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Do not fill this in! {{Short description|Christian denomination}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}} {{Use American English|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox Christian denomination |name = Southern Baptist Convention |abbreviation=SBC; GCB |image =Southern Baptist Convention emblem.png |imagewidth =150px |caption = |main_classification = [[Protestantism|Protestant]] |orientation = [[Baptists|Baptist]] |theology = [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] Fundamentalist |polity = [[Congregationalist polity|Congregational]] |founded_date = May 8–12, 1845 |founded_place = [[Augusta, Georgia]], U.S. |leader_title = President |leader_name = [[Bart Barber]] |separated_from = [[Triennial Convention]] (1845) |separations = {{unbulleted list|[[American Baptist Association]]|[[Alliance of Baptists]]|[[Cooperative Baptist Fellowship]]}} |area = [[United States]] |congregations = 47,198 (2022) |members = 13,223,122 (2022) <br />Weekly attendance = 3,800,000 (2022) |missionary organization = [[International Mission Board]] |aid = Southern Baptist Disaster Relief |other_names=Great Commission Baptists| website = {{URL|sbc.net}} }} {{Southern Baptists}} The '''Southern Baptist Convention''' ('''SBC'''), alternatively the '''Great Commission Baptists''' ('''GCB'''), is a [[Christianity|Christian]] denomination based in the [[United States]]. It is the world's largest [[Baptists|Baptist]] denomination and the largest [[Protestantism in the United States|Protestant]] and second-largest [[Christianity in the United States|Christian denomination]] in the United States.<ref name=":0" />{{Sfn| Johnson | 2010 | p=349}} In 1845, the Southern Baptists separated from the [[Triennial Convention]] in order to support slavery, which the southern churches regarded as "an institution of heaven".<ref name=Griswold>{{cite news|title=Southern Baptist Convention: How the Convention's battle over race reveals an emerging evangelical schism|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/on-religion/the-fight-for-the-heart-of-the-southern-baptist-convention|first=Eliza|last=Griswold|date=June 10, 2021|access-date=August 17, 2023|quote=Founders of the new organization claimed that, according to the Bible, slavery was an institution of heaven. They pushed the idea that Black people were descended from the Biblical figure Ham, Noah's cursed son, and that their subjugation was therefore divinely ordained}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> During the 19th and most of the 20th century, it played a central role in Southern racial attitudes, supporting [[Racial segregation in the United States|racial segregation]] and the [[Lost Cause of the Confederacy]] while opposing [[Interracial marriage in the United States|interracial marriage]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Newman |first=Mark |title=Getting Right With God: Southern Baptists and Desegregation, 1945–1995 |publisher=[[University of Alabama Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8173-1060-8 |pages=IX of preface}}</ref> In 1995, the organization apologized for its history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Gary L. |date=1995-06-21 |title=An Apology For Racism |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/06/21/an-apology-for-racism/25ce442e-8733-47de-85b1-0dd7c7fd62ec/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Since the 1940s, it has spread across the [[United States]], having member churches across the country and [[List of state and other conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention|41 affiliated state conventions]].<ref>{{Citation | publisher = Encyclopedia | url = http://encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-SouthernBaptistConvention.html | contribution = Southern Baptist Convention | title = The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions}}.</ref><ref name="aboutus" /><ref name="Reuters1">{{cite news| work = Reuters | title = Fact box: The Southern Baptist Convention | date = June 10, 2008 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1033434120080610 | access-date =July 6, 2010}}</ref> Churches affiliated with the denomination are [[Evangelicalism in the United States|evangelical]] in doctrine and practice, emphasizing the significance of the individual conversion experience, which is affirmed by the person having [[Immersion baptism|complete immersion]] in water for a [[believer's baptism]].<ref name="Reuters1" /> The church says that other specific beliefs based on biblical interpretation can vary by [[congregational polity]], and has resolved to balance local church autonomy with accountability against [[Sexual abuse cases in Southern Baptist churches|abuses by ministers and others]] in the church.<ref name="autonomy" /> These claims are disputed by pastors whose churches have been expelled because of their support for LGBTQ inclusion, which contradicts its [[confession of faith]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Yawn |first=Andrew J. |title=A Georgia church, kicked out of the SBC for allowing gay members, wants to make sure 'everybody's welcome' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/04/04/southern-baptist-convention-georgia-church-accepts-gay-members/4840775001/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> The denomination [[Ordination of women|forbids women from becoming pastors]],<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Jaclyn |date=March 2, 2023 |title=What's next for the Southern Baptist Convention after it ousted 5 woman-led churches? |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1159326721/southern-baptist-convention-ousts-5-female-led-churches |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=[[National Public Radio]]}}</ref> and denounces [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]] as an "abomination".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merrell |first=Bill |date=September 1, 1999 |title=Redemption – Not Approval |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/sbc-life-articles/redemption-not-approval/ |access-date=March 29, 2023 |website=[[Baptist Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Like most other conservative evangelical denominations in the 1960s, the Southern Baptist Convention initially predominantly supported the [[Abortion-rights movements|abortion rights movement]],<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Roach |first=David |date=January 16, 2015 |title=How Southern Baptists became pro-life |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/how-southern-baptists-became-pro-life/ |access-date=April 25, 2023 |website=Baptist Press |language=en-US |quote=Three years later, a poll conducted by the Baptist Standard newsjournal found that 90 percent of Texas Baptists believed their state's abortion laws were too restrictive... Support for abortion rights was not limited to theological moderates and liberals. At New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the early 1970s, some conservative students who went on to become state convention presidents and pastors of prominent churches supported abortion for reasons other than to save the life of the mother...}}</ref> but that changed beginning in the 1970s as a [[Policy|political tactic]] to incorporate [[Catholics]] into the [[Religious right in the United States|religious right]].<ref name=":16">{{Cite news |last=Edsall |first=Thomas B. |date=2021-09-15 |title=Abortion Has Never Been Just About Abortion |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/opinion/abortion-evangelicals-conservatives.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |issn=0362-4331 |quote=In 1978, the hostile reaction to an I.R.S. proposal to impose taxes on churches running segregated private schools ("seg academies" for the children of white Southerners seeking to avoid federally mandated school integration orders) provided the opportunity to mobilize born again and evangelical parishioners through the creation of the Moral Majority. As Stewart argues, Viguerie, Weyrich and others... were determined to find an issue that could bring together a much larger constituency... After long and contentious debate... [they] came to a consensus, Stewart writes: "They landed upon the one surprising word that would supply the key to the political puzzle of the age: 'abortion.'"}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=Balmer |first=Randall |author-link=Randall Balmer |date=May 27, 2014 |title=The Real Origins of the Religious Right |url=https://politi.co/2JsQoNr |access-date=April 25, 2023 |website=[[POLITICO]] |language=en}}</ref> Self-reported membership peaked in 2006 at roughly 16 million.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Annual of the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention |url=http://media2.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/annuals/SBC_Annual_2006.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610002446/http://media2.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/annuals/SBC_Annual_2006.pdf |archive-date=2021-06-10 |url-status=live |publisher=Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention |access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref> Membership has contracted by an estimated 13.6% since that year, with 2020 marking the 14th year of continuous decline.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smietana |first1=Bob |title=Southern Baptist decline continues, denomination has lost more than 2 million members since 2006 |url=https://religionnews.com/2021/05/21/southern-baptist-decline-continues-denomination-has-lost-more-than-2-million-members-since-2006/ |access-date=10 June 2021 |work=Religion News Service |agency=Religion News Service |date=2021-05-21}}</ref> Mean denomination-wide weekly attendance dropped about 27% between 2006 and 2020.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Howe |first1=Jonathan |title=Southern Baptists grow in number of churches, plant 588 new congregations amid COVID-19 pandemic – Baptist Press |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/southern-baptists-grow-in-number-of-churches-plant-588-new-congregations-amidst-covid-19-pandemic/ |access-date=10 June 2021 |work=www.baptistpress.com/ |date=May 20, 2021}}</ref> == Name == The official name is the ''Southern Baptist Convention''. The word ''Southern'' in "Southern Baptist Convention" stems from its having been organized in 1845 in [[Augusta, Georgia]], by white Baptists in the [[Southern United States]] who supported [[Slavery in the United States|continuing the institution of slavery]] and [[schism|split from]] the [[American Baptist Churches USA|northern Baptists]] (known today as the [[American Baptist Churches USA]]), who did not support funding slave-holding evangelists from the South.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Racism-and-the-Legacy-of-Slavery-Report-v4.pdf#page=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220194550/http://www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Racism-and-the-Legacy-of-Slavery-Report-v4.pdf |archive-date=2018-12-20 |url-status=live|title=Report on Slavery and Racism in the History of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary|publisher=Southern Baptist Theological Seminary|date=December 2018|access-date=July 29, 2019}}</ref> In 2012, the organization adopted the descriptor ''Great Commission Baptists'' after the election of its first [[African Americans|African American]] president.<ref name=":7" /> Additionally, in 2020, some leaders of the Southern Baptists wanted to change its name to "Great Commission Baptists" to distance itself from its white supremacist foundation, and because it is no longer a specifically Southern church. Several churches affiliated with the denomination have also begun to identify as "Great Commission Baptists".<ref name="name change" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Prominent Southern Baptists are dropping 'Southern' name amid racial unrest |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/09/15/southern-baptist-name-great-commission-baptist/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-17 |title='Great Commission Baptists': New Signs that Southern Baptists Are Gearing Up for a Big Name Change |url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2020/september/great-commission-baptists-new-signs-that-southern-baptists-are-gearing-up-for-a-big-name-change |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=CBN News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Banks |first=Adelle M. |date=2020-09-16 |title=Southern Baptists warm to alternate moniker 'Great Commission Baptists' |url=https://religionnews.com/2020/09/16/southern-baptists-warm-to-moniker-great-commission-baptists/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> ==History== {{Further |Baptists in the United States}} ===Colonial era=== [[File:First Baptist Church, South of Broad, Charleston, SC (49550230557).jpg|thumb|[[First Baptist Church (Charleston, South Carolina)|First Baptist Church]] in [[Charleston, South Carolina]]]] Most early Baptists in the British colonies came from England in the 17th century, after conflict with the [[Church of England]] for their dissenting religious views.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Origins of the Particular Baptists|url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/origins-of-the-particular-baptists/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=The Gospel Coalition|language=en-US}}</ref> In 1638, [[Roger Williams]] founded the first Baptist church in [[British America]] at the [[Providence Plantations]], the first permanent European American settlement also founded by Williams in Rhode Island. The oldest Baptist church in the South, [[First Baptist Church (Charleston, South Carolina)|First Baptist Church]] of [[Charleston, South Carolina]], was organized in 1682 under the leadership of [[William Screven]].<ref>{{Citation | title = Baptist Pioneers in America | publisher = Mainstream Baptists | url = http://www.mainstreambaptists.org/mbn/pioneers.htm | access-date = 3 Feb 2013}}.</ref> A Baptist church was formed in [[Virginia]] in 1715 through the preaching of [[Robert Norden]] and another in [[North Carolina]] in 1727 through the ministry of [[Paul Palmer (minister)|Paul Palmer]]. The Baptists adhered to a [[congregationalist polity]] and operated independently of the state-established [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] churches in the South, at a time when non-Anglicans were prohibited from holding political office. By 1740, about eight Baptist churches existed in the colonies of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with an estimated 300 to 400 members.<ref name="Southern Baptist Beginnings">{{cite web|url= http://www.baptisthistory.org/sbaptistbeginnings.htm|title= Southern Baptist Beginnings|first= Robert A|last= Baker|publisher= Baptist History & Heritage Society|year= 1979|access-date= 2012-10-28|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121018074627/http://www.baptisthistory.org/sbaptistbeginnings.htm|archive-date= October 18, 2012}}</ref> New members, both black and white, were converted chiefly by Baptist preachers who traveled throughout the South during the 18th and 19th centuries, in the eras of the [[First Great Awakening|First]] and [[Second Great Awakening]]s.{{sfn|Taylor|1859|pp=57, 60, 71, 83}} Black churches were founded in Virginia, South Carolina, and [[Province of Georgia|Georgia]] before the [[American Revolution]]. Some black congregations kept their independence even after whites tried to exercise more authority after [[Nat Turner's Rebellion]] of 1831.{{Sfn | Raboteau | 2004 |p=178–79}} ===American Revolution period=== Before the American Revolution, Baptist and [[Methodist]] evangelicals in the South promoted the view of the common man's equality before God, which embraced slaves and free blacks. They challenged the hierarchies of class and race and urged planters to abolish slavery. They welcomed slaves as Baptists and accepted them as preachers.{{sfn|Miller|Smith|1997}} During this time, there was a sharp division between the austerity of the plain-living Baptists, attracted initially from yeomen and common planters, and the opulence of the Anglican planters, the slave-holding elite who controlled local and colonial government in what had become a slave society by the late 18th century.{{sfn|Kolchin|1993}} The gentry interpreted Baptist church discipline as political radicalism, but it served to ameliorate disorder. The Baptists intensely monitored each other's moral conduct, watching especially for sexual transgressions, cursing, and excessive drinking; they expelled members who would not reform.{{sfn|Isaac|1974}} In Virginia and in most southern colonies before the American Revolution, the Church of England was the [[established church]] and supported by general taxes, as it was in England. It opposed the rapid spread of Baptists in the South. Particularly in Virginia, many Baptist preachers were prosecuted for "disturbing the peace" by preaching without licenses from the Anglican Church. [[Patrick Henry]] and [[James Madison]] defended Baptist preachers before the American Revolution in cases considered significant in the history of religious freedom.