Endnotes for Baptist Groups in the USA, February 2022 Update
[i] W. J. Stafford (1925-2006) founded the Free for All Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia in 1955. Georgia is probably its primary base. The group had about 10,000 members circa 1990. See The Black Church in the African American Experience, Charles Eric Lincoln and Lawrence H. Mamiya, Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1990, p. 21. In 2003, the Cumulative List of Organizations Described in Section 170 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code A-F (p. 1118) gives its headquarters in Decatur, Georgia. The focus of the church is benevolent, ecumenical, and progressive. It appears the original Atlanta/Decatur location may have been rebranded under the name Rebirth Church, but other locations still use the name Free for All Missionary Baptist Church. Other names used include Free for All Baptist Church and Free for All Deliverance Baptist Church.
[ii] The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International is a charismatic Baptist body, and might just as well be included in the List of Holiness and Pentecostal Baptists only instead of in Baptist Groups in the United States.
[iii] Predominantly Black Free Will Baptists are listed in the African-American Baptist groups. See 1.1—1.6.
[iv] There is possibly one historical church left. However, it is unlikely that they still hold the “principle” of laying-on-of-hands as a prerequisite to communion. In 1995, there was “one church, located in Pennsylvania, which still carries Six Principle in its name, but its current pastor does not observe all the six principles.” Albert W. Wardin, Baptists Around the World, Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1995, p. 53.
[ii] The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International is a charismatic Baptist body, and might just as well be included in the List of Holiness and Pentecostal Baptists only instead of in Baptist Groups in the United States.
[iii] Predominantly Black Free Will Baptists are listed in the African-American Baptist groups. See 1.1—1.6.
[iv] There is possibly one historical church left. However, it is unlikely that they still hold the “principle” of laying-on-of-hands as a prerequisite to communion. In 1995, there was “one church, located in Pennsylvania, which still carries Six Principle in its name, but its current pastor does not observe all the six principles.” Albert W. Wardin, Baptists Around the World, Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1995, p. 53.
[v] The General Association of Six-Principle Baptist Churches, Inc., organized July 10, 2003, has no connection to the older historical body of Six-Principle Baptists. There is no clear indication that they hold laying-on-of-hands as a prerequisite to communion.
[vi] Similar to other United Baptists, e.g., but tending Arminian rather than Calvinistic. For example, some associations do not hold falling from grace, but are willing to fellowship with other associations that do.
[vii] Predominantly Black Primitive Baptists are listed in the African-American Baptist groups. See 1.12 and 1.13.
[viii] “In their shifts from their Primitive Baptist roots...the Progressive Primitive Baptists, the Eastern District Association of Primitive Baptists, and the Central Baptist Association...may properly be labeled as progressive or transitional bodies. Although they began as traditional Primitive Baptists and still, by and large, practice foot washing, these bodies accept Sunday Schools and permit musical instruments in worship. In addition, the first and third bodies have dropped their opposition to institutions—whether educational, benevolent, or missionary. The second and third groups have also modified their strict predestinarianism.” “Primitive Baptists in Tennessee,” Albert W. Wardin Jr., Tennessee Baptist History, Fall 2007, pp. 44-45.
[ix] Formed in 1956 by churches that separated from the Eastern District Primitive Baptist Association.
[x] These churches believe in a Universal—not General or Limited—atonement: all mankind ultimately will be saved.
[xi] Also known as Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists.
[xii] These associations are similar in background, faith, and practice, but do not all correspond/fellowship with one another.
[xiii] I have located no recent information on Continental Baptist Churches. This group is possibly extinct.
[xiv] Three US churches relate to the Gospel Standard Strict Baptists of England: The Old Paths Chapel, Choteau, Montana; Zion Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Hope Strict Baptist Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
[xv] The G3 Church Network may qualify for listing, though they say “our goal is not to become a denomination.” They describe the network as a fellowship of pastors and church connections united around common doctrine and values (1689 London Baptist Confession). “We are not mutually exclusive to other networks and denominations.”
[xvi] Baptist World Mission is a division from the Conservative Baptist Association, originally known as World Conservative Baptist Mission.
[xvii] Formerly known as the Baptist General Conference.
[xviii] Formerly American Baptists of the West, Growing Healthy Churches includes churches in California and Nevada. It may be considered autonomous or semi-autonomous, though the ABCUSA still lists them in their regional bodies. The GHC allows either “Cooperating Churches” (in GHC and still in the ABCUSA) or “Affiliating Churches” (in the GHC only).
