Baptists are distinguished by their belief in baptizing only professed believers, and doing so by immersion rather than sprinkling. Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a Baptist denomination because Baptist congregations are congregational.
Baptist groups are generally grouped together for the purpose of fellowship among churches with shared tenets or practices. National conventions of Baptists have been established to organize educational and missionary work, to administer pension plans, and for other purposes. For the purposes of categorization, these national conventions will be considered denominations.
State and regional conventions usually meet once a year, with delegates from member churches in the given area. Conventions receive reports, make recommendations, and raise funds for missions, but they have no enforcement authority over the member churches. Each congregation enjoys a large degree of freedom. Perhaps because of this, the Baptists are a very diverse group, and a large one; particularly in the United States.
The Southern Baptist Convention is second only to the Roman Catholic Church in number of members. The largest Baptist conventions worldwide are the Southern Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention, Nigerian Baptist Convention, National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, National Baptist Convention of America, Baptist Union of Uganda, Baptist Community of Western Congo, Baptist General Convention of Texas, Baptist Convention of Tanzania, and the Brazilian Baptist Convention.
Baptist themes were found in the 16th century Anabaptists, but they didn't come together as an identifiable community until much later. Most Baptist historians trace their history to Amsterdam in the early 17th century, naming John Smyth as the first Baptist pastor. Ordained as an Anglican priest in 1594, Smyth soon broke with the Church of England. He became acquainted with a group of Anabaptists in the Netherlands after fleeing England. He adopted many of the traits of the Anabaptists, namely the rejection of infant baptism in favor of the baptism of believers, which became the hallmark of the Baptists.
Along with Thomas Helwys, Smyth fo.unded the General Baptist denomination. According to some histories, disputed by others, Smyth and a part of the church later joined a Mennonite church in Amsterdam, while Helwys returned to England where he founded the General Baptist denomination.
Whatever their origins, when the Baptists emerged on the religious scene in England, they were associated with the Puritans, also known as English Separatists. They agreed with much of the theology held by the Puritans, but broke with them over the issue of infant baptism.
From the start, Baptist congregations were independent and, like the Anabaptists, they called for a separation of church and state, denying that the state should have no authority to suppress religious beliefs. English Baptists struggled to exist in a hostile environment. Nevertheless, a number of other Baptist churches emerged, and became known as the General Baptists. Another group of Baptists, known as the Particular Baptists, were formed when a group of Calvinist Separatists adopted believers' baptism.
The first Baptists came to America from England, and from the Netherlands, in the 17th century. The first Baptist church in America was established at Providence, Rhode Island, by Roger Williams in 1639. In 1702, Paul Palmer began a movement among the General Baptists that became the Free Will Baptists. Before the end of the 17th century, the Free Will Baptists had grown considerably, particularly in the South, but there were also several congregations in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
The first Baptist association was formed in William Penn's colony in 1707. The Philadelphia Association adopted the London Confession of Faith, later revising it as the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. In the early 19th century, it was again revised as the New Hampshire Confession of Faith, which became the most popular statement of faith among Baptist groups in the United States. The Philadelphia Association was the model from which other associations were later formed.
Baptist preachers were particularly effective in converting African-Americans to Christianity prior to emancipation. Most African-Americans, in the North and the South, were either Baptist or Methodist. In the South, church was one place where blacks and whites interacted socially, although slaves had to sit in the galleries of white churches. On ocassion, a black preacher would be emancipated so that he could work full-time among black congregants. A few black churches were established in the South prior to the Civil War, but mostly they met clandestinely. Following emancipation, Baptist congregations divided along racial lines, and many remain so today.
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Formed in 1987 by a group of liberal churches and individuals who separated from the Southern Baptist Convention due to its conservative theological positions, the fellowship was originally known as the Southern Baptist Alliance. Many of its congregations now hold dual memberships in the American Baptist Churches USA, the United Church of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Its history, member churches, partnerships, and ministry opportunities are highlighted.
https://allianceofbaptists.org/
Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies
Situated on the campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, The Andrew Fuller Center promotes the study of Baptist history, which includes a theological reflection on the historical significances of events. A biographical sketch of Andrew Fuller is presented, along with a schedule of lectures and talks by members of the Center, book recommendations and reviews, and a review of the Andrew Fuller Works Project.
http://andrewfullercenter.org/
Association of Librarians & Archivists at Baptist Institutions
ALABI is an association for librarians and archivists who work with Baptist materials, serving to provide a framework for its members to share their interests and pursue common goals. Its constitution and bylaws, membership policies, a list of members and officers, meeting schedules, contacts, and a blog. An overview and history of the association is included. Available positions are posted to the site.