<ref>{{Citation | last = Ketcham | first = Ralph L | title = James Madison: A Biography | place = Charlottesville, VA | publisher = University of Virginia Press | orig-date = 1971 | format = paperback | year = 1990 | page = [https://archive.org/details/jamesmadisonbiog00ketc/page/57 57] | isbn = 978-0-8139-1265-3 | url = https://archive.org/details/jamesmadisonbiog00ketc/page/57 }}.</ref> In 1779, [[Thomas Jefferson]] wrote the [[Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom]], enacted in 1786 by the Virginia General Assembly. Madison later applied his ideas and those of the Virginia document related to religious freedom during the [[Constitutional Convention (United States)|Constitutional Convention]], when he ensured that they were incorporated into the [[United States Constitution|national constitution]]. The struggle for religious tolerance erupted and played out during the American Revolution, as the Baptists worked to disestablish the Anglican churches in the South. The Baptists protested vigorously; the resulting social disorder resulted chiefly from the ruling gentry's disregard for public need. The vitality of the religious opposition made the conflict between "evangelical" and "gentry" styles a bitter one.{{sfn|Beeman|1978}} Scholarship suggests that the evangelical movement's strength determined its ability to mobilize power outside the conventional authority structure.{{sfn|Kroll-Smith|1984}} ===National unification and regional division=== {{Main |Triennial Convention}} In 1814, leaders such as [[Luther Rice]] helped Baptists unify nationally under what became known informally as the [[Triennial Convention]] (because it met every three years) based in [[Philadelphia]]. It allowed them to join their resources to support [[mission (Christian)|missions]] abroad. The [[American Baptist Home Mission Society|Home Mission Society]], affiliated with the Triennial Convention, was established in 1832 to support missions in U.S. frontier territories. By the mid-19th century, there were many social, cultural, economic, and political differences among business owners of the North, farmers of the West, and [[Planter (American South)|planters]] of the South. The most divisive conflict was primarily over the issue of slavery and secondarily over missions.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/baptistsinameric00arms/page/187|title=The Baptists in America|last1=Armstrong |first1=O. K. |date=1979|publisher=Doubleday|last2=Moore Armstrong |first2=Marjorie |isbn=0-385-14655-8|location=Garden City, N.Y.|oclc=4983547|page=[https://archive.org/details/baptistsinameric00arms/page/187 187]}}</ref> ====Divisions over slavery==== {{see also|Christian views on slavery}} The issues surrounding slavery dominated the 19th century in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baptists in America: A History {{!}} Reviews in History|url=https://reviews.history.ac.uk/review/1940|access-date=2020-07-21|website=reviews.history.ac.uk|language=en}}</ref> This created tension between Baptists in northern and southern U.S. states over the issue of [[manumission]]. In the two decades after the American Revolution during the [[Second Great Awakening]], northern Baptist preachers (as well as the [[Quakers]] and [[Methodists]]) increasingly argued that slaves be freed.{{Sfn | Heyrman | 1998 | pp = 10–18, 155}} Although most Baptists in the 19th century south were [[yeomen]] farmers and common planters, the Baptists also began to attract major planters among their membership. The southern pastors interpreted the Bible as supporting slavery and encouraged paternalistic practices by slaveholders. They preached to slaves to accept their places and obey their masters, and welcomed slaves and free blacks as members, though whites controlled the churches' leadership, and seating was usually segregated.{{Sfn | Heyrman | 1998 | pp = 10–18, 155}} From the early 19th century, many Baptist preachers in the South also argued in favor of preserving the right of ministers to be slaveholders.<ref name= historiographicalstudy>{{Cite journal| last = Shurden | first = Walter B. | title = The origins of the Southern Baptist Convention: a historiographical study | journal = Baptist History and Heritage | volume = 37 | issue = 1 | date = January 1, 2002 | url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-94160891.html}}</ref> [[File:Gillfield Baptist Church.jpg|thumb|[[Gillfield Baptist Church (Petersburg, Virginia)|Gillfield Baptist Church]] was the largest Black American congregation within the Portsmouth Association of the [[Triennial Convention]], preceding the north–south split and formation of Southern Baptists]] Black congregations were sometimes the largest in their regions. For instance, by 1821, Gillfield Baptist in [[Petersburg, Virginia]], had the largest congregation within the Portsmouth Association. At 441 members, it was more than twice as large as the next-biggest church. Before Nat Turner's Rebellion of 1831, Gillfield had a black preacher. Afterward, the state legislature insisted that white men oversee black congregations. Gillfield could not call a black preacher until after the [[American Civil War]] and emancipation.{{Sfn | Raboteau | 2004 | p = 188}} After Turner's rebellion, whites worked to exert more control over black congregations and passed laws requiring white ministers to lead or be present at religious meetings. Many slaves evaded these restrictions. The Triennial Convention and the Home Mission Society adopted a kind of neutrality concerning slavery, neither condoning nor condemning it. During the "Georgia Test Case" of 1844, the [[Georgia Baptist Convention|Georgia State Convention]] proposed that the slaveholder [[Elder (Christianity)|Elder]] James E. Reeve be appointed as a [[missionary]]. The [[International Mission Board|Foreign Mission Board]] refused to approve his appointment, recognizing the case as a challenge and not wanting to violate their neutrality on slavery. They said that slavery should not be introduced as a factor into deliberations about missionary appointments.{{sfn|Early|2008|pp=100–101}} In 1844, [[University of Alabama]] president [[Basil Manly Sr.]], a prominent preacher and major planter who owned 40 slaves, drafted the "Alabama Resolutions" and presented them to the Triennial Convention. They included the demand that slaveholders be eligible for denominational offices to which the Southern associations contributed financially. They were not adopted. Georgia Baptists decided to test the claimed neutrality by recommending a slaveholder to the Home Mission Society as a missionary. The Home Mission Society's board refused to appoint him, noting that missionaries were not allowed to take servants with them (so he clearly could not take slaves) and that they would not make a decision that appeared to endorse slavery. Southern Baptists considered this an infringement of their right to determine their own candidates.<ref name=Cathcart>{{Citation | url = http://www.wmcarey.edu/carey/staughton/triennial.htm | title = The Baptist Encyclopedia | editor-first = William | editor-last = Cathcart | edition = rev | place = Philadelphia | year = 1883 | publisher = William Carey University | access-date = April 25, 2007 | page = 1077}}.</ref> From the southern perspective, the northern position that "slaveholding brethren were less than followers of Jesus" effectively obligated slaveholding Southerners to leave the fellowship.<ref>{{cite news |first = Dayne |last = Sherman |date = 2012-06-24 |title = Southern Baptist Convention in black, white |url = http://hammondstar.com/articles/2012/06/26/opinion/columnists/8231.txt |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130125090835/http://hammondstar.com/articles/2012/06/26/opinion/columnists/8231.txt |archive-date = 2013-01-25 |newspaper = Sunday Star |location = Hammond, [[Louisiana|LA]] |pages = 4A, 5A |access-date = 2012-06-24 }}</ref> This difference came to a head in 1845 when representatives of the northern states refused to appoint missionaries whose families owned slaves. To continue in the work of missions, the southern Baptists separated and created the Southern Baptist Convention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.abc-usa.org/what-we-believe/our-history/ |publisher=American Baptist Churches USA}}</ref> ====Missions and organization==== [[File:First Baptist Church, Augusta GA 20160703 1.jpg|thumb|Original location of [[First Baptist Church (Augusta, Georgia)|First Baptist Church]] in [[Augusta, Georgia]]]] A secondary issue that disturbed the Southerners was the perception that the American Baptist Home Mission Society did not appoint a proportionate number of missionaries to the South. This was likely a result of the society's not appointing slave owners as missionaries.<ref>{{Citation | first1 = Walter B | last1 = Shurden | first2 = Lori Redwine | last2 = Varnadoe | title = The origins of the Southern Baptist Convention: A historiographical study | journal = Baptist History and Heritage | year = 2002 | volume = 37 | issue = 1 | pages = 71–96}}.</ref> Baptists in the North preferred a loosely structured society of individuals who paid annual dues, with each society usually focused on a single ministry.{{Sfn | McBeth | 1987}}{{Page needed | date = December 2013}} Baptists in Southern churches preferred a more centralized organization of churches patterned after their associations, with a variety of ministries brought under the direction of one denominational organization.{{Sfn | McBeth | 1987 | p = 505}} The increasing tensions and the discontent of Baptists from the South over national criticism of slavery and issues over missions led to their withdrawal from national Baptist organizations.<ref name="Southern Baptist Beginnings" /> The Southern Baptists met at the [[First Baptist Church of Augusta]] in May 1845.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.christianindex.org/1128.article | title = First Baptist Church building landmark restoration | publisher = Christian index | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131211171614/http://www.christianindex.org/1128.article | archive-date = December 11, 2013 }}.</ref> At this meeting, they created a new convention—the Southern Baptist Convention. They elected [[William Bullein Johnson]] (1782–1862) as its first president. He had served as president of the Triennial Convention in 1841,<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Bullein Johnson |url=https://sbhla.org/biographies/william-bullein-johnson/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives |language=en-US}}</ref> though he initially attempted to avoid a schism. ===Formation and separation of Black Baptists=== [[File:Former First African Baptist Church.jpg|thumb|[[First African Baptist Church (Lexington, Kentucky)|First African Baptist Church]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky]]]] [[African American]]s had gathered in [[Black church|their own churches]] early on, in 1774 in [[First Baptist Church (Petersburg, Virginia)|Petersburg, Virginia]],{{Sfn | Raboteau | 2004 | p = 137}} and in [[First African Baptist Church (Savannah, Georgia)|Savannah, Georgia]], in 1788.<ref name="Love">{{cite news| first= Emanuel King |last=Love|url = http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/love/menu.html |title=History of the First African Baptist Church, from its Organization, January 20th, 1788, to July 1st, 1888. Including the Centennial Celebration, Addresses, Sermons, etc.|publisher= The Morning News Print|year= 1888| access-date= 2006-12-08}}</ref> Some were established after 1800 on the frontier, such as the [[First African Baptist Church (Lexington, Kentucky)|First African Baptist Church]] of [[Lexington, Kentucky]]. In 1824, it was accepted by the Elkhorn Association of Kentucky, which was white-dominated. By 1850, First African had 1,820 members, the largest of any Baptist church in the state, Black or white.<ref name=Nutter>{{Citation | url = http://baptisthistoryhomepage.com/ky.fayette.fbc.black.lex.html | first = HE | last = Nutter | title = A Brief History of the First Baptist Church (Black) Lexington, Kentucky | year = 1940 | access-date = Aug 22, 2010}}.</ref> In 1861, it had 2,223 members.<ref name=Spencer>{{Citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DXzZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA657 | first = John H | last = Spencer | title = A History of Kentucky Baptists: From 1769–1885 | volume = II | place = Cincinnati, OH | publisher = JR Baumes | year = 1886 | page = 657 | access-date = Aug 23, 2010}}.</ref> [[File:First African Baptist Church - Savannah, Georgia.JPG|thumb|[[First African Baptist Church (Savannah, Georgia)|First African Baptist Church]], [[Savannah, Georgia]], constructed 1856]] Southern whites generally required Black churches to have white ministers and trustees. In churches with mixed congregations, seating was segregated, with Blacks out of sight, often in a balcony. White preaching often emphasized Biblical stipulations that enslaved people should accept their places and try to behave well toward their masters. After the [[American Civil War]], another split occurred when most [[freedmen]] set up independent [[Black church|black congregations]], regional associations, and state and national conventions. Black people wanted to practice Christianity independently of white supervision.{{sfnm |1a1=Brooks |1y=1922 |2a1=Raboteau |2y=2004}} They interpreted the Bible as offering hope for deliverance, and saw their own exodus out of enslavement as comparable to [[the Exodus]],{{sfn|Raboteau|2004}} with abolitionist [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]] as their [[Moses]].<ref>{{cite book |pages=5–7 |title=A Voice from Harper's Ferry. A Narrative of Events at Harper's Ferry; with incidents prior and subsequent to its capture by John Brown and his men |first=Osborne Perry |last=Anderson |author-link=Osborne Perry Anderson |location=Boston |year=1861 |publisher=Published by the author |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sUxp11UMkBMC }}</ref> They quickly left white-dominated churches and associations and set up separate state Baptist conventions.<ref name="docsouth.unc.edu" />{{sfn|Brooks|1922}} In 1866, Black Baptists of the South and West combined to form the Consolidated American Baptist Convention.{{sfn|Brooks|1922}} In 1895, they merged three national conventions to create the [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention, USA.]]<ref name="docsouth.unc.edu" />{{sfn|Brooks|1922}} With more than eight million members, it is today the largest African American religious organization and second in size to the Southern Baptists. Free Black people in the North had founded churches and denominations in the early 19th century that were independent of white-dominated organizations. In the [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction era]], missionaries both Black and white from several northern denominations worked in the South; they quickly attracted tens and hundreds of thousands of new members from among the millions of [[freedmen]]. The [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] attracted more new members than any other denomination.<ref name="docsouth.unc.edu">{{Cite web |title=The Church in the Southern Black Community: Introduction |url=https://docsouth.unc.edu/church/intro.html |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=University of North Carolina}}</ref> White Southern Baptist churches lost Black members to the new denominations, as well as to independent congregations which were organized by freedmen. During the [[civil rights movement]], most Southern Baptist pastors and members of their congregations rejected [[racial integration]] and accepted [[white supremacy]], further alienating African Americans.<ref name="The Southern Baptists 2012">{{Citation | title = The Southern Baptists: Luter's turn: By electing a black leader, the church shows how far it has come | newspaper = [[The Economist]] | date = March 17, 2012}}.</ref> According to historian and former Southern Baptist [[Wayne Flynt]], "The [Southern Baptist] church was the last bastion of segregation."<ref>{{cite news|title=Social change and the Southern Baptists|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21676796-bittersweet-tale-prejudice-overcome-and-enduring-deep-south-love-sinner|access-date=25 October 2015|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=24 October 2015}}</ref> But it has been acknowledged that the SBC integrated seminary classrooms in 1951.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/12/13/676333342/southern-baptist-seminary-confronts-history-of-slaveholding-and-deep-racism|title=Southern Baptist Seminary Confronts History Of Slaveholding And 'Deep Racism'|first=Tom|last=Gjelten|publisher=NPR|date=December 13, 2018|access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/02/im-a-black-pastor-heres-why-im-staying-in-the-southern-baptist-convention/|title=I'm a black pastor. Here's why I'm staying in the Southern Baptist Convention| first=William Dwight Sr. | last=McKissic |newspaper=Washington Post|date=2 August 2017|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> In 1995, the convention voted to adopt a resolution in which it renounced its racist roots and apologized for its past defense of [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]], [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregation]], and [[white supremacy]].