[xix] Formerly known as American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest, Transformation Ministries is an affiliation of over 180 former ABCUSA Baptist Churches in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii.
[xx] Formerly known as CBAmerica and Conservative Baptist Association of America.
[xxi] Historically the AWAB, formed in 1993, grew from an internal ABCUSA organization called American Baptists Concerned for Sexual Minorities. However, the currently affiliated congregations are not confined to the ABCUSA, but also affiliate with the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, the Alliance of Baptists, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
[xxii] Also known as Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International. “The FBFI is a fellowship of individuals who agree without reservation with the Statement of Faith and purposes of the Fellowship.”
[xxiii] See also Religion in America: A Directory, James V. Geisendorfer, editor, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1983, p. 122.
[xxiv] Organized in 1978, the New England Baptist Fellowship is a fellowship of independent Baptist pastors and ministry leaders primarily from six New England states and Quebec, Canada.
[xxv] Formerly called the Independent Fundamental Baptist Association of Michigan, these churches withdrew from the Conservative Baptist Association.
[xxvi] In 1967, the Conservative Baptist Association of Indiana left the Conservative Baptist Association of America and changed its name to the Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of Churches.
[xxvii] Also known as Great Commission Baptists.
[xxviii] Division within the Southern Baptist Convention has created at least three semi-autonomous Baptist Conventions.
[xxix] A name under which the Baptist General Convention of Missouri conducts business. “Churchnet is a ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. Churchnet is a member of the North American Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist World Alliance, and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. We also have a partnership relationship with Texas Baptists and collaborate with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the D. C. Baptist Convention as well as a variety of other ministry organizations.”
[xxx] Also known as Faithway Baptists.
[xxxi] Mulberry Gap seems to have a nominal connection to the Southern Baptist Convention.
[xxxii] I have that South Fork no longer exists, but have left the name for now because I have not confirmed whether or not that is correct.
[xxxiii] “The UBF is a fellowship of Baptist pastors, evangelists, missionaries and laymen.” It emphasizes churches being unregistered and unincorporated, and promotes state, regional and national meetings under the authority of the host church.
[xxxiv] Organized in 1899.
[xxxv] Organized in 1912.
[xxxvi] Organized in 1903.
[xxxvii] Organized 1913 in Morton Grove, Illinois.
[xxxviii] Organized in 1950.
[xxxix] Organized in 1928.
[xl] Organized in 1913.
[xli] Organized in 1946.
[xlii] Formerly the Hungarian Baptist Union. Organized in 1908 in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
[xliii] The Miccosukee Independent Indian Church and Seminole Independent Indian Church in Florida are listed in World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World, David Barrett, editor (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982) and “Baptist General Bodies in the USA,” Robert G. Gardner, Baptist History and Heritage (January 1996 Vol. 31, No. 1). I have not found in current information on either of these bodies.
[xliv] For more information, see TThe Seminole Baptist Churches of Oklahoma: Maintaining a Traditional Community, by Jack M. Schultz.
[xlv] The Miccosukee Independent Indian Church and Seminole Independent Indian Church in Florida are listed in World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World, David Barrett, editor (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982) and “Baptist General Bodies in the USA,” Robert G. Gardner, Baptist History and Heritage (January 1996 Vol. 31, No. 1). I have not found in current information on either of these bodies.
[viii] “In their shifts from their Primitive Baptist roots...the Progressive Primitive Baptists, the Eastern District Association of Primitive Baptists, and the Central Baptist Association...may properly be labeled as progressive or transitional bodies. Although they began as traditional Primitive Baptists and still, by and large, practice foot washing, these bodies accept Sunday Schools and permit musical instruments in worship. In addition, the first and third bodies have dropped their opposition to institutions—whether educational, benevolent, or missionary. The second and third groups have also modified their strict predestinarianism.” “Primitive Baptists in Tennessee,” Albert W. Wardin Jr., Tennessee Baptist History, Fall 2007, pp. 44-45.
[ix] Formed in 1956 by churches that separated from the Eastern District Primitive Baptist Association.
[x] These churches believe in a Universal—not General or Limited—atonement: all mankind ultimately will be saved.
[xi] Also known as Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists.
[xii] These associations are similar in background, faith, and practice, but do not all correspond/fellowship with one another.