http://alabi.org/
A ministry of Matthew Gage, the site discusses a number of topics related to Baptists, including the reasons the author is a Baptist, an essay on what a Baptist is, a look at Baptist distinctives, Baptist history, and a refutation of the view that Baptists began in England. Other topics include independent, fundamental Baptists, and a description of their positions. The author also takes the view that Baptists have always existed outside of the Catholic Church.
http://www.baptistbasics.org/
Offering information about Baptists, the site includes links to several articles that can be downloaded in PDF and text-only format, as well as other materials in the Baptist Identity Series, study guides, and other leaflets or booklets that can be ordered. Other resources include a summary of the history of Baptists, and an online store that offers Baptist history, heritage, and study guides in print, which may be purchased.
https://www.baptistdistinctives.org/
Baptist Evangelistic Missionary Association
Founded in Canada in 1929, the organization ministered to a Russian immigrant population and was first known as the Refugee Evangelistic Association, which was later changed to Russian Evangelistic Association, taking its current name in 1967. Currently headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, BEMA is active in about thirty countries. Its current missions and programs are highlighted, along with volunteer opportunities, and contacts.
http://www.bemamissions.org/
Sponsored by the Association of Librarians and Archivists at Baptist Institutions, the site offers a variety of Baptist digital resources, arranged alphabetically by types of material, including annuals, archival collections, biographies, books and pamphlets, historical papers, newspapers, oral history collections, and periodicals, as well as Baptist histories and links to other informational sites. Project grant information is also available.
http://www.baptistheritage.com/
Baptist History & Heritage Society
The non-profit organization of Baptist historians and institutions has members throughout the world, formed for the purpose of researching, interpreting, publishing, and advocating for Baptist history. Its board of directors and partners are acknowledged, along with the organization's awards. Its triennial publication, Baptist History & Heritage, may be ordered online, and a shopping area offers books and other publications.
http://www.baptisthistory.org/
John Leland Baptist College offers the text of original Baptist documents, which includes letters, church histories, biographies, and the writings of early British Baptists, as well as information from and about Baptist missionaries, and other Baptists on a variety of topics. The early Boone County, Kentucky Baptists are highlighted, along with Canadian Baptists, Baptist controversies, Bible studies, and sermons.
http://www.baptisthistoryhomepage.com/
Online since May of 1995, Baptist Org is among the longest continually operating sites on the Internet. The site provides an opportunity for Baptists to establish a presence on a major Christian site, including serving as an editor of a ministry group, contributing its forum, writing Baptist articles or testimonies, or making sure that their own pastor, church, mission board, or other ministries are listed. Its writer policies are posted on the site.
http://baptist.org/
BSO is a collaborative effort by Baptist scholars from a variety of traditions, with funding by California Baptist University, the site is dedicated to Baptist history and tradition, An annual Journal of Baptist Studies is published, with archives back to 2007, as well as primary sources include histories, biographies, catechisms, letters, newspaper articles, tracts, hymns, sermons, and other works.
http://baptiststudiesonline.com/
The Baptist Union of Scotland is the chief association for Baptist churches in Scotland and is part of the European Baptist Federation. Its councils and assemblies are acknowledged, along with member churches, its world missions programs, and contacts. Other resources include a ministry handbook, its accredited ministry educational programs, and continuing ministerial development. Church leadership and an overview of its properties are included.
https://www.scottishbaptist.com/
The publishing arm of the Texas Baptist Convention produces Bible study guides for people of all ages, including large-print guides, teaching guides, and others, on paper and digital, some of which are available in simplified English, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Laotian, and Vietnamese. Other resources include language studies, teacher studies, and curricula, each of which are described here. Orders may be made through the site.
http://baptistwaypress.org/
The worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and associations was formed in London in 1905, during the Baptist World Congress, and is the largest organization of Baptist churches in the world. Its officers and staff are identified, along with regional fellowships, intra-Baptist relationships, its constitution, policies, and statistics. Programs and projects are highlighted, and a calendar of events, worship resources, promotional materials, theological papers, and other publications.
http://www.bwawd.org/
BWM is an independent Baptist missionary agency headquartered in Decatur, Alabama. Organized in 1961, Baptist World Mission has missionaries in more than fifty countries. A complete list of its missionaries is featured on its site, along with missionary statistics, an introduction to BWM administrators, administrative offices, and contacts. Sermons, devotionals, and various publications are available, and an overview of its missionary apprenticeship programs is included.