<ref name=":10">{{cite web |title=Resolution on racial reconciliation on the 150th anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention |url=http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/899 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408064550/http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/899 |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |access-date=April 8, 2014 |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention}}</ref>{{sfnm |1a1=Priest |1a2=Priest |1y=2007 |1p=275 |2a1=Priest |2a2=Nieves |2y=2007 |2p=339}} This marked the denomination's first formal acknowledgment that racism had played a profound role in both its early and modern history. [[File:President George W. Bush meets with the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention in the Oval Office, Oct. 11, 2006.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] meets with the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2006 in the [[Oval Office]] at the [[White House]]. Pictured with the President are [[Morris Chapman]], left, [[Frank Page (Southern Baptist)|Frank Page]] and his wife Dayle Page.]] ===Increasing diversity and policy changes=== [[File:2015-05-07 Fred Luter Elizabeth Luter (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Fred Luter Jr.]] was the first African American president of the Southern Baptists]] By the early 21st century, numbers of ethnically diverse congregations were increasing among the Southern Baptists. In 2008, almost 20% were estimated to be majority African American, Asian, or Hispanic and Latino. The SBC had an estimated one million African American members.<ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/15/AR2008021503772.html | last = Salmon | first = Jacqueline L | title = Southern Baptists Diversifying to Survive: Minority Outreach Seen as Key to Crisis | newspaper = The [[Washington Post]] | date = Feb 15, 2008}}.</ref> It has passed a series of resolutions recommending the inclusion of more black members and appointing more African American leaders.<ref name="The Southern Baptists 2012" /> At its 2012 annual meeting, it elected Pastor [[Fred Luter]] of the [[Franklin Avenue Baptist Church]] as its first African American president. He had earned respect by showing leadership skills in building a large congregation in New Orleans.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/fred_luter_jr_of_new_orleans_e.html | last = Pope | first = John | title = The Rev. Fred Luter Jr. of New Orleans elected first black president of Southern Baptist Convention | newspaper = [[The Times-Picayune]] | date = June 19, 2012}}.</ref> The SBC's increasingly national scope inspired some members to suggest a name change. In 2005, proposals were made at the SBC Annual Meeting to change the name to the more national-sounding "North American Baptist Convention" or "Scriptural Baptist Convention" (to retain the SBC initials). These proposals were defeated.<ref>{{Citation | title = Annual meeting | url = http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net/sbc99/min615ev.htm | publisher = Southern Baptist Convention | contribution = Tuesday Evening | date = June 15, 1999 | access-date = August 3, 2007 | archive-date = May 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090506235234/http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net/sbc99/min615ev.htm }}.</ref> The messengers of the 2012 annual meeting in New Orleans voted to adopt the descriptor "Great Commission Baptists". The legal name remained "Southern Baptist Convention", but affiliated churches and convention entities could voluntarily use the descriptor.<ref name=":7">{{Citation | url = http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38113 | last = Foust | first = Michael | newspaper = News | title = Wrap-up: Historic meeting sees messengers elect 1st black president, approve descriptor | publisher = [[Baptist Press]] | date = June 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120627032721/http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38113 | archive-date = June 27, 2012 }}.</ref> Almost a year after the [[Charleston church shooting]], the denomination approved a resolution that called upon member churches and families to stop flying the [[Confederate flag]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 14, 2016 |title=Resolution 7: On Sensitivity and Unity Regarding the Confederate Battle Flag |url=http://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/resolution-7-on-sensitivity-and-unity-regarding-the-confederate-battle-flag |website=The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission}}</ref> The church approved a resolution, "On Refugee Ministry", encouraging member churches and families to welcome refugees coming to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/southern-baptist-refugee-resettlement-trump-ban-muslim-immigration-165244/|title=Southern Baptists Vote to Support Refugee Resettlement After Trump Says to Ban All Muslim Immigration|date=June 15, 2016}}</ref> In the same convention, [[Russell D. Moore|Russell Moore]] of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission quickly responded to a pastor who asked why a member should support the right of Muslims living in the U.S. to build mosques. Moore responded, "Sometimes we have to deal with questions that are really complicated... this isn't one of them." Moore said that religious freedom must be for all religions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/06/16/482268688/southern-baptists-split-with-trump-on-refugee-resettlement|title=Southern Baptists Split With Donald Trump On Refugee Resettlement|website=NPR|date=June 16, 2016|last1=McCammon|first1=Sarah}}</ref> From February to June 2016, the denomination collaborated with the National Baptist Convention, USA on racial reconciliation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loller |first=Travis |title=Southern Baptists to talk racial unity at annual meeting |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2016/06/10/southern-baptists-talk-racial-unity/85724250/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2016-02-12 |title=SBC celebrates racial reconciliation progress |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/sbc-celebrates-racial-reconciliation-progress/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Baptist Press |language=en-US}}</ref> SBC-GCB and NBC presidents [[Ronnie Floyd]] and Jerry Young assembled 10 pastors from each convention in 2015, discussing race relations; in 2016, ''[[Baptist Press]]'' and ''[[The New York Times]]'' revealed tension among National Baptists debating any collaboration with Southern Baptists, quoting NBC President Young:<ref name=":12" /> {{Blockquote|text=I've never said this to Dr. Floyd, but I've had fellows in my own denomination who called me and said: "What are you doing? I mean, are you not aware of the history?" And I say, obviously I'm aware. They bring up the issue about slavery and that becomes a reason, they say, that we ought not to be involved with the Southern Baptists. Where from my vantage point, that's reverse racism. I do understand the history, and I understand the pain of the past...But what I'm also quite clear about is, if the Gospel does anything at all, the Gospel demands that we not only preach but practice reconciliation.|title=|author=Dr. Jerry Young, NBC USA}} After an initial resolution denouncing the [[Alt-right|alt-right movement]] failed to make it the convention floor, the denomination officially denounced the alt-right movement at the 2017 convention.<ref name=":3">{{Citation|title=Southern Baptists denounce white supremacy - CNN Video|date=June 15, 2017 |url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/06/15/southern-baptists-condemn-alt-right-orig-gr.cnn/video/playlists/being-moody-sponsored/|access-date=2017-06-16}}</ref> On November 5, 2017, [[Sutherland Springs church shooting|a mass shooting]] took place at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sbc.net/church/9045-78161/first-baptist-sutherland-springs|title=Southern Baptist Convention > First Baptist Sutherland Springs|website=www.sbc.net|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12|archive-date=January 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112221445/http://www.sbc.net/church/9045-78161/first-baptist-sutherland-springs|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/05/us/texas-church-shooting/index.html|title=At least 26 people killed in shooting at Texas church|author1=Dakin Andone |author2=Kaylee Hartung |author3=Darran Simon|work=CNN|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref> It was the deadliest shooting to occur at any affiliated church in its history and, in modern history, at an American [[place of worship]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/deadliest-church-shooting-in-american-history-strikes-sutherland-springs-texas|title=Deadliest Church Shooting in American History Kills at Least 26|last=Weill|first=Kelly|date=2017-11-05|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref> In 2020, the denomination's convention was canceled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] concerns and eventually rescheduled for June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2021 SBC Annual Meeting to remain in Nashville, shift venues|url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/2021-sbc-annual-meeting-to-remain-in-nashville-shift-venues/|access-date=2021-04-25|website=www.baptistpress.com/|date=April 15, 2021|publisher=Baptist Press|language=en-US}}</ref> In a ''Washington Post'' story dated September 15, 2020, Greear said some Southern Baptist Convention leaders wanted to change the official name of the church to "Great Commission Baptists" (GCB), to distance the church from its support of slavery and because it is no longer just a Southern church.<ref name="name change">{{cite news|url=https://greensboro.com/news/national/leaders-may-drop-southern-from-baptist-churches-for-racial-and-regional-inclusion/article_66ea53a8-f84b-11ea-9eff-9f5d723fef04.html|title=Leaders may drop 'Southern' from Baptist churches for racial and regional inclusion|last=Quillin|first=Martha|work=[[News & Observer]]|date=September 16, 2020|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref> Since then, several leaders and churches have begun adopting the alternative descriptor for their churches.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Leonardo |date=2020-09-15 |title=More So. Baptists embracing alternate 'Great Commission Baptists' name in wake of racial unrest |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/more-so-baptists-embracing-alternate-great-commission-baptists-name-in-wake-of-racial-unrest.html |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Castronuovo |first=Celine |date=2020-09-15 |title=Southern Baptist Convention leaders dropping 'Southern' from name over slavery connection |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/516480-southern-baptist-convention-leaders-dropping-southern-from-name-over-slavery/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref> === Sexual abuse scandal === {{Main|Sexual abuse cases in Southern Baptist churches}} In 2018, investigations showed that the SBC suppressed reports of [[sexual abuse]] and protected over 700 accused ministers and church workers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Fuller |first=Thomas |date=2022-08-13 |title=Southern Baptist Convention Says It Faces Federal Investigation for Sexual Abuse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/us/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse.html |access-date=2022-09-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2022, a report indicated church leaders had stonewalled and disparaged clergy sex abuse survivors for nearly two decades;<ref name=":5">{{cite web |author1=Bharath, Deepa |author2=Holly Meyer |author3=David Crary |date=May 22, 2022 |title=Report: Top Southern Baptists stonewalled sex abuse victims |url=https://apnews.com/article/baptist-religion-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-southern-convention-bfdbe64389790630488f854c3dae3fd5 |access-date=May 22, 2022 |website=Associated Press}}</ref> reform efforts had been met with criticism or dismissal from other organization leaders;<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Shellnutt |first=Kate |date=2022-05-22 |title=Southern Baptists Refused to Act on Abuse, Despite Secret List of Pastors |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/may/southern-baptist-abuse-investigation-sbc-ec-legal-survivors.html |access-date=2022-05-26 |work=[[Christianity Today]]}}</ref> and known abusers had been allowed to keep their positions without informing their local churches.<ref name=":6">{{cite web |author=Sexual Abuse Task Force Team |date=May 22, 2022 |title=Guidepost Solutions' Report of the Independent Investigation |url=https://www.sataskforce.net/updates/guidepost-solutions-report-of-the-independent-investigation |access-date=May 22, 2022 |website=SATaskforce.net}}</ref> On August 12, 2022, the denomination announced that it was facing a federal investigation into the scandal.<ref name=":NYTimesFedsInv" /> On February 10, 2019, a joint investigation by the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' and the ''[[San Antonio Express-News|San Antonio Express]]'' found that there had been over 700 victims of sexual abuse by nearly 400 Southern Baptist church leaders,<ref name="Chron1">{{cite news |last1=Downen |first1=Robert |last2=Olsen |first2=Lise |last3=Tedesco |first3=John |date=February 10, 2019 |title=20 years, 700 victims: Southern Baptist sexual abuse spreads as leaders resist reforms |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/Southern-Baptist-sexual-abuse-spreads-as-leaders-13588038.php |access-date=February 11, 2019 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref name="Chron3">{{Cite news |date=2019-06-03 |title=More Abuse of Faith: Southern Baptist churches harbored sex offenders |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Abuse-of-Faith-Southern-Baptist-churches-13912529.php |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=Houston Chronicle |last1=Tedesco |first1=By John }}</ref> pastors, and volunteers over the previous 20 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Kristine |last2=Wang |first2=Amy B. |date=February 10, 2019 |title='Pure evil': Southern Baptist leaders condemn decades of sexual abuse revealed in investigation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/02/10/pure-evil-southern-baptist-leaders-condemn-decades-sexual-abuse-revealed-investigation |access-date=March 31, 2019 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref name="Chron1" /><ref name="Chron3" /> In 2018, the ''Houston Chronicle'' verified details of hundreds of accounts of abuse. It examined federal and state court databases, prison records, and official documents from more than 20 states and researched sex offender registries nationwide.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Downen |first1=Robert |last2=Olsen |first2=Lise |last3=Tedesco |first3=John |date=February 10, 2019 |title=20 years, 700 victims: SBC sexual abuse spreads as leaders resist reforms |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/Southern-Baptist-sexual-abuse-spreads-as-leaders-13588038.php |access-date=February 11, 2019 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> The ''Chronicle'' compiled a list of records and information (current as of June 2019)<ref name="Chron3" /><ref name="Chron2">{{Cite web |last1=Olsen |first1=Lise |last2=Downen |first2=Robert |last3=Tedesco |first3=John |last4=Rubio |first4=Jordan |last5=Dempsey |first5=Matt |last6=Lee |first6=Joyce |last7=Gleason |first7=Rachael |title=Abuse of Faith: A Chronicle Investigation |url=https://projects.houstonchronicle.com/2019/southern-baptist-abuse |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213050334/https://projects.houstonchronicle.com/2019/southern-baptist-abuse/ |archive-date=February 13, 2019 |access-date=March 31, 2019 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Chron4">{{Cite web |title=Abuse of Faith: Search our database |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/investigations/abuse-of-faith/database/ |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> listing church pastors, leaders, employees, and volunteers who have pleaded guilty to or were convicted of sex crimes.<ref name="Chron4" /><ref name="Chron2" /><ref name="Chron3" /> On June 12, 2019, during their annual meeting, convention messengers, who assembled that year in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], approved a resolution condemning sex abuse and establishing a special committee to investigate sex abuse, which will make it easier for churches to be excommunicated from the convention.<ref name="nprsexabuse">{{Cite news |last1=Neuman |first1=Scott |date=June 12, 2019 |title=Southern Baptists Vote To Hold Churches More Accountable For Mishandling Abuse Claims |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/12/731919189/southern-baptists-vote-to-hold-churches-more-accountable-for-mishandling-abuse-c |access-date=2020-07-21 |newspaper=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Holly Meyer and Katherine |title=Southern Baptists gathered in Alabama amid a reckoning over sexual abuse. How they addressed the crisis. |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2019/06/12/southern-baptist-convention-resolutions-sbc-sexual-abuse/1429890001/ |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}</ref> The Reverend J. D. Greear, president of the convention and pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, called the move a "defining moment".