Baptist Presidents

Connecting U. S. History and Baptist History: Baptist Presidents of the United States.

Thus far four men affiliated with Baptist churches have risen to become the President of the United States. Three were Democrats and one was a Republican. Two were northerners and two were southerners.[i]

1. Warren G. Harding (29th President. Republican from Ohio, 1921–23), Harding was a member and trustee of the Trinity Baptist Church, Marion, Ohio. He joined the church on May 6, 1883, when he was 17 years old and it was then still called the Free Baptist Church. Organized in 1824, Trinity was a Freewill or Free Baptist Church until joining the Northern Baptist Convention in 1911. Historians have generally ranked Harding as one of the worst Presidents. This is based on the idea that he accomplished little while in office, and for the corruption occurring during his administration – several of his appointees went to prison for various scandals. However, but I don’t think he was accused of improprieties beyond allowing it to go on.

2. Harry S. Truman (33rd President. Democrat from Missouri, 1945-1953), Truman is probably best known for following Franklin Delano Roosevelt, being plain-spoken, and authorizing dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. Some have called him a “cussin’ Baptist” (not an unique moniker). I know little about his presidency otherwise, or of his Baptist beliefs. At the age of 18, Truman was baptized at the Benton Boulevard Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was living at the time. In 1916 he later became a member of the First Baptist Church of Grandview, Missouri, (then called the Grandview Baptist Church). In 1945 Truman wrote, “I am a Baptist because I think that sect gives the common man the shortest and most direct approach to God.” (Source: Michael Devine, director of Harry S. Truman Library and Museum)

3. James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. (39th President. Democrat from Georgia, 1977-1981). Carter is often remembered for speaking of being born-again (and by some for giving away the Panama Canal). His presidency is by many thought of as ineffective, and after one term the American people replaced him with Ronald Reagan. At the time of his presidency, he was a Southern Baptist, but his church is now also affiliated with the more liberal Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He was a popular Sunday School teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia. My in-laws once traveled to visit his Sunday School class. As a Baptist he would be considered on the liberal end of the spectrum. No questionable moral dealings or improprieties are associated with his presidency.

4. William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton (42nd President. Democrat from Arkansas, 1993-2001). He was baptized by Park Place Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas. One of the most remembered acts of this Southern Baptist president is the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. Though a Baptist, the president and his family attended the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. while he was president.

Honorable mention.

Abraham Lincoln was raised by Baptist parents. They were members of the Little Pigeon Baptist Church, near Lincoln City, Spencer County, Indiana. Lincoln himself, however, was never baptized nor a member of any church.

Baptist preacher John Gano is supposed to have baptized George Washington (1st President) during the Revolutionary War. This is a matter of controversy (i.e., some historians believe it happened and some do not). Two of John Gano’s grandchildren claimed in an affidavit that their aunt, John Gano’s oldest daughter, told them that her father had baptized Washington. Nevertheless, it seems that Washington remained outwardly affiliated with the Episcopal Church.

Information about all the presidents can be found at https://guides.loc.gov/presidents-portraits/chronological.

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[i] Missouri may best be considered a “border state” rather than “Northern.” However, I think Truman’s baptizing church may have been affiliated with the Northern Baptists. (This needs a more research; currently, First Baptist of Grandview is affiliated with Southern Baptist Convention.)

More John Leland

Captain Abner Lee, who lived near Lyme, Massachusetts, would have meetings in his house. He would bring in seats and a moveable pulpit. On one occasion he had Elder John Leland preach in his house, Captain Lee “said to Mr. Leland, ‘I do not know as you can put up with our wooden pulpit.’ He made no reply, but began his meeting. After preaching a while, he had occasion to notice the preaching the people had in old times; and noticed the difference between that and the popular doctrines of the day in which he lived. ‘In the days of the apostles, said he, they had wooden pulpits and golden preaching but now they have golden pulpits and wooden preaching. Give me a wooden pulpit and golden preaching, rather than golden pulpits and wooden preaching!”