https://www.baptistworldmission.org/
Founded by Baptists from England in 1792, BMS World Mission was originally known as the Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Amongst the Heathen, although for most of its history it was known as the Baptist Missionary Society. BMS concentrates its work among marginalized and unchurched people, largely in undeveloped countries. Its leadership, ministries, and projects may be located through a search, and opportunities to contribute are published to the site.
https://www.bmsworldmission.org/
CBM is made up of four regional Baptist denominations in Canada, the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches, and the Union of French Baptist Churches of Canada, and is a member of the Baptist World Alliance. Its history, organizational structure, administrative contacts, member churches and organizations, and partnerships are set forth.
https://www.cbmin.org/
Operating under the name of CBAmerica, the Conservative Baptist Association of America is an association of autonomous Christian churches was organized in 1947, after separating from the Northern Baptist Convention. Its beliefs, vision, and mission are stated, along with an overview of its chaplaincy program, church multiplication, minister placement program, ministry mapping, peacemaking, and its retirement program.
https://cbamerica.org/
EBF is a federation of fifty-one Baptist associations, and one of six regional fellowships in the Baptist World Alliance. Its purpose, mission, and history are outlined, along with educational programs, organizational structure, councils, commissions, member unions, and mission partners. Its projects and programs are posted, along with council resolutions, and youth and children’s programs, music ministries, and medical missions.
http://www.ebf.org/
Foundations Baptist Fellowship International
Organized in 1920 as the National Federation of Fundamentalists of the Northern Baptists, at the time of controversy over fundamentalism versus modernism in the NBC, the fellowship worked for reform within the NBC until the 1940s, when they separated to form the Conservative Baptist Fellowship and helped form the Conservative Baptist Association of America. Breaking ties in 1967, they took the name Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of America, adopting their current name in 2017.
https://fbfi.org/
Global Independent Baptist Fellowship
The independent fellowship of Baptist churches was formed in 2000, with the intent of creating an organization of Baptist pastors, missionaries, and evangelists that could facilitate the planting of old-fashioned Baptist churches in the United States and on foreign soil. A profile of the GIBF is set forth, including a statement of purpose, articles of faith, and covenant, along with an introduction to its leadership, meeting schedules, and live-streaming messages.
http://gibf.org/
Global Independent Baptist Missions
As the missions arm of the Global Independent Baptist Fellowship, the site offers a welcome and an introduction to the missions body, a promotional video, and its board of directors, with contact information. Suggestions, advisories, and policies related to the sending of missionaries within the Fellowship are outlined, and its active supported missionaries are introduced, including sending churches and contacts. A directory of churches, missionaries, pastors, and evangelists is included.
http://gibmission.org/
Independent Baptist Fellowship International
IBFI was created in 1984, after separating from the World Baptist Fellowship over a dispute over the ownership and strategic planning of Arlington Baptist College. Having lost his lawsuit against the college, Raymond W. Barber, who was then president of WBF, brought together a group of pastors and missionaries to form the new organization. Its history, declaration of faith, goals, and announcements are posted to the site, its officers are listed, and its mission agency defined.
http://www.ibfi.us/
North American Baptist Women’s Union
A branch of the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department, NABWU is a women’s network operating in the United States and Canada, offering encouragement and support for Baptist women from seventeen different bodies. Ways in which a woman can get involved in NABWU’s mission work are given, along with its work in the areas of networking, mentoring, grants, and other resources, which are defined here, along with a calendar of events.
https://bcnabc.ca/
The Independent publisher produces Nurturing Faith Journal & Bible Studies six times a year, which includes weekly Bible lessons used by several Sunday school classes and other groups, as well as far-ranging articles in the journals. Baptist in nature, the publication is not affiliated with any denomination. Teacher resources, a schedule of events, classifieds, and an online bookstore are featured.
https://www.nurturingfaith.net/
The Baptist Library is a collection of materials relating to the Old Regular, United, Primitive, and Separate Baptist association, and includes thousands of books, pamphlets, photographs, songbooks, and other materials, some of which are available for viewing in PDF format. A list of books available in the library is presented on the site, along with photos of some of the volumes. New and updated items are highlighted.
http://www.baptistcollection.com/
The World Baptist Fellowship is a separatist fundamentalist Baptist organization founded by J. Frank Norris and headquartered on the campus of Arlington Baptist College. Its Mission Agency is to serve as a coordinating body through with independent Baptist churches can cooperate in missionary activities. Its history, policies, and a statement of faith are posted, and its supported missionaries may be found by name or the country they are serving in.
http://www.wbfi.net/