<ref name="nprsexabuse" /> [[Ronnie Floyd]], president of the convention's executive committee, echoed Greear's remarks, calling the vote "a very, very significant moment in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention".<ref name="nprsexabuse" /> In June 2021, letters from former policy director [[Russell D. Moore]] to convention leadership were leaked. In the letters, Moore described how the convention had mishandled claims of sexual abuse.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulliam Bailey |first1=Sarah |date=June 12, 2021 |title=Secret recordings, leaked letters: Explosive secrets rocking the Southern Baptist Convention |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/06/12/southern-baptist-convention-secret-infighting-meeting/ |access-date=June 12, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> On May 22, 2022, Guidepost Solutions, an independent firm contracted by the organization's executive committee, released a report detailing that church leaders had stonewalled and disparaged clergy sex abuse survivors for nearly two decades.<ref name=":5" /> This was the largest investigation undertaken in the convention's history at the time, with $4 million reportedly spent by the organization to fund the inquiry.<ref name=":1" /> The report also found that known abusers were allowed to keep their positions without informing their church or congregation.<ref name=":6" /> The report alleged that while the convention had elected a president, J. D. Greear, in 2018 who made addressing sexual abuse a central part of his agenda, nearly all efforts at reform had been met with criticism and dismissal by other organization leaders.<ref name=":1" /> On June 14, 2022, the denomination voted "to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse and launch a new task force to oversee further reforms" after a consultant exposed that "Southern Baptist leaders mishandled abuse cases and stonewalled victims for years".<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2022 |title=Southern Baptist Convention votes to create list of pastors, workers accused of sex abuse |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/southern-baptists-vote-create-list-pastors-workers-accused-sex-abuse-rcna33626 |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The new task force will operate for one year, with the option to continue longer. On August 12, 2022, the organization announced that it was facing a federal investigation into the sex abuse scandal.<ref name="NYTimesFedsInv">{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Thomas |date=August 12, 2022 |title=Southern Baptist Convention Says It Faces Federal Investigation for Sexual Abuse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/us/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse.html |access-date=August 12, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> As revelations of sexual abuse and lawsuits continued to emerge in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Baptist Convention settles in abuse case against Paul Pressler, case dismissed |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2023/12/29/southern-baptist-convention-sbc-settles-abuse-case-against-paul-pressler/71133589007/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Ruth |date=2023-11-07 |title=Why Southern Baptists are Furious Over a Sex Abuse Case in Kentucky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/us/baptists-abuse-kentucky.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Downen |first=Robert |date=2023-12-29 |title=Southern Baptist Convention settles high-profile lawsuit that accused former leader of sexual abuse |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/29/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-settlement/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Jeremy |date=2023-10-26 |title=Church sex abuse survivors 'sickened and saddened' by Southern Baptist Kentucky court filing |url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/10/church-sex-abuse-survivors-sickened-and-saddened-by-southern-baptist-kentucky-court-filing.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=al |language=en}}</ref> the SBC's Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force announced continued development of the database of sexual offenders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Baptist Convention task force says development of sex abuse database continues |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2023/09/02/southern-baptist-convention-sex-abuse-database-update/70727865007/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Orleans |first=Kate Shellnutt in New |date=2023-06-14 |title=Southern Baptists Committed to Abuse Reform. What Happened? |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/june/southern-baptist-abuse-reform-response-task-force-database.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=News & Reporting |language=en}}</ref> ==Doctrine== [[File:Centennial Tower, LifeWay HQ, Nashville.jpg|thumb|Former [[LifeWay Christian Resources|Lifeway Christian Resources]] headquarters in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].]] The general theological perspective of the denomination's churches is represented in the [[Baptist Faith and Message]] (BF&M).<ref name="BFM2000">{{Citation |title=Comparison of 1925, 1963, 2000 versions |url=https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/ |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention}}</ref> The BF&M was first drafted in 1925 as a revision of the 1833 [[New Hampshire Confession of Faith]]. It was revised significantly in 1963, amended in 1998 with the addition of one new section on the family, and revised again in 2000. The 1998 and 2000 changes were the subject of much controversy, particularly in regard to the role of women in the church.<ref name=FeedbackResponse>{{cite web | title = Committee Response to Initial Feedback | publisher = Baptist Faith and Message Study Committee | date = May 26, 2000 | url = http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfmfeedback.asp | access-date = August 2, 2015 | archive-date = August 15, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150815000128/http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfmfeedback.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> The BF&M is not considered a [[creed]], such as the [[Nicene Creed]]. Members are not required to adhere to it, and churches and state conventions belonging to the global body are not required to use it as their statement of faith or doctrine, though many do in lieu of creating their own statement.{{Sfn | Hankins | 2002 | pp = 223, 225}} Nevertheless, key leaders, faculty in denomination-owned seminaries, and missionaries who apply to serve through the various missionary agencies must affirm that their practices, doctrine, and preaching are consistent with the BF&M.<ref name=PresMissionaries>{{Citation | contribution-url = http://imb.org/updates/storyview.aspx?StoryID=755 | title = imbConnecting: President asks missionaries to sign BF&M affirmation | contribution = imbConnecting | publisher = SBC | type = position paper | access-date = August 7, 2015 | archive-date = October 27, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151027042539/http://imb.org/updates/storyview.aspx?StoryID=755 | url-status = dead }}.</ref><ref name="Missionaries Must Decide">{{Citation | contribution-url = http://imb.org/updates/storyview.aspx?StoryID=880 | title = imbConnecting: IMB asking missionaries to decide about BF&M request | contribution = imbConnecting | publisher = SBC | type = position paper | access-date = August 7, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref> In 2012, a [[LifeWay Christian Resources|LifeWay Research]] survey of the denomination's pastors found that 30% of churches identified with the labels [[Reformed Baptists|Calvinist or Reformed]], while 30% identified with the labels [[Arminianism|Arminian]] or [[Wesleyanism|Wesleyan]]. LifeWay Research President [[Ed Stetzer]] said, "historically, many Baptists have considered themselves neither Calvinist nor Arminian, but holding a unique theological approach not framed well by either category". The survey also found that 60% of its pastors were concerned about Calvinism's impact within the convention.<ref name=CalvinismPoll>{{cite press release| title = SBC Pastors Polled on Calvinism and Its Effect | publisher = LifeWay Research | date = June 19, 2012 | url = http://www.lifewayresearch.com/2012/06/19/sbc-pastors-polled-on-calvinism-and-its-effect/ | access-date = August 2, 2015}}</ref> Nathan Finn writes that the debate over Calvinism has "periodically reignited with increasing intensity" and that non-Calvinists "seem to be especially concerned with the influence of [[Founders Ministries]]" while Calvinists "seem to be particularly concerned with the influence of [[Christian revival|revivalism]] and [[Higher Life movement|Keswick theology]]."{{sfn|Finn|2010|p=73}} Historically, the denomination has not considered [[glossolalia]] or other [[Spiritual gift|Charismatic beliefs]] to be in accordance with Scriptural teaching, though the BF&M does not mention the subject. In 2015, the [[International Mission Board]] lifted a ban on glossolalia for its missionaries, while reaffirming that it should not be taught as normative.<ref>Greg Horton and Yonat Shimron , [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/southern-baptists-to-open-their-ranks-to-missionaries-who-speak-in-tongues/2015/05/14/1fddd28a-fa7e-11e4-a47c-e56f4db884ed_story.html Southern Baptists to open their ranks to missionaries who speak in tongues], washingtonpost.com, USA, May 14, 2015</ref> The convention brings together [[Christian Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] and [[Moderate Christianity|moderate]] churches.<ref>Corrie E. Norman, Donald S. Armentrout, ''Religion in the Contemporary South: Changes, Continuities, and Contexts'', Univ. of Tennessee Press, USA, 2005, p. 80</ref> ===Position statements=== [[File:Seattle - Chinese Southern Baptist 06.jpg|thumb|Chinese Southern Baptist Church in [[Seattle, Washington]]]] In addition to the BF&M, the denomination has also issued position statements affirming the autonomy of the local church;<ref name="autonomy">{{Cite web |title=On Local Church Autonomy And Accountability - SBC.net |url=https://www.sbc.net/resource-library/resolutions/on-local-church-autonomy-and-accountability/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |language=en-US}}</ref> identifying the Cooperative Program of missions as integral to the denomination;<ref name="coop">{{Citation |title=About us |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171129/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscooperation.asp |contribution=Cooperation |contribution-url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscooperation.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> that statements of belief are revisable in light of Scripture, though [[the Bible is the final word]];<ref name="creed">{{Citation |title=About us |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171135/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscreeds.asp |contribution=Creeds |contribution-url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscreeds.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> honoring the indigenous principle in missions without compromising doctrine or its identity for missional opportunities;<ref name="missions">{{Citation |title=About us |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171140/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/psmissions.asp |contribution=Missions |contribution-url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/psmissions.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> that laypersons have the same right as ordained ministers to communicate with God, interpret Scripture, and minister in Christ's name;<ref name="priesthood">{{Citation | url = http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pspriesthood.asp | title = Priesthood of all believers | publisher = SBC | type = position paper | access-date = July 19, 2007 | archive-date = September 21, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171145/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pspriesthood.asp }}.</ref> that "At the moment of conception, a new being enters the universe, a human being, a being created in God's image", who as such should be protected regardless of the circumstances of the conception;<ref name="sanctity">{{Citation |title=Sanctity of life |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssanctity.asp |type=position paper |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025102901/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssanctity.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref> that God's plan for marriage and sexual intimacy is a lifetime relationship of one man and one woman, rejecting homosexuality; understanding the Bible to forbid any form of extramarital sexual relations;<ref name="sexuality">{{Citation |title=Sexuality |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/positionstatements.asp |type=position paper |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727023904/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/positionstatements.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=July 27, 2020}}.</ref> affirming the accountability of each person before God;<ref name="soulcomp">{{Citation |title=Soul Competency |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssoul.asp |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921114605/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssoul.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> and that women are not eligible to serve as pastors.<ref name="women">{{Citation |title=Women in ministry |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pswomen.asp |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171219/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pswomen.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> In 2022, it passed a resolution against [[prosperity theology]], which it considers a distortion of the message of the Bible.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-15 |title=So. Baptists denounce prosperity gospel as 'false teaching' in resolution at annual meeting |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/southern-baptists-denounce-prosperity-gospel-as-false-teaching.html |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}</ref> ==== Abortion ==== Like other conservative evangelical denominations, the Southern Baptist position on [[Abortion in the United States|abortion]] has changed significantly over time, evolving from general acceptance to opposition.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" /> In 1971, the SBC passed a resolution urging a loosening of abortion laws in the United States, stating:<ref name=":16" /><blockquote>Be it further resolved, that we call upon Southern Baptists to work for legislation that will allow the possibility of abortion under such conditions as rape, incest, clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother.</blockquote>In 1973, a "poll conducted by the ''[[Baptist General Convention of Texas|Baptist Standard]]'' news journal found that 90 percent of Texas Baptists believed their state's abortion laws were too restrictive".<ref name=":14" /> During this era, a majority of Southern Baptists, including conservatives within the denomination, supported the expansion of [[Abortion-rights movements|abortion rights]], seeing it as a matter of [[Freedom of religion|religious liberty]], what they saw [[Christianity and abortion|as a lack]] of [[Christianity and abortion|biblical condemnation]], and belief in [[Anti-statism|non-intrusive government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balmer |first=Randall |author-link=Randall Balmer |date=August 30, 2021 |title=The Evangelical Abortion Myth: An Excerpt from 'Bad Faith' |url=https://religiondispatches.org/the-evangelical-abortion-myth-an-excerpt-from-bad-faith/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Religion Dispatches |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Williams-2015">{{Cite journal |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=June 2015 |title=The Partisan Trajectory of the American Pro-Life Movement: How a Liberal Catholic Campaign Became a Conservative Evangelical Cause |journal=Religions |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=451–475 |doi=10.3390/rel6020451 |issn=2077-1444 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=2022-05-09 |title=This Really Is a Different Pro-Life Movement |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/south-abortion-pro-life-protestants-catholics/629779/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Halpern |first=Sue |date=November 8, 2018 |title=How Republicans Became Anti-Choice |language=en |work=[[The New York Review of Books]] |url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/08/how-republicans-became-anti-choice/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0028-7504}}</ref> Initial reaction among Southern Baptists and evangelicals to the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' decision was one of support or indifference; they overwhelmingly viewed [[United States anti-abortion movement|anti-abortion movements]] as a [[Sectarianism|sectarian]] and [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] concern. By the mid-1970s, this began to change, as political strategists sought to use the issue of abortion as a [[Policy|political tactic]] to incorporate [[Traditionalist Catholicism|traditionalist Catholics]] together with Southern evangelicals in order to prevent [[Segregation academy|segregation academies]] from being [[Racial integration|racially integrated]]. Southern Baptist opinion on abortion began to substantially change against abortion in subsequent years.