[xiii] I have located no recent information on Continental Baptist Churches. This group is possibly extinct.
[xiv] Three US churches relate to the Gospel Standard Strict Baptists of England: The Old Paths Chapel, Choteau, Montana; Zion Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Hope Strict Baptist Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
[xv] The G3 Church Network may qualify for listing, though they say “our goal is not to become a denomination.” They describe the network as a fellowship of pastors and church connections united around common doctrine and values (1689 London Baptist Confession). “We are not mutually exclusive to other networks and denominations.”
[xvi] Baptist World Mission is a division from the Conservative Baptist Association, originally known as World Conservative Baptist Mission.
[xvii] Formerly known as the Baptist General Conference.
[xviii] Formerly American Baptists of the West, Growing Healthy Churches includes churches in California and Nevada. It may be considered autonomous or semi-autonomous, though the ABCUSA still lists them in their regional bodies. The GHC allows either “Cooperating Churches” (in GHC and still in the ABCUSA) or “Affiliating Churches” (in the GHC only).
[xix] Formerly known as American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest, Transformation Ministries is an affiliation of over 180 former ABCUSA Baptist Churches in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii.
[xx] Formerly known as CBAmerica and Conservative Baptist Association of America.
[xxi] Historically the AWAB, formed in 1993, grew from an internal ABCUSA organization called American Baptists Concerned for Sexual Minorities. However, the currently affiliated congregations are not confined to the ABCUSA, but also affiliate with the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, the Alliance of Baptists, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
[xxii] Also known as Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International. “The FBFI is a fellowship of individuals who agree without reservation with the Statement of Faith and purposes of the Fellowship.”
[xxiii] See also Religion in America: A Directory, James V. Geisendorfer, editor, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1983, p. 122.
[xxiv] Organized in 1978, the New England Baptist Fellowship is a fellowship of independent Baptist pastors and ministry leaders primarily from six New England states and Quebec, Canada.
[xxv] Formerly called the Independent Fundamental Baptist Association of Michigan, these churches withdrew from the Conservative Baptist Association.
[xxvi] In 1967, the Conservative Baptist Association of Indiana left the Conservative Baptist Association of America and changed its name to the Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of Churches.
[xxvii] Also known as Great Commission Baptists.
[xxviii] Division within the Southern Baptist Convention has created at least three semi-autonomous Baptist Conventions.
[xxix] A name under which the Baptist General Convention of Missouri conducts business. “Churchnet is a ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. Churchnet is a member of the North American Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist World Alliance, and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. We also have a partnership relationship with Texas Baptists and collaborate with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the D. C. Baptist Convention as well as a variety of other ministry organizations.”
[xxx] Also known as Faithway Baptists.
[xxxi] Mulberry Gap seems to have a nominal connection to the Southern Baptist Convention.
[xxxii] I have that South Fork no longer exists, but have left the name for now because I have not confirmed whether or not that is correct.
[xxxiii] “The UBF is a fellowship of Baptist pastors, evangelists, missionaries and laymen.” It emphasizes churches being unregistered and unincorporated, and promotes state, regional and national meetings under the authority of the host church.
[xxxiv] Organized in 1899.
[xxxv] Organized in 1912.
[xxxvi] Organized in 1903.
[xxxvii] Organized 1913 in Morton Grove, Illinois.
[xxxviii] Organized in 1950.
[xxxix] Organized in 1928.
[xl] Organized in 1913.
[xli] Organized in 1946.
[xlii] Formerly the Hungarian Baptist Union. Organized in 1908 in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
[xliii] The Miccosukee Independent Indian Church and Seminole Independent Indian Church in Florida are listed in World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World, David Barrett, editor (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982) and “Baptist General Bodies in the USA,” Robert G. Gardner, Baptist History and Heritage (January 1996 Vol. 31, No. 1). I have not found in current information on either of these bodies.
[xliv] For more information, see TThe Seminole Baptist Churches of Oklahoma: Maintaining a Traditional Community, by Jack M. Schultz.
[xlv] The Miccosukee Independent Indian Church and Seminole Independent Indian Church in Florida are listed in World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World, David Barrett, editor (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982) and “Baptist General Bodies in the USA,” Robert G. Gardner, Baptist History and Heritage (January 1996 Vol. 31, No. 1). I have not found in current information on either of these bodies.
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