National Baptist has been the name of black Baptist churches since 1886, or earlier. Although they weren't the first black Christian churches created after emancipation, they have proven to be long-lasting.
The first black Baptist church association in the United States was probably the Providence Baptist Association of Ohio, which was formed in 1836, but the first attempt at establishing a national black Baptist association was in 1880, in Montgomery, Alabama.
In the South, prior to emancipation, there were black preachers who met in secret with groups of slaves, but there was nothing in the way of an organizational structure. Most black slaves attended white churches, where they were relegated to the balcony, known as the gallery. The end of slavery brought immediate consequences for church life among the freed slaves. Despite the failure of Reconstruction to secure true civil rights, and despite growing racism following the Civil War, blacks were able to take control of their religious lives.
Although some chose to create black churches affiliated with predominantly white denominations, particularly the Northern Baptist Convention, emancipation opened the door to the creation of new denominations, primarily in the South. The first were the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, both of which were separate from the white Episcopal and Presbyterian denominations. Baptist organization was more fragmented, but longer lasting.
State conventions of black Baptists formed slowly, but several black Baptist churches were created. These black churches quickly became the center of black culture in the South. The failure of Reconstruction and the eventual withdrawal of Union troops marked the beginning of violent repression associated with the Ku Klux Klan and the enactment of Jim Crow laws. These conditions stripped the freed slaves of control over every institution except for the church. Conditions were better in the North, but racial prejudice was just as widespread, and blacks were largely shut out of political, literary, and business life. The result, in the North as well as the South, was dynamic churches.
By 1876, all of the Southern states except Florida had a state missionary convention. The first attempt at national organization was in 1880, with the Foreign Mission Baptist Convention in Montgomer, Alabama. In 1886, the American National Baptist Convention was organized in Saint Louis. In 1893, the Baptist National Educational Convention was established in Washington, DC. These three organizations merged to form the National Baptist Convention of America in 1895. After a split in 1907 over the control of publishing, the National Baptist Convention of the USA was formed. Today, these two denominations account for the largest cluster of black Christians in the United States.
Of these, the National Baptist Convention USA is the largest. There has been some fragmentation, however. In the 1960s, there was a split over support for Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. These led to the formation of the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America.
The National Baptist Convention of America is strongest in Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana, but it also has large memberships in California and Florida.
The National Baptist Convention USA held itself apart from political or social involvement during the Civil Rights period, in which many black pastors and church members worked for racial justice. However, in recent years it has been active in social justice issues and voter registration drives. The autonomous nature of the denomination allows local congregations to interpret Scripture and define theology on issues not specified in its Articles of Faith.
The Progressive National Baptist Convention was formed in 1961 over the Civil Rights issue, after Martin Luther King Jr. was purged from the National Baptist Convention USA. The PNVC has followed a path of social activism, and generally takes a more liberal stance than most Baptist bodies.
The National Missionary Baptist Convention was founded in 1988 after breaking with the National Baptist Convention of America over publishing issues. Its greatest strength is in California and Texas, although there are fourteen state conventions within the denomination.
The National Primitive Baptist Convention of the USA is also a black denomination, created in Alabama in 1907, but it shares its origins with the Primitive Baptists rather than the National Baptists, and will be listed in that area of the directory.
This category, and any subcategories, is focused on the predominantly black National Baptist religious bodies. Topics related to the National Baptists or to any of the denominations that evolved from them are appropriate here.
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National Baptist Convention USA |
Recommended Resources
Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International
The FGBCF is a charismatic Baptist fellowship which was founded in 1994 after separating from the National Baptist Convention of America in 1992. One of its distinctives is a belief in the free expression of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Its goals and values are highlighted, along with member congregations, ministries, and movements, as well as a schedule of conferences, photographs, video, and access to various reports and other documents.
https://www.fullgospelbaptist.org/
Founded as the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society, the global Christian missions community is named for the Rev. Lott Carey, who was born a slave in Virginia, purchased his freedom in 1813, and led the first Baptist missionaries to Africa from the United States in 1821, settling in Liberia. Founded in 1897 by African-American Baptists with a zeal for foreign missionary work, particularly to Africa, the association is headquartered in Maryland.
http://lottcarey.org/
National Baptist Convention of America International
NBCA International is a predominantly black Baptist denomination with members in the United States, Canada, and Africa. The denomination was formed by churches who left the National Baptist Convention USA in 1915 over the issue of keeping its publishing board independent and is currently headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana. Its history, membership policies, and a list of member churches are put forth, along with its organizational structure, departments, and publishing arm.
http://www.nbcainc.com/
National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
The NMBCA is an African-American Baptist convention that separated from the National Baptist Convention of America in 1988 over a dispute relating to control of its publishing arm. Its history, a mission and doctrinal statement, affiliations, and contacts are posted, along with a calendar of events and a gallery of photographs. Its officers, boards, and support staff are named. Auxiliary boards, commissions, committees, and youth convention are discussed.
http://www.nmbca.org/
A subsidiary of the National Baptist Convention of America International, NBCA Press publishes or procures literature and other products for member churches and mission efforts, including Sunday School curricula for all ages, from preschool to adults, as well as other Bible study curricula, lesson plans, and guides. Some of its Sunday School lesson plans may be downloaded in PDF format, and an online shopping area allows for the purchase of books and other publications.
http://www.nbcapress.net/
The Annual Session of the Progressive National Baptist Convention is featured here, including its dates, times, and location, an invitation from the PNBC General Secretary and President, as well as schedules, a lineup of scheduled speakers, and online registration. Hotel accommodations are described, and rooms may be booked online. Congress classes, its pastor’s division, and youth programs are included, and announcements are posted to the site.
http://www.pnbcas.com/
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the PNBC is a predominantly African-American Baptist denomination established in 1961 after breaking with the National Baptist Convention USA over its refusal to take part in the Civil Rights Movement. Its history, president, officers, and leadership structure are defined. Its membership policies, stewardship and giving policies, meeting schedules, and a list of member churches are set forth.
http://www.pnbc.org/
R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
Founded by Richard Henry Boyd, an African-American minister and businessman who also founded and headed the National Baptist Publishing Board and the National Baptist Convention of America, the publishing company continues to serve the Convention, publishing Sunday School materials, Boyd’s Commentary, and a large selection of hymnals and church supplies. Its history and products are highlighted and an online shopping area allows for online orders.
http://www.nationalbaptistcongress.org/
