Gaines Stanley Dobbins: “Mr. Religious Education”

Dobbins G. S. (1937). Working together in a spiritual democracy. Nashville: Convention Press.

Dobbins G. S. (1941). Can a religious democracy survive? Nashville: Convention Press.

These two early works by Dobbins reflect his understanding of the church as a basic democratic institution with essentially the same qualities as any other democratic institution. These works also elaborate on the importance of education as forwarding the potential of a religious democracy. The influence of John Dewey is reflected in these works.

Dobbins G. S. (1947). Building better churches: A guide to the pastoral ministry. Nashville: Broadman Press.

Dobbins G. S. (1960). A ministering church: A guide to the meaning and dynamics of the administrative process. Nashville: Broadman Press.

Building Better Churches is organized into three parts: Restoring New Testament Principles; Achieving Ends through Efficient Organization; and Meeting Needs through Pastoral Ministries. The emphasis is on how pastoral ministries best serve in the local church. In A Ministering Church, the emphasis is on the role of administration in the church and how to involve the entire church—church staff and the members of the church—in service to the Lord. Taken together these books give a fairly complete picture of Dobbins's understanding of the church, its nature, and its work.

Dobbins G. S. (1950). An adapted evangelism. Review & Expositor, 4, 414–426.

Dobbins G. S. (1954). Principles of evangelism according to Christ. Pastoral Psychology, 5(9), 45–50.

“An Adapted Evangelism” discusses Dobbins's basic understanding of evangelism, looking at childhood, adolescence, and adult evangelism. Along the way in this article he interacts with the ideas of Horace Bushnell. Also emphasized here is the concept of education that leads to evangelistic results. In “Principles of Evangelism According to Christ,” Dobbins begins with the statement, “If the basic principle of respect for personality is violated in disciple winning, all else is void” (p. 45). This article is typical of Dobbins's consistent principle of the significance of each person; here, Dobbins emphasizes that evangelistic coercion is not the Christian approach. In fact, he states that Christian conversion must be sound psychologically and must result from the context of “self-revelation.”

Dobbins G. S. (1965). Great teachers make a difference. Nashville: Broadman Press.

Dobbins G. S. (1965). The teaching church—strategy of Baptist advance. Review & Expositor, 62(2), 213–223.

These selections are representative of the vast material that Dobbins has in regard to the importance of teaching in the church and methodology of teaching. The underlying educational philosophy is also apparent.

Dobbins G. S. (1977). Zest for living. Waco, TX: Word Books.

The last book by Dobbins, this work reflects his indefatigable energy for living and his belief in the importance of being involved in the teaching/learning process for one's entire life.

Dobbins A. (1978). Gaines S. Dobbins: Journalist, teacher, administrator. Review & Expositor, 75, 337–347.

Dobbins G. (1914). A History of Southern Baptist Journalism. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, KY.

Dobbins G. (1937). Deepening the spiritual life. Nashville: Sunday School Board.

Dobbins G. (1941). Can a religious democracy survive? New York: Revell.

Dobbins G. (1949). Evangelism according to Christ. Nashville: Broadman Press.

Dobbins G. (1953). Winning the children. Nashville: Broadman Press.

Dobbins G. (1965). Great teachers make a difference. Nashville: Broadman Press.

Dobbins G. (1965). The teaching church—strategy of Baptist advance. Review & Expositor, 62, 213–223.

Dobbins G. (1977). Zest for living. Waco, TX: Word Books Publishing.

Edge F. (1978). Gaines S. Dobbins—The teacher. Review & Expositor, 75, 371–382.

Hankins Barry . (1997). Southern Baptists and northern evangelicals: Cultural factors and the nature of religious alliances. Religion and American Culture, 7, 271–298.

Kathan B. W. (1978). Pioneers of religious education in the 20th century: A festschrift for Herman E. Wornom. Religious Education, 73(5S), S4–S160.