<P> Baptists are those Christians belonging to local churches mainly distinguished by baptising professing believers only . A Baptist church generally consists of a gathered group of believers that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers (believer's baptism, as opposed to infant baptism), and that it should be done by complete immersion (as opposed to affusion or sprinkling). Other tenets of Baptist churches include soul competency (liberty), salvation through faith alone, Scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice, and the autonomy of the local congregation . Baptists recognize two ministerial offices, pastors and deacons, and two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's supper (also called, communion). Baptist churches are widely considered to be Protestant churches, though some Baptists disavow this identity . </P> <P> Diverse from their beginning, those identifying as Baptists today differ widely from one another in what they believe, how they worship, their attitudes toward other Christians, and their understanding of what is important in Christian discipleship . </P> <P> Historians trace the earliest church labeled "Baptist" back to 1609 in Amsterdam, Dutch Republic with English Separatist John Smyth as its pastor . In accordance with his reading of the New Testament, he rejected baptism of infants and instituted baptism only of believing adults . Baptist practice spread to England, where the General Baptists considered Christ's atonement to extend to all people, while the Particular Baptists believed that it extended only to the elect . Thomas Helwys formulated a distinctively Baptist request that the church and the state be kept separate in matters of law, so that individuals might have freedom of religion . Helwys died in prison as a consequence of the religious persecution of English dissenters under King James I. In 1638, Roger Williams established the first Baptist congregation in the North American colonies . In the mid-18th century, the First Great Awakening contributed to Baptist growth in both New England and the South . The Second Great Awakening in the South in the early 19th century greatly increased church membership . Baptist missionaries have spread their faith to every continent . </P> <P> The largest Baptist denomination is the Southern Baptist Convention, with the membership of associated churches totaling more than 15 million . Many other Baptists cooperate through the Baptist World Alliance . </P>

Who is the leader of the baptist denomination