catholicity brings unity and diversity together—local expressions vary without abandoning shared essentials.

• Worship liturgy can be shaped by historic Christian practices while remaining contextual and convictional.

• Beware ‘cage‑stage’ retrieval—learn from tradition without constantly shifting traditions or despising one’s roots.

• Ecumenism is guided by convictions: partner where you can but remain rooted in Scripture and confessional clarity.