<ref name=":16" /><ref name="Williams-2015" /> Today, the SBC strongly opposes abortion.<ref name=":16" /> ==== Gender-based roles ==== Officially, the denomination subscribes to the [[complementarianism|complementarian]] view of [[gender role]]s.{{sfn|Finn|2010|pp=68–69}} Beginning in the early 1970s, as a reaction to their perceptions of various "women's liberation movements",<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=1090 |title= Resolution on the Place of Women in Christian Service |publisher= SBC |access-date= December 10, 2011 |archive-date= January 18, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120118161933/http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=1090 |url-status= dead }}</ref> the church, along with several other historically conservative Baptist groups,<ref>See {{harvnb|Morris|Lee|2005|pp=355–363}}, for a discussion of attitudes regarding gender and their relationship to ministry.</ref> began to assert its view of the propriety and primacy of what it deemed "traditional gender roles" as a body. In 1973, at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, delegates passed a resolution that read in part: "Man was not made for woman, but the woman for the man. Woman is the glory of man. Woman would not have existed without man."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://feminist.org/resources/feminist-chronicles/the-feminist-chronicles-2/part-ii-1973/|title=Part II - 1973}}</ref> In 1998, the convention appended a male leadership understanding of marriage to the 1963 version of the Baptist Faith and Message, with an official amendment: Article XVIII, "The Family". In 2000, it revised the document to reflect support for a male-only pastorate with no mention of the office of deacon.<ref name="women" /><ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.baptist2baptist.net/b2barticle.asp?ID=228 | first = Tammi Reed | last = Ledbetter | title = SBC and Women Pastors, Comprehensive Report Does Not Sustain Inflated Statistics |date=October 2000 | newspaper = Baptist 2 Baptist | access-date = July 19, 2007}}.</ref> ===== In the pastorate and marriage ===== In 1984, when it had about 250 women pastors, the Convention adopted a resolution affirming the exclusion of women from pastoral leadership.<ref name="upi.com">David E. Anderson, [https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/06/15/Southern-Baptists-oppose-womens-ordination/3365456120000/ Southern Baptists oppose women's ordination], upi.com, USA, June 15, 1984</ref> Since 1987, various local associations and regional conventions have considered churches that have authorized the [[Ordination of women#Baptist|pastoral ministry of women]] to not be in friendly cooperation (or "disfellowshipped"), without the intervention of the national convention on the subject.<ref>David Roach, [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/tenn-assoc-disfellowships-church-with-female-pastor/ Tenn. assoc. disfellowships church with female pastor], baptistpress.com, USA, 20 octobre 2015</ref> By explicitly defining the pastoral office as the exclusive domain of males, the 2000 BF&M provision became the Southern Baptist's first-ever official position against women pastors.<ref>"Comparison of 1925, 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message". Online: http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfmcomparison.asp. Accessed: 7 Aug 2015</ref> As individual churches affiliated with the organization are autonomous, churches cannot be forced to adopt a male-only pastorate.<ref name="autonomy" /> Some churches that have installed women as their pastors have been disfellowshipped from membership in their local associations; a smaller number have been disfellowshipped from their affiliated state conventions.<ref>{{Citation | first = Kristen | last = Campbell | title = Baptist Church Ousted for Hiring Woman Pastor | newspaper = Religion News Service | url = http://www.beliefnet.com/story/202/story_20231_1.html | access-date = 2007-09-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071107170239/http://www.beliefnet.com/story/202/story_20231_1.html | archive-date = November 7, 2007 }}.</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Shellnutt |first=Kate |title=Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/february/saddleback-church-southern-baptist-sbc-disfellowship-female.html |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Christianity Today |date=February 21, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In February 2023, the Executive Committee for the first time deemed five churches that had appointed women pastors to not be in friendly cooperation. In June 2023, when two churches requested a review of the decision on this subject, 88% of church representatives at the annual convention voted to uphold the decision.<ref>Michael Gryboski, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/saddleback-churchs-ousting-from-sbc-upheld-at-annual-meeting.html SBC upholds ousting of Saddleback Church over woman teaching pastor], christianpost.com, USA, June 14, 2023</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Messengers sustain removal of 3 churches not in 'friendly cooperation' - The Baptist Paper |url=https://thebaptistpaper.org/messengers-sustain-removal-of-3-churches-not-in-friendly-cooperation/,%20https://thebaptistpaper.org/messengers-sustain-removal-of-3-churches-not-in-friendly-cooperation/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=thebaptistpaper.org |language=en-US}}</ref> ''American Reformer'' magazine estimated the convention would have 1,844 female pastors in 2023.<ref>Kevin McClure, [https://americanreformer.org/2023/06/how-many-female-pastors-are-in-the-sbc/ How many female pastors are in the sbc?], americanreformer.org, USA, June 10, 2023</ref> The crystallization of the church's positions on gender roles and restrictions of women's participation in the pastorate contributed to the decision by members now belonging to the [[Cooperative Baptist Fellowship]], which broke from the convention in 1991.<ref>{{Citation | first1 = Eileen R | last1 = Campbell-Reed | first2 = Pamela R | last2 = Durso | url = http://www.cbeinternational.org/files/u1/resources/14-Campbell-pdf.pdf | title = Assessing Attitudes About Women in Baptist Life | year = 2006 | publisher = CBE international | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101229121648/http://www.cbeinternational.org/files/u1/resources/14-Campbell-pdf.pdf | archive-date = December 29, 2010 }}.</ref> Another denomination that broke off, the [[Alliance of Baptists]], also accepts women's ordination. The 2000 BF&M prescribes a husband-headship authority structure, closely following the [[Paul the Apostle|apostle Paul]]'s exhortations in {{Bibleverse |Ephesians|5:21–33}}:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Baptist Convention > Commentary on Article XVIII – The Family |url=http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/articleXVIII.asp |access-date=2018-12-25 |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225230210/http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/articleXVIII.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{blockquote|'''Article XVIII. The Family.''' The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to his people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead ''his'' family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.}} ===Ordinances=== [[File:Baptism at Northolt Park Baptist Church (cropped).jpg|thumb|Full-immersion baptism is the accepted mode of baptism among the Southern Baptist Convention]] Southern/Great Commission Baptists observe two [[Baptist ordinance|ordinances]]: the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]] and [[believer's baptism]] (also known as ''credo''-baptism, from the [[Latin]] for "I believe").<ref name="Reuters1" /><ref name="BFM2000" /> Furthermore, they hold the historic Baptist belief that [[Immersion baptism|immersion]] is the only valid mode of baptism.<ref name="Reuters1" /> The Baptist Faith and Message describes baptism as a symbolic act of obedience and a testimony of the believer's faith in [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] to other people. The BF&M also notes that baptism is a precondition to congregational church membership.<ref name="BFM2000" /> The BF&M holds to [[memorialism]],<ref name="memorial">{{cite web|url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/basicbeliefs.asp|title=Basic Beliefs: Baptism & the Lord's Supper|year=2018|publisher=Southern Baptist Convention|access-date=9 August 2019|quote=The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members [...] memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His Second Coming.|archive-date=March 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312082918/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/basicbeliefs.asp}}</ref> the belief that the Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience in which believers commemorate the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|death of Christ]] and look forward to his [[Second Coming]].<ref name="BFM2000"/><ref name="memorial"/> Individual churches are free to practice either [[open communion|open]] or [[closed communion]] (due to the convention's belief in congregational polity and the autonomy of the local church), but most practice open communion. For the same reason, the frequency of observance of the Lord's Supper varies from church to church. It is commonly observed quarterly, but some churches offer it monthly and a small minority offers it weekly.<ref name=Communionsurvey>{{cite press release| title = LifeWay Surveys Lord's Supper Practices of SBC Churches | publisher = LifeWay Research | date = September 17, 2012 | url = http://www.lifewayresearch.com/2012/09/17/lifeway-surveys-lords-supper-practices-of-sbc-churches/ | access-date = August 2, 2015}}</ref> Because the organization has traditionally opposed alcoholic beverage consumption by members, [[grape juice]] is used instead of wine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-01-10 |title=Why We Don't Use Alcohol For the Lord's Supper at our Church by David R. Brumbelow |url=https://sbcvoices.com/why-we-dont-use-alcohol-for-the-lords-supper-by-david-r-brumbelow/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=SBC Voices |language=en-US}}</ref> === Worship === [[File:Easter 2016 Worship Service At Grace Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee.jpg|222x222px|thumb|right| [[Worship service (evangelicalism)|Worship service]] at Grace Baptist Church in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], affiliated to the convention, 2016]] [[File:First Baptist Church worship.jpg|thumb|349x349px|[[First Baptist Church of Jacksonville|First Baptist Church]] of [[Jacksonville, Florida]] worship service.]] Most members observe a [[low church]] form of [[Christian worship|worship]], which is less formal and uses no stated [[liturgy]]. The form of the worship services generally depend on whether the congregation uses a traditional service or a contemporary one, or a mix of both—the main differences being with regards to music and the response to the sermon. In both types of services, there will be a prayer at the opening of the service, before the sermon, and at closing. Offerings are taken, which may be around the middle of the service or at the end (with the increased popularity of electronic financial systems, some churches operate kiosks allowing givers the opportunity to do so online, or through a phone app or website link). Responsive Scripture readings are not common, but may be done on a special occasion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shoemaker |first=Stephen |date=2013-04-11 |title=An Overview of Worship in the Southern Baptist Convention |url=https://www.worshiplibrary.com/blog/an-overview-of-worship-in-the-southern-baptist-convention/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128081853/https://www.worshiplibrary.com/blog/an-overview-of-worship-in-the-southern-baptist-convention/ |archive-date=2022-11-28 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=WorshipLibrary |language=en}}</ref> In a traditional service, the music generally features hymns, accompanied by a piano or organ (the latter has been generally phased out due to a shift in worship preferences) and sometimes with a special featured soloist or choir. Smaller churches generally let anyone participate in the choir regardless of actual singing ability; larger churches will limit participation to those who have successfully tried out for a role. After the sermon, an invitation to respond (sometimes termed an [[altar call]]) might be given; people may respond during the invitation by receiving [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] as Lord and Savior and beginning Christian discipleship, seeking baptism or requesting to join the congregation, or entering into vocational ministry or making some other publicly stated decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-04-04 |title=A theological perspective on the 'invitation/altar call' |url=https://www.baptistmessenger.com/a-theological-perspective-on-the-%e2%80%98invitationaltar-call%e2%80%99/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma |language=en-US}}</ref> Baptisms may be scheduled on specific weekends, or (especially in buildings with built-in baptisteries) be readily available for anyone desiring baptism. In a contemporary service, the music generally features modern songs led by a praise team or similarly named group with featured singers. Choirs are not as common. An altar call may or may not be given at the end; if it is not, interested persons are directed to seek out people in the lobby who can address any questions. Baptismal services are usually scheduled as specific and special events. Also, church membership is usually done on a periodic basis by attending specific classes about the church's history, beliefs, what it seeks to accomplish, and what is expected of a prospective member. Controversially, a member may be asked to sign a "membership covenant", a document that has the prospective member promise to perform certain tasks (regular church attendance both at main services and small groups, regular giving—sometimes even requiring tithing, and service within the church). Such covenants are highly controversial: among other things, such a covenant may not permit a member to voluntarily withdraw from membership to avoid church discipline or, in some cases, the member cannot leave at all (even when not under discipline) without the approval of church leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Church Membership Covenants – Legal Contracts that are NOT Biblical! {{!}} The Wartburg Watch 2020|url=http://thewartburgwatch.com/permpage-church-membership-covenants-legal-contracts-that-are-not-biblical/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=thewartburgwatch.com|date=April 19, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> A Dallas/Fort Worth church was forced to apologize to a member who attempted to do so for failing to request permission to annul her marriage after her husband admitted to viewing child pornography.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/may-web-only/matt-chandler-apologizes-for-village-churchs-decision-to-di.html|title=Former Member Accepts Acts 29 Megachurch Apology in Church Discipline Case|first=Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, Morgan Lee, and Bob|last=Smietana|website=ChristianityToday.com|date=June 10, 2015 |access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> === Race === During the 19th and most of the 20th century, the organization supported [[Racism in the United States|white supremacy]], [[Racial segregation in the United States|racial segregation]], the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]], and the [[Lost Cause of the Confederacy|Lost Cause]].<ref name=":2b">{{Cite book |last=Newman |first=Mark |title=Getting Right With God: Southern Baptists and Desegregation, 1945-1995 |publisher=[[University of Alabama Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8173-1060-8 |pages=IX of preface}}</ref> The organization also denounced [[Interracial marriage in the United States|interracial marriage]] as an "[[Abomination (biblical)|abomination]]", citing [[The Bible and slavery|the Bible]].<ref name=":2b" /> With the advent of the civil rights movement in the 20th century, it officially denounced racism and its white supremacist history.<ref name=":10" /> Following the election of the organization's first black president in the 21st century, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted the "Great Commission Baptists" descriptor, which began to gain prominent use among several churches desiring to sever themselves from its white supremacist history and controversies.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> Although racism and white supremacy were denounced, and efforts to reconcile with minorities have been made, racism has continued to persist among the denomination's churches and affiliated organizations. In 2012, an African American couple in [[Crystal Springs, Mississippi]] attending an affiliated church were prevented from being married in that church because they were black. The church's pastor was threatened with being voted out if he hosted the wedding at the church (the pastor performed the ceremony at a different church).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=David |date=2012-07-27 |title=Black wedding banned by Baptist church |url=https://www.wlbt.com/story/19125864/black-wedding-banned-by-baptist-church |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=WLBT |language=en}}</ref> By November 2020, the six convention seminary presidents called [[critical race theory]] "unbiblical" and emphasized the need to turn not to secular ideas to confront racism, but to the Word of God in the love of Christ.<ref>Michael Gryboski, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/sbc-seminary-presidents-denounce-critical-race-theory.html Southern Baptist seminary presidents release statement denouncing critical race theory], christianpost.com, USA, December 01, 2020</ref> At least four African American churches left the denomination over the leadership's refusal to recognize critical race theory.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Several Black pastors break with the Southern Baptist Convention over a statement on race |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/12/23/black-pastors-break-southern-baptist-critical-race-theory/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> ==Statistics== ===Membership=== {| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto auto auto auto; font-size:95%; float:right;" |- ! Year !! Membership |- | 1845 || Align=right | 350,000 |- | 1860 || Align=right | 650,000 |- | 1875 || Align=right | 1,260,000 |- | 1890 || Align=right | 1,240,000 |- | 1905 || Align=right | 1,900,000 |- | 1920 || Align=right | 3,150,000 |- | 1935 || Align=right | 4,480,000 |- | 1950 || Align=right | 7,080,000 |- | 1965 || Align=right | 10,780,000 |- | 1980 || Align=right | 13,700,000 |- | 1995 || Align=right | 15,400,000 |- | 2000 || Align=right | 15,900,000 |- | 2005 || Align=right | 16,600,000 |- | 2006 || Align=right | 16,306,246 |- | 2007 || Align=right | 16,266,920 |- | 2008 || Align=right | 16,228,438 |- | 2009 || Align=right | 16,160,088 |- | 2010 || Align=right | 16,136,044 |- | 2011 || Align=right | 15,978,112 |- | 2012 || Align=right | 15,872,404 |- | 2013 || Align=right | 15,735,640 |- | 2014 || Align=right | 15,499,173 |- | 2015 || Align=right | 15,294,764 |- | 2016 || Align=right | 15,216,978 |- | 2017 || Align=right | 15,005,638 |- | 2018 || Align=right | 14,813,234 |- | 2019 || Align=right | 14,525,579 |- | 2020 || Align=right | 14,089,947 |- | 2021 || Align=right | 13,680,493 |- | 2022 || Align=right | 13,223,122 |- | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Southern Baptist Convention Statistical Summary |url=http://blog.lifeway.com/newsroom/files/2021/05/ACP_Summary_2020.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525211309/http://blog.lifeway.com/newsroom/files/2021/05/ACP_Summary_2020.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-25 |url-status=live |website=blog.lifeway.com |publisher=Lifeway Research |access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Pipes |first=Carol |date=June 7, 2016 |title=ACP: More churches reported; baptisms decline |url=http://www.bpnews.net/46989/acp-more-churches-reported-baptism-worship-numbers-decline |work=Baptist Press |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="acp2009">{{Citation | url = http://www.bpnews.net/pdf/2009SBCStatsSummary.pdf | title = Southern Baptist Convention Statistical Summary – 2009 | access-date = 2011-02-13 | newspaper = BP news | archive-date = April 12, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150412133650/http://www.bpnews.net/pdf/2009SBCStatsSummary.pdf }}.</ref><ref name="lifeway.com">{{Citation | url = http://www.lifeway.com/Article/news-sbc-baptisms-churches-increased-in-2011-membership-declined | title = SBC Baptisms and Churches Increased in 2011, Membership Declined: 2011 ACP | publisher = Lifeway | access-date = 2013-08-09 | archive-date = October 16, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151016174435/http://www.lifeway.com/Article/news-sbc-baptisms-churches-increased-in-2011-membership-declined }}.</ref><ref>{{Citation | title = Historical Statistics of the US | year = 1976 | series = H805}} (with 2005 estimate from Convention figures).</ref><ref name="2014n">{{Citation | url = http://www.bpnews.net/44914/sbc-reports-more-churches-fewer-people | title = SBC reports more churches, fewer people | access-date = 2015-06-21 | newspaper = [[Baptist Press]]| date = June 10, 2015 }}.</ref><ref>{{Citation | date = 2008-04-24 | url = http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/04/24/southernbaptists_0424.html | title = Southern Baptist numbers, baptisms drop | publisher = AJC | access-date = July 7, 2008 | archive-date = January 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090104205317/http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/04/24/southernbaptists_0424.html }}.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wordandway.org/news/baptists/item/3752-report-southern-baptist-churches-up-in-2016-baptisms-membership-decline|title=Report: Southern Baptist Churches up in 2016; Baptisms, Membership Decline |first=Carol |last=Pipes |access-date=2017-06-12|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpnews.net/51000/acp-worship-attendance-rises-baptisms-decline|title=ACP: Worship attendance rises, baptisms decline|date=June 2018 |publisher=Baptist Press|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="bpnews.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpnews.net/52962/acp--giving-increases-baptisms-attendance-continue-decline|title=SBC: Giving increases while baptisms continue decline|date=May 23, 2019 |publisher=Baptist Press|access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="Baptist Press">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpnews.net/54903/southern-baptist-convention-continues-statistical-decline-floyd-calls-for-rethinking-acp-process|title=Southern Baptist Convention continues statistical decline, Floyd calls for rethinking ACP process|date=June 4, 2020 |publisher=Baptist Press|access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Pipes|first=Carol|title=Southern Baptists see baptisms, giving rebound in 2021|url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/southern-baptists-see-baptisms-giving-rebound-in-2021/|publisher=[[Baptist Press]]|date=May 12, 2022|access-date=June 8, 2022}}</ref> |} According to a census published by the association in 2023, the organization claimed 47,198 churches, 3.8 million in weekly worship attendance and 13,223,122 members.<ref>Aaron Earls, [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/southern-baptists-grow-in-attendance-and-baptisms-decline-in-membership/ Southern Baptists grow in attendance and baptisms, decline in membership], baptistpress.com, USA, May 9, 2023</ref><ref>Southern Baptist Convention, [https://www.sbc.net/about/what-we-do/fast-facts/ Fast Facts About the SBC], sbc.net, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023</ref> The global convention has more than 1,161 local associations and 41 state conventions, and fellowships covering all fifty states and territories of the United States.<ref>Southern Baptist Convention, [https://www.sbc.net/resources/directories/state-and-local-associations/ State and Local Associations], sbc.net, USA, retrieved June 8, 2021</ref> The five U.S. states with the highest rates of membership are Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Texas has the largest number of members with an estimated 2.75 million.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://lwnewsroom.s3.amazonaws.com/newsroom/files/2014/05/ACP2013-states.jpg | title = SBC Statistics By State Convention - 2013 | publisher = Lifeway | access-date = 2014-08-28}}.</ref> Within Texas, these are divided among the more traditionalist [[Southern Baptists of Texas Convention]] and more moderate, diversified [[Baptist General Convention of Texas]]; the Baptist General Convention of Texas, or the Texas Baptists, are also more financially and organizationally autonomous from the primary convention in contrast to most state conventions. Through the Cooperative Program, Southern/Great Commission Baptists support thousands of missionaries in the United States and worldwide. ===Trends=== Data from church sources and independent surveys indicate that since 1990 membership of Southern Baptist churches has declined as a proportion of the American population.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = Namb | url = http://www.namb.net/atf/cf/{CDA250E8–8866–4236–9A0C-C646DE153446}/RCS_Comparison_1990_2000.pdf | title = RCS comparison 1990–2000 }}.</ref> Historically, the convention grew throughout its history until 2007, when membership decreased by a net figure of nearly 40,000 members.<ref>{{Citation|date=2008-04-30 |title=Baptists 4 ethics |url=http://www.baptists4ethics.com/BB_PDFS/BB_apr30_2008.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028202326/http://www.baptists4ethics.com/BB_PDFS/BB_apr30_2008.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2008 }}</ref> The total membership, of about 16.2 million, was flat over the same period, falling by 38,482 or 0.2%. An important indicator for the health of the denomination is new baptisms, which have decreased every year for seven of the last eight years. {{As of |2008}}, they had reached their lowest levels since 1987.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%3D167523&M%3D201280,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080430142012/http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%3D167523%26M%3D201280,00.html | archive-date = 2008-04-30 | title = Life way}}</ref> Membership continued to decline from 2008 to 2012.<ref name="Harris">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/southern-baptists-elect-a-black-leader-and-raise-hopes-for-increased-diversity/2012/06/21/gJQANl4FwV_story.html|title=Southern Baptists Elect a Black Leader and Raise Hopes for Increased Diversity|last1=Harris|first1=Hamil|date=June 22, 2012|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 25, 2012|last2=Hunter|first2=Jeannine}}</ref> The convention's statistical summary of 2014 recorded a loss of 236,467 members, their biggest one-year decline since 1881.<ref name="2014n"/> In 2018, membership fell below 15 million for the first time since 1989 and reached its lowest level for over 30 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/may/southern-baptists-acp-membership-baptism-decline-2018.html|title=Southern Baptists Down to Lowest in 30 Years|date=May 23, 2019 |publisher=Chrisrianity Today|access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref> This decline in membership and baptisms has prompted some SBC researchers to describe the convention as a "denomination in decline".<ref>{{cite web | date = April 23, 2008 | url = http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/04/the_end_of_the_beginning_1.html | title = Breaking News | author = Ed Stetzer | type = blog | publisher = Life way | access-date = December 10, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100113011056/http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/04/the_end_of_the_beginning_1.html | archive-date = January 13, 2010 }}</ref> In 2008, former SBC president [[Frank Page (Southern Baptist)|Frank Page]] suggested that if current conditions continue, half of all the convention's churches will close their doors permanently by 2030.<ref name="Ref-1">{{cite web |url= http://www.christianindex.org/4421.article |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081012043807/http://www.christianindex.org/4421.article |archive-date= October 12, 2008 |title= Have Southern Baptists joined the evangelical decline? |publisher= Christian index |access-date= December 10, 2011 }}</ref> This assessment was supported by a 2004 survey of SBC churches that found that the membership of 70% of SBC churches is declining or has plateaued.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19542 | publisher = Baptist Press | title = Study updates stats on health of Southern Baptist churches – News with a Christian Perspective | work = News | date = November 15, 2004 | access-date = December 10, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110615030235/http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19542 | archive-date = June 15, 2011 }}</ref> The decline in membership was discussed at the June 2008 Annual Convention.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/DN-relSBC_07met.ART.West.Edition1.467b548.html |title=Dallas news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828103024/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/DN-relSBC_07met.ART.West.Edition1.467b548.html |archive-date=August 28, 2010 }}</ref> Curt Watke, a former researcher for the organization, noted four reasons for the decline of the church based on his research: the increase in immigration by non-European groups, decline in growth among predominantly European American (white) churches, the aging of the current membership, and a decrease in the proportion of younger generations participating in any church life.<ref name="Ref-1" /> Some believe that the Baptists have not worked sufficiently to attract minorities.<ref name="LovanDylan">{{Citation | last = Lovan | first = Dylan T | title = Southern Baptists to gather in Kentucky | publisher = The Associated Press | date = June 19, 2009}}.</ref> On the other hand, the state conventions of [[Mississippi]] and [[Texas]] report an increasing proportion of minority members.<ref name="LovanDylan" /> In 1990, 5% of congregations were non-white. In 2012, the proportion of congregations that were of other ethnic groups (African American, Latino, and Asian) had increased to 20%.<ref name="The Southern Baptists 2012" /> Sixty percent of the minority congregations were in Texas, particularly in the suburbs of [[Houston]] and [[Dallas]].<ref name="The Southern Baptists 2012" /> In 2020, an estimated 22.3% of affiliated churches were non-white.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How racially diverse is the SBC? |url=https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/how-racially-diverse-is-the-sbc/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=ERLC}}</ref> The decline in SBC-GCB membership may be more pronounced than these statistics indicate because Baptist churches are not required to remove inactive members from their rolls, likely leading to greatly inflated membership numbers. In addition, hundreds of large moderate congregations have shifted their primary allegiance to other Baptist groups, such as the [[American Baptist Churches USA]], the [[Alliance of Baptists]] or the [[Cooperative Baptist Fellowship]], but have continued to remain on the convention's books. Their members are thus counted in the convention's totals although these churches no longer participate in the annual convention meetings or make more than the minimum financial contributions.<ref name=fewerbaptists>{{Cite news| last = McMullen | first =Cary | title =Any way you count it, fewer Southern Baptists | newspaper = Palatka Daily News | date = June 17, 1999 | url = http://www.adherents.com/largecom/baptist_fewerSBC.html| archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090521224629/http://www.adherents.com/largecom/baptist_fewerSBC.html| url-status = usurped| archive-date = May 21, 2009| access-date = August 31, 2009}}</ref> In some cases, groups have withdrawn from the convention because of its conservative trends. On November 6, 2000, the Baptist General Convention of Texas voted to cut its contributions to Southern Baptist seminaries and reallocate more than $5 million to three theological seminaries in the state that members believed were more moderate.<ref name=":15">{{cite web|url=http://assets.baptiststandard.com/archived/2000/11_6/pages/funding.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120451/http://assets.baptiststandard.com/archived/2000/11_6/pages/funding.html|archive-date=2014-08-26|title=Texas Baptists affirm change in funding SBC}}</ref> These included the Hispanic Baptist Theological School in San Antonio, Baylor University's [[George W. Truett Theological Seminary]] in Waco, and [[Hardin–Simmons University]]'s Logsdon School of Theology in Abilene. Since the controversies of the 1980s, more than 20 theological or divinity programs directed toward moderate and progressive Baptists have been established in the Southeast. In addition to Texas, schools in Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama were established in the 1990s. These include the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, McAfee School of Theology of Mercer University in [[Atlanta]], [[Wake Forest University|Wake Forest]], Gardner Webb and Campbell Divinity schools in North Carolina, and Beeson Divinity School at [[Samford University]]. These schools contributed to the flat and declining enrollment at seminaries operating in the same region of the United States. Texas and Virginia have the largest state conventions identified as moderate in theological approach.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.dallasnews.com/religion/203483_baptists_31met.html | first = Jeffrey | last = Weiss | title = Moderate Baptists cut conservative seminaries' funds; Action signals their continued discontent with leadership of the nation's largest Protestant denomination | newspaper = Dallas Morning News | date = 31 October 2000 | access-date = 25 June 2012}}.</ref> On June 4, 2020, the organization reported a drop in its membership—the 13th consecutive year that membership has declined. Total membership in the church fell almost 2% to 14,525,579 from 2018 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Baptist Convention continues statistical decline, Floyd calls for rethinking ACP process|url=http://www.bpnews.net/54903/southern-baptist-convention-continues-statistical-decline-floyd-calls-for-rethinking-acp-process|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Baptist Press|date=June 4, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, the church lost another 457,371 members (the largest drop in over a century) to 13,223,122, a similar level as the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smietana |first1=Bob |title=Southern Baptists lost nearly half a million members in 2022 |url=https://religionnews.com/2023/05/09/southern-baptist-convention-declined-by-nearly-half-a-million-members-in-2022/ |access-date=23 October 2023 |work=Religion News Service |date=9 May 2023}}</ref> ==Organization== [[File:First Brazilian Baptist Church (Charlestown).jpg|thumb|right|First Brazilian Baptist Church in [[Charlestown, Boston|Charlestown, Massachusetts]]]]{{Main |List of state and other conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention}}The denomination has four levels of organization: the local congregation, the local association, the state convention, and the national convention. There are 41 affiliated state conventions or fellowships.<ref name="aboutus">{{cite web|url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/|title=About Us: Meet the Southern Baptists|publisher=Southern Baptist Convention|access-date=August 25, 2010|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803103313/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/}}</ref> The national and state conventions and local associations are conceived as a cooperative association by which churches can voluntarily pool resources<ref>SBC membership does not prohibit a church from also supporting missionaries directly or also supporting other [[parachurch organization]]s such as [[Wycliffe USA|Wycliffe Bible Translators]].</ref> to support missionary and other work. Because of the basic Baptist principle of the autonomy of the local church and the [[congregationalist polity|congregationalist]] polity of the denomination,<ref name="autonomy" /> neither the national convention nor the state conventions or local associations has any administrative or ecclesiastical control over local churches; such a group may disfellowship a local congregation over an issue, but may not terminate its leadership or members or force its closure. The national convention has no authority over state conventions or local associations, nor do state conventions have authority over local associations. Furthermore, no individual congregation has any authority over any other individual congregation; a church may oversee another congregation voluntarily as a mission work, but that other congregation has the right to become an independent congregation at any time. {{blockquote|'''Article IV. Authority:''' While independent and sovereign in its own sphere, the Convention does not claim and will never attempt to exercise any authority over any other Baptist body, whether church, auxiliary organizations, associations, or convention.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/legal/constitution.asp | title = About Us | publisher = SBC | contribution = Constitution}}.</ref>}} The national convention maintains a central administrative organization in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Its executive committee exercises authority and control over seminaries and other institutions owned by the national convention. The national convention had around 10,000 ethnic churches as of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Sheila|title=Ethnic churches: Japanese church members live out faith, change lives|url=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=29587|access-date=November 12, 2011|newspaper=[[Baptist Press]]|date=December 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510234908/http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29587|archive-date=May 10, 2011}}</ref> Commitment to the autonomy of local churches was the primary force behind its executive committee's rejection of a proposal to create a convention-wide database of clergy accused of sexual crimes against congregants or other minors in order to stop the "recurring tide"<ref>{{cite magazine| url= http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/top10/article/0,30583,1855948_1861760_1862212,00.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081211071322/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/top10/article/0,30583,1855948_1861760_1862212,00.html | archive-date= December 11, 2008 | magazine=Time | title=The Top 10 Everything of 2008 | date = November 3, 2008 | access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Ulrich | first = Elizabeth | date = 2008-06-19 | url = http://www.nashvillescene.com/2008-06-19/news/save-yourselves/ | title = Save Yourselves | type = feature | newspaper = Nashville Scene | access-date = December 10, 2011 | archive-date = October 12, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081012162645/http://www.nashvillescene.com/2008-06-19/news/save-yourselves/ }}</ref> of clergy sexual abuse within affiliated congregations. A 2009 study by Lifeway Christian Resources, the convention's research and publishing arm, revealed that one in eight background checks for potential volunteers or workers in churches revealed a history of crime that could have prevented them from working.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lifeway.com/article/?id=169449 | title = Background checks help churches protect children | publisher = Lifeway | access-date = December 10, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The denominational statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message,<ref name="BFM2000" /> is not binding on churches or members due to the autonomy of the local church (though national convention employees and missionaries must agree to its views as a condition of employment or missionary support).<ref name=autonomy/> Politically and culturally, Southern/Great Commission Baptists tend to be conservative. Most oppose homosexual activity and abortion.<ref name="Reuters1" /> ===Pastor and deacon=== Generally, Baptists recognize only two scriptural offices: pastor-teacher and [[deacon]]. The convention passed a resolution in the early 1980s recognizing that offices requiring ordination are restricted to men. According to the Baptist Faith and Message, the office of ''pastor'' is limited to men based on certain [[New Testament]] scriptures.<ref name="aboutus-faq9">{{Citation |title=FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/faqs.asp#9 |contribution=Can women be pastors or deacons in the SBC? |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |access-date=July 19, 2009 |archive-date=July 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722184856/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/faqs.asp#9 |url-status=dead }}.</ref> ===Annual meeting=== [[File:Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter at the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta, GA. - NARA - 179897.tif|thumb|upright=1.15|President [[Jimmy Carter]] addressing the SBC in Atlanta in 1978 (in 2000, Carter broke with the SBC over its position on the status of women).<ref>{{cite web |title=Jimmy Carter Leaves Southern Baptists |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95311&page=1 |website=ABC News |access-date=3 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>]] The annual meeting (held in June, over a two-day period) consists of delegates (called "messengers") from cooperating churches. The messengers confer and determine the programs, policies, and budget of the convention, and elect the officers and committees. Each cooperating church is allowed up to two messengers regardless of the amount given to convention entities, and may have more depending on the amount of giving (either in terms of dollars or percent of the church's budget), but the maximum number of messengers permitted from any church is 12. ==Missions and affiliated organizations== ===Cooperative Program=== The Cooperative Program (CP) is the organization's unified funds collection and distribution program for the support of regional, national and international ministries; the CP is funded by contributions from affiliated congregations.<ref name="CP1">{{cite web |title=What is the Cooperative Program? |url=http://www.cpmissions.net/2003/what%20is%20cp.asp |access-date=March 21, 2010 |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225094418/http://www.cpmissions.net/2003/what%20is%20cp.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, the local congregations of the denomination reported gift receipts of $11.1 billion.<ref name="2009AR-CP">{{cite book |title=Annual of the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention | publisher = Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention |date=June 2009| pages=109–11| url = http://sbcec.org/bor/2009/2009SBCAnnual.pdf |access-date= March 21, 2010 }}</ref> From this they sent $548 million, approximately five percent, to their state Baptist conventions through the CP.<ref name="2009AR-CP" /> Of this amount, the state Baptist conventions retained $344 million for their work. Two hundred and four million dollars was sent on to the national CP budget for the support of denomination-wide ministries.<ref name="2009AR-CP" /> ===Missions agencies=== The denomination was organized in 1845 primarily for the purpose of creating a mission board to support the sending of Baptist missionaries, albeit slaveholding missionaries. The [[North American Mission Board]], or NAMB, (founded as the Domestic Mission Board, and later the Home Mission Board) in [[Alpharetta, Georgia]] serves missionaries involved in [[evangelism]] and [[church planting]] in the U.S. and Canada, while the [[International Mission Board]], or IMB, (originally the Foreign Mission Board) in [[Richmond, Virginia]], sponsors missionaries to the rest of the world. Baptist Men is the mission organization for men in the convention's churches, and is under the North American Mission Board. The [[Woman's Missionary Union]], founded in 1888, is an auxiliary to the national convention, which helps facilitate two large annual missions offerings: the [[Annie Armstrong]] Easter Offering (for North American missions) and the [[Lottie Moon]] Christmas Offering (for international missions). ===Southern Baptist Disaster Relief=== [[File:FEMA - 15500 - Photograph by Mark Wolfe taken on 09-12-2005 in Mississippi.jpg|thumb|Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief volunteers prepare food in [[D'Iberville, Mississippi]], September 12, 2005]] Among the more visible organizations within the North American Mission Board is Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. In 1967, a small group of Texas Southern Baptist volunteers helped victims of [[Hurricane Beulah]] by serving hot food cooked on small "buddy burners". In 2005, volunteers responded to 166 named disasters, prepared 17,124,738 meals, repaired 7,246 homes, and removed debris from 13,986 yards.<ref>{{Citation | title = CBADR | url = http://cbadr.net/index.cfm/pageid/NewsE68324/articleaction/view/articleid/NAMBF58765/ | access-date = 2010-03-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131105130803/http://cbadr.net/index.cfm/pageid/NewsE68324/articleaction/view/articleid/NAMBF58765/ | archive-date = November 5, 2013 }}.</ref> Southern Baptist Disaster Relief provides many different types: food, water, child care, communication, showers, laundry, repairs, rebuilding, or other essential tangible items that contribute to the resumption of life following the crisis—and the message of the Gospel. All assistance is provided to individuals and communities free of charge. SBC DR volunteer kitchens prepare much of the food distributed by the Red Cross in major disasters.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf | publisher = Red cross | title = Katrina One Year Report | access-date = December 10, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120121200321/http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf | archive-date = January 21, 2012 }}</ref> ===Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools=== The SBC has various affiliated primary and secondary schools, gathered in the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools.<ref>Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools, [https://nacschools.org/directory/ MEMBER SCHOOLS DIRECTORY], nacschools.org, USA, retrieved October 22, 2022</ref> ===Universities and colleges === {{main |Universities and colleges affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention}} [[File:Baylor University June 2016 63 (Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center).jpg|thumb|221x221px|Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center, [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas]], affiliated with the convention through the [[Texas Baptists]]]] The SBC has several affiliated universities.<ref>Southern Baptist Convention, [https://www.sbc.net/resources/directories/colleges-and-universities/ Colleges and Universities], sbc.net, USA, retrieved October 22, 2022</ref> === Seminaries=== [[File:NOBTS chapel.jpg|thumb|[[New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary]]'s chapel]] The national convention directly supports six theological seminaries devoted to ministry preparation.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/entities/seminaries.asp | title = Southern Baptist Theological Seminaries | website = www.sbc.net | access-date = June 27, 2016 | archive-date = May 13, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160513064317/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/entities/seminaries.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> * [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]], [[Louisville, Kentucky]] (1859, originally in Greenville, South Carolina) * [[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]], [[Fort Worth, Texas]] (1908, originally part of Baylor University in Waco, Texas). * [[New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary]], [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]] (1916, originally New Orleans Baptist Bible Institute) * [[Gateway Seminary]], [[Ontario, California]] (1944, originally in Oakland, California, and formerly called Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary) * [[Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary]], [[Wake Forest, North Carolina]] (1950) * [[Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]], [[Kansas City, Missouri]] (1957) ===Other organizations=== Other notable organizations under the national convention include ''[[Baptist Press]]'', the nation's largest Christian news service, established by the convention in 1946; [[Baptist Collegiate Network]], the college-level organization operating campus and international missions typically known as the Baptist Student Union and Baptist Collegiate Ministries;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=Home - College Ministry |url=https://collegeministry.com/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=collegeministry.com |language=en-US}}</ref> GuideStone Financial Resources (formerly called the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and founded in 1918 as the Relief Board of the Southern Baptist Convention), which provides insurance, retirement, and investment services to churches, ministers, and employees of affiliated churches and agencies (it does not limit its services to member churches and members); [[LifeWay Christian Resources]], founded as the Baptist Sunday School Board in 1891, one of the nation's largest Christian publishing houses, which previously operated the "LifeWay Christian Stores" (formerly "Baptist Book Stores") until closing physical stores in 2019; [[Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission]] (formerly known as the Christian Life Commission of the SBC), dedicated to addressing social and moral concerns and their implications on public policy issues from city hall to Congress and the courts; and the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, in Nashville, Tennessee, the official depository for the denomination's archives and a research center for the study of Baptists worldwide. The SBHLA website includes digital resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbhla.org/|title=Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archive - Baptist history, Baptist Archives, church records, church history|website=www.sbhla.org|access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> ==Controversies== During its history, the organization has had several periods of major internal controversy—from its establishment to the present day. ===Landmark controversy=== In the 1850s–1860s, a group of young activists called for a return to certain early practices, or what they called [[Landmark Baptist Church|Landmarkism]]. Other leaders disagreed with their assertions, and the Baptist congregations became split on the issues. Eventually, the disagreements led to the formation of Gospel Missions and the [[American Baptist Association]] (1924), as well as many unaffiliated independent churches. One historian called the related James Robinson Graves—Robert Boyte Crawford Howell controversy (1858–60) the greatest to affect the denomination before that of the late 20th century involving the fundamentalist-moderate break.{{sfn|Tull|2000|p=85}} ===Whitsitt controversy=== In the Whitsitt controversy of 1896–99,{{Sfn | McBeth | 1987 | pp = 446–58}} William H. Whitsitt, a professor at [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]], suggested that, contrary to earlier thought, English Baptists did not begin to baptize by [[Baptism by immersion|immersion]] until 1641, when some [[Anabaptist]]s, as they were then called, began to practice immersion. This overturned the idea of immersion as the practice of the earliest Baptists as some of the Landmarkists contended. ===Moderates–conservatives controversy=== [[File:BH Carroll Memorial Building Rotunda (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX).JPG|thumb|B.H. Carroll Memorial Building, the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's main administrative building]] The [[Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence]] ({{circa|1970–2000}}) was an intense struggle for control of the national convention's resources and ideological direction.{{Sfn | McBeth | 1987 | pp = 681ff}} In July 1961, Professor Ralph Elliott at [[Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] published ''The Message of Genesis'', a book rejecting [[biblical inerrancy]].<ref>Pauline J. Chang, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/commemorating-twenty-five-years-of-sbc-146-s-conservative-resurgence.html Commemorating Twenty Five Years of SBC’s Conservative Resurgence], christianpost.com, USA, March 31, 2004</ref> In the 1970s, other convention seminary professors came under suspicion of [[liberal Christianity]]. In response to these events, a group of pastors led by Judge [[Paul Pressler (Texas politician)|Paul Pressler]] and Pastor [[Paige Patterson]] campaigned at conferences in churches for a more conservative direction in Convention policies.<ref>Frances FitzGerald, ''The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America'', Simon and Schuster, USA, 2017, p. 264</ref> This group's candidate, [[Adrian Rogers]], was elected Convention president at the 1979 annual meeting. After the election, the organization's new leaders replaced all Southern Baptist agency leaders with people said to be more conservative. Its initiators called it a "[[Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence]]", while its moderate opponents called it a "[[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] takeover".{{sfn|James|Jackson|Shepherd|Showalter|2006}} [[Russell H. Dilday]], president of the [[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]] from 1978 to 1994,{{sfn|McBeth|1987}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Steinfels |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Steinfels |date=March 11, 1994 |title=Baptists Dismiss Seminary Head In Surprise Move |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/11/us/baptists-dismiss-seminary-head-in-surprise-move.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=October 15, 2016}}</ref> said the resurgence fragmented Southern Baptist fellowship and was "far more serious than [a controversy]",{{sfn|Dilday|2007|p=2}} calling it as "a self-destructive, contentious, one-sided feud that at times took on combative characteristics".{{sfn|Dilday|2007|p=2}} Since 1979, Southern Baptists had become polarized into two major groups: moderates and conservatives. Reflecting the conservative majority votes of messengers at the 1979 annual meeting of the SBC, the new national organization officers replaced all leaders of Southern Baptist agencies with presumably more conservative people (often dubbed "fundamentalist" by dissenters).{{efn|The era of conservative resurgence was accompanied by the erosion of more-liberal members (see, e.g., [[G. Avery Lee]]).}}{{sfn|Humphreys|2002}} In 1984, this group was heavily involved in passing a resolution excluding women from pastoral leadership.<ref name="upi.com"/> In 1987, a group of churches criticized the fundamentalists for controlling the leadership and founded the [[Alliance of Baptists]].<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 14</ref> A group of moderate churches criticized the denomination for the same reasons, as well as opposition to [[Ordination of women|women's ministry]], and founded the [[Cooperative Baptist Fellowship]] in 1991.<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 169</ref><ref>Richard Leigh Walker, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1991/june-24/southern-baptists-moderates-form-alternative-fellowship.html Southern Baptists: Moderates Form Alternative Fellowship], christianitytoday.com, USA, June 24, 1991</ref> === LGBTQ === Since 1992, the national convention has carried out [[excommunication]]s of various churches that support LGBTQ inclusion.<ref name="auto1" /> In 2018, the [[District of Columbia Baptist Convention]] was excommunicated for this reason.<ref>{{cite news | last = Roach | first = David | title = SBC Ends Relationship with DC Convention| newspaper = [[Baptist Press]] | publisher = Southern Baptist Convention | date = May 22, 2018 | url = http://bpnews.net/50939/sbc-ends-relationship-with-dc-convention | access-date = May 28, 2018 }}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|United States|Evangelical Christianity|}} * [[List of Baptist denominations]] * [[List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people]] * [[List of the largest Protestant denominations]] * [[Evangelicalism in the United States]] * [[Southern Baptist Convention Presidents]] * [[Christian views on slavery#Baptists|Christian views on slavery]] * [[Christianity in the United States]] * [[Religion in the United States]] ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== ===Footnotes=== {{Reflist |30em}} ===Bibliography=== {{refbegin|35em|indent=yes}} * {{cite journal |last=Beeman |first=Richard R. |author-link=Richard Beeman |year=1978 |title=Social Change and Cultural Conflict in Virginia: Lunenburg County, 1746 to 1774 |journal=[[William and Mary Quarterly]] |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=455–76 |doi=10.2307/1921659 |jstor=1921659 }} * {{cite journal |last=Brooks |first=Walter H. |title=The Evolution of the Negro Baptist Church |year=1922 |journal=[[Journal of Negro History]] |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=11–22 |doi=10.2307/2713578 |jstor=2713578 |s2cid=149662445 }} * {{cite book |last=Dilday |first=Russell |author-link=Russell H. Dilday |year=2007 |title=Higher Ground: A Call for Christian Civility |location=Macon, Georgia |publisher=Smyth & Helwys Publishing |isbn=978-1-57312-469-0 }} * {{cite book |editor-last=Early |editor-first=Joseph Jr. |year=2008 |title=Readings in Baptist History: Four Centuries of Selected Documents |location=Nashville, Tennessee |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-8054-4674-6 }} * {{cite book |last=Finn |first=Nathan A. |year=2010 |chapter=Southern Baptist History: A Great Commission Reading |editor1-last=Lawless |editor1-first=Chuck |editor2-last=Greenway |editor2-first=Adam W. |title=The Great Commission Resurgence: Fulfilling God's Mandate in Our Time |location=Nashville, Tennessee |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-4336-7216-3 }} * {{cite book |last=Hefley |first=James C. |year=1991 |title=The Truth in Crisis. Volume 6: The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention |location=Hannibal, Missouri |publisher=Hannibal Books |isbn=978-0-929292-19-9 }} * {{cite book |last=Heyrman |first=Christine Leigh |year=1998 |title=Southern Cross: The Beginning of the Bible Belt |location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina |publisher=University of North Carolina Press }} * {{cite book |last=Hankins |first=Barry |year=2002 |title=Uneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |isbn=978-0-8173-5081-9 }} * {{cite book |last=Humphreys |first=Fisher |year=2002 |title=The Way We Were: How Southern Baptist Theology Has Changed and What It Means to Us All |location=Macon, Georgia |publisher=Smyth & Helwys |isbn=978-1-57312-376-1 }} * {{cite journal |last=Isaac |first=Rhys |author-link=Rhys Isaac |year=1974 |title=Evangelical Revolt: The Nature of the Baptists' Challenge to the Traditional Order in Virginia, 1765 to 1775 |journal=[[William and Mary Quarterly]] |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=345–68 |doi=10.2307/1921628 |jstor=1921628 }} * {{cite book |last1=James |first1=Robison B. |last2=Jackson |first2=Barbara |last3=Shepherd |first3=Robert E. Jr. |last4=Showalter |first4=Cornelia |year=2006 |title=The Fundamentalist Takeover in the Southern Baptist Convention: A Brief History |url=http://www.sbctakeover.com/TakeoverBook.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104080306/http://www.sbctakeover.com/TakeoverBook.pdf |archive-date=2009-11-04 |url-status=live |edition=4th |location=Washington, Georgia |publisher=Wilkes Publishing Company |access-date=October 15, 2016 }} * {{cite book |last = Johnson |first = Robert E. |title = A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches |publisher = Cambridge University Press |date = 2010 |page = 349 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DnsXxtEiNlAC |isbn = 978-1-139-78898-4 }} * {{cite book |last=Kolchin |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Kolchin |year=1993 |title=American Slavery, 1619–1877 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780809015542 |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Hill & Wang |isbn=978-0-8090-2568-8 }} * {{cite journal |last=Kroll-Smith |first=J. Stephen |year=1984 |title=Transmitting a Revival Culture: The Organizational Dynamic of the Baptist Movement in Colonial Virginia, 1760–1777 |journal=Journal of Southern History |volume=50 |issue=4 |pages=551–68 |doi=10.2307/2208472 |jstor=2208472 }} * {{cite book |last=McBeth |first=H. Leon |year=1987 |title=The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness |location=Nashville, Tennessee |publisher=Broadman Press |isbn=978-0-8054-6569-3 }} * {{cite encyclopedia |editor1-last=Miller |editor1-first=Randall M. |editor2-last=Smith |editor2-first=John David |year=1997 |title=Dictionary of Afro-American Slavery |edition=2nd |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=Praeger Publishers |isbn=978-0-275-95799-5 }} * {{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Aldon D. |author1-link=Aldon Morris |last2=Lee |first2=Shayne |year=2005 |chapter=The National Baptist Convention: Traditions and Contemporary Challenges |chapter-url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/denom/AMorrisAndSLeeNBC.pdf |editor1-last=Roozen |editor1-first=David A. |editor2-last=Nieman |editor2-first=James R. |title=Church, Identity, and Changes: Theology and Denominational Structures in Unsettled Times |url-status=live |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. |pages=336–379 |isbn=978-0-8028-2819-4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906151632/http://hirr.hartsem.edu/denom/AMorrisAndSLeeNBC.pdf |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=October 25, 2016 }} * {{cite book |year=2007 |chapter=Divergent Worship Practices in the Sunday Morning Hour: Analysis of an 'Interracial' Church Merger Attempt |first1=Kersten Bayt |last1=Priest |first2=Robert J. |last2=Priest |editor1-last=Priest |editor1-first=Robert J. |editor2-last=Nieves |editor2-first=Alvaro L. |title=This Side of Heaven: Race, Ethnicity, and Christian Faith |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=275–292 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195310566.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-531056-6 }} * {{cite book |year=2007 |chapter=Appendix I: Timeline: Race and Ethnicity in the United States |editor1-last=Priest |editor1-first=Robert J. |editor2-last=Nieves |editor2-first=Alvaro L. |title=This Side of Heaven: Race, Ethnicity, and Christian Faith |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=335–339 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195310566.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-531056-6 }} * {{cite book |last=Raboteau |first=Albert J. |author-link=Albert J. Raboteau |year=2004 |title=Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South |edition=updated |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-517413-7 }} * {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=James B. |year=1859 |title=Virginia Baptist Ministers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6acydIhxlEC |volume=1 |location=New York |publisher=Sheldon and Company |access-date=October 15, 2016 }} * {{cite book |last=Tull |first=James E. |year=2000 |title=High-Church Baptists in the South: The Origin, Nature, and Influence of Landmarkism |edition=rev. |location=Macon, Georgia |publisher=Mercer University Press |isbn=978-0-86554-705-6 }} {{refend}} ==Further reading== {{refbegin|35em|indent=yes}} * {{Citation | last = Ammerman | first = Nancy | title = Baptist Battles: Social Change and Religious Conflict in the Southern Baptist Convention | publisher = Rutgers University Press | year = 1990}}. * {{Citation | editor-last = Ammerman | editor-first = Nancy | title = Southern Baptists Observed | publisher = University of Tennessee Press | year = 1993 | editor-mask = {{longdash}}}}. * {{Citation | editor-last = Baker | editor-first = Robert | title = A Baptist Source Book | place = Nashville, TN | publisher = Broadman | year = 1966}}. * {{Citation | last = Baker | first = Robert | title = The Southern Baptist Convention and Its People, 1607–1972 | publisher = Broadman | year = 1974 | author-mask = {{long dash}}}}. * Barnes, William. ''The Southern Baptist Convention, 1845–1953'' Broadman Press, 1954. * Eighmy, John. ''Churches in Cultural Captivity: A History of the Social Attitudes of Southern Baptists.'' University of Tennessee Press, 1972. * ''Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists: Presenting Their History, Doctrine, Polity, Life, Leadership, Organization & Work'' Knoxville: Broadman Press, v 1–2 (1958), 1500 pp; 2 supplementary volumes 1958 and 1962; vol 5. Index, 1984 * Farnsley II, Arthur Emery, ''Southern Baptist Politics: Authority and Power in the Restructuring of an American Denomination''; Pennsylvania State University Press, 1994 * Flowers, Elizabeth H. ''Into the Pulpit: Southern Baptist Women and Power Since World War II'' (University of North Carolina Press; 2012) 263 pages; examines women's submission to male authority as a pivotal issue in the clash between conservatives and moderates in the SBC * Fuller, A. James. ''Chaplain to the Confederacy: Basil Manly and Baptist Life in the Old South'' (2002) * Gatewood, Willard. ''Controversy in the 1920s: Fundamentalism, Modernism, and Evolution.'' Vanderbilt University Press, 1969. * Harvey, Paul. ''Redeeming the South: Religious Cultures and Racial Identities among Southern Baptists, 1865–1925.'' University of North Carolina Press, 1997 * Hill, Samuel, et al. ''Encyclopedia of Religion in the South'' (2005) * Hunt, Alma. ''Woman's Missionary Union'' (1964) [https://archive.org/details/womansmissionary00hunt Online free] * Kell, Carl L. and L. Raymond Camp, ''In the Name of the Father: The Rhetoric of the New Southern Baptist Convention.'' Southern Illinois University Press, 1999. * Kidd, Thomas S. and Barry Hankins. ''Baptists in America: A History.'' Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2015. * Leonard, Bill J. ''God's Last and Only Hope: The Fragmentation of the Southern Baptist Convention.'' Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990. * Lumpkin, William L. ''Baptist History in the South: Tracing through the Separates the Influence of the Great Awakening, 1754–1787'' (1995) * McSwain, Larry L. ''Loving Beyond Your Theology: The Life and Ministry of Jimmy Raymond Allen'' (Mercer University Press; 2010) 255 pages. A biography of the Arkansas-born pastor (b. 1927), who was the last moderate president of the SBC * Marsden, George. ''Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of 20th Century Evangelicalism.'' Oxford University Press, 1980. * {{Citation | title = Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States | year = 2000 | publisher = Glenmary Research Center}}. * {{Citation | last = Rosenberg | first = Ellen | title = The Southern Baptists: A Subculture in Transition | publisher = University of Tennessee Press | year = 1989}}. * Scales, T. Laine. ''All That Fits a Woman: Training Southern Baptist Women for Charity and Mission, 1907–1926'' Mercer U. Press 2002 * Smith, Oran P. ''The Rise of Baptist Republicanism'' (1997), on recent voting behavior * Spain, Rufus B.'' At Ease in Zion: A Social History of Southern Baptists, 1865–1900'' (1961) * Sutton, Jerry. ''The Baptist Reformation: The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention'' (2000). * Wills, Gregory A.'' Democratic Religion: Freedom, Authority, and Church Discipline in the Baptist South, 1785–1900.'' Oxford University Press, 1997 * Yarnell III, Malcolm B. 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