From The Life, Conversion, Preaching, Travels, and Sufferings of Elias Smith, p. 227

Early Baptist Churches in the Northeastern U.S.

Recently our daughter treated the “old folks” to a vacation with her to the northeastern United States. We saw many marvelous things while there – from fall foliage to Mount Washington to Niagara Falls to the Cincinnati Zoo. Part of the trip included visiting the sites of some historic Baptist churches. Here is a brief report of what we saw. Some locations were deliberate encounters, and some we happened across while traveling. I will take them in chronological order.

First Baptist Church, Providence, Rhode Island.

It was dark when we arrived at this location, but I was able to get some pictures. This church at Providence claims to be the oldest Baptist Church in America. The church claims its organization from 1638. Roger Williams gathered a congregation in 1638, but it is not clear that he was a Baptist at the time. I consider Williams a “halfway Baptist” – one who accepted some of the principles of the Baptists, and may have connected himself with them for a very brief period but was never fully committed to Baptist doctrine. Additionally, it appears that the Williams church died out, and the current First Baptist Church is the continuation of a General Baptist Church organized in 1652. Nevertheless, they claim to be the first Baptist Church in America. The building used by First Baptist Providence was built in 1775. The church is now a very liberal society affiliated with the ABCUSA and American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island.

United Baptist Church, Newport, Rhode Island.

The Baptist Church at Newport was organized in 1638 by John Clarke. It is the oldest Baptist Church in the United States and America. The building in which the church currently meets was built in 1826. The church is affiliated with the ABCUSA and American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, but appears to be a much more conservative evangelical church than the one at Providence. They hold the New Hampshire Confession of Faith as their doctrinal statement.

“Sometime during the year 1638, it is believed, the church now known as The United Baptist Church, John Clarke Memorial, of Newport, was organized and he [i.e., John Clarke] became its first pastor, holding that office until his death. He is believed to have been the first American Baptist pastor, and it is thought by many that the church he founded and served as pastor is entitled to the distinction of being the oldest Baptist church in this country.” Wilbur Nelson, The Life of Dr. John Clarke, Newport, RI: Men’s Bible Class of First Baptist Church, 1924, p. 17. 

Pennepack Baptist Church, Busleton, Pennsylvania.

The Pennepack Church was organized in 1688 by Elias Keach, son of English Baptist leader Benjamin Keach. Though not the first Baptist church constituted in Pennsylvania, it is the oldest Baptist church in Pennsylvania in continuous existence. The first meeting house was built in 1707, and the current building was built on the same location in 1805. The church is affiliated with the ABCUSA.

Welsh Tract Baptist Church, Newark, Delaware.

The Welsh Tract Baptist Church was organized in Wales in 1701, and then moved to the “Welsh Tract” purchased from William Penn in 1703. The current meeting house was built in 1746. The picture from one side (below) shows a brick wall repair of a cannon ball hole made during the Revolutionary War Battle of Cooch’s Bridge. The meeting house is surrounded by the cemetery on three sides, which includes burials of early members and pastors. The Welsh Tract Church rejected the concept of parachurch societies for carrying out the Lord’s work, and followed the “old school” local church ministry. Welsh Tract Old School Baptist Church meets here monthly on second Sundays.

Baptist Church, Hopewell, New Jersey.

The church at Hopewell was constituted in 1715. Some of its first members were baptized by the Pennepack Church in Pennsylvania. The Old School Baptist Meeting House at Hopewell was built in 1747. No congregation currently meets here. Declaration of Independence signer John Hart is buried in the graveyard, as well as Joab Houghton, who in front of this meeting house made a call for volunteers for the Continental Army.

Second Baptist Church, Harbourton, Hopewell, New Jersey.

This building built in 1879 was once the home of the 2nd Hopewell Baptist Church. There was a church meeting here by 1803, when the cemetery was established. The Baptist Church disbanded around 1930. The Harbourton Cemetery Association was incorporated in 1931 to maintain the cemetery – which had been owned by the church. I believe a generic community church probably meets here now.

Old Stone Church, Old School Baptist, Locktown, New Jersey.

It is not clear just when this church at Locktown was constituted, but at least by 1819 when Old Stone Church building was built. The nearby Kingstown Baptist Church held meetings in Kingstown as well as in this area. Eventually a church was established here as well. The church disbanded in the 1960s, and the location is now maintained as an historic building by the “Friends of the Locktown Stone Church, Inc.”

Union Baptist Church, Mystic, Connecticut.

This church building in Mystic, Connecticut was originally built in 1829 for use by different denominations. Some members from the First Baptist Church founded the Third Baptist Church in 1831. The Third Baptist congregation met here. As different groups built their own buildings and moved out of this location, this meeting house was left to the use of the Baptists. In 1861, the Third Baptist Church merged with the Second Baptist Church to form Union Baptist Church. The current building itself is also a combination of the Second and Third Baptist meeting houses, the building of Second Baptist being moved to the back of the original building. The Second Baptist Church dated back to 1765, when it was organized in Fort Hill, Groton, Connecticut.

Wearts Corner Baptist Church, Wertsville, New Jersey.

The Baptist Church in Wertsville, New Jersey was formed by “New School” Baptists who left the “Old School” congregations at Hopewell and Flemington. These departing Baptists supported missionary societies and other extra-church organizations. They had organized by 1834, when the stone meeting house was constructed. The congregation ceased to meet in 1908. The building is now a residence. (Apparently also called Amwell Baptist Church, which name is on the gable front.)

Baptist Church, Weston, Vermont.

The “church on the hill” building was built in 1838. It was originally built by the Baptists, so there was a Baptist Church in Weston by that time. However, the building is now home to the Weston Community Church. It is said to be one of the most photographed buildings in southern Vermont.

Tremont Temple Baptist Church, Boston, Massachusetts.

Tremont Temple Baptist Church was founded in Boston in 1839. My understanding is that it was a Free Baptist Church—believed in a general atonement and free (that is, open) communion. The building was completed in 1894. Several stories, it is now used by others as well as the church. The old sign over the church door says “The First Integrated Church in America.” I am unsure what nuance they use to make that claim. Many Baptist churches in America had integrated congregations long before this. The church affiliates with the ABCUSA, but also is part of the 9Marks orbit.

Pawcatuck Seventh Day Baptist Church, Westerly, Rhode Island.

There were Baptists in England and America who worshipped on the 7th day rather than the 1st day. This church house is the meeting location for the Pawcatuck Seventh Day Baptist Church in Westerly, which was organized in 1840. Apparently, based on there being two signs, and considering the Seventh Day Baptists meet on Saturday, another church called “The Church at Westerly” meets in the building on Sunday.

The church locations we visited cover a founding history of over 400 years, 1638-1840. Obviously, there were other locations we could have seen, but these constitute two that I was determined to see – Newport and Welsh Tract – and others that my daughter determined we would be close to, or places we happened to drive by. In most cases the buildings were locked, no one was around, and we were unable to go inside (Welsh Tract & Tremont Temple being exceptions). I did not do detailed research on the foundings of these churches, but generally accepted the dates they proposed. We saw other non-Baptist historical buildings, such as the Old North Church where the lanterns of warning were hung prior to “the midnight ride of Paul Revere” and William Dawes. I thought I would share a bit of history and a few pictures.

Baptist Whipped for His Convictions

The story of Obadiah Holmes running afoul of the Church and government in Massachusetts is a well-known and oft-repeated story in Baptist history. He was publicly whipped for his religious beliefs in September of 1651. Before Obadiah Holmes, there was Thomas Painter. Painter was whipped 7 years earlier, for holding anabaptist convictions and refusing the baptism of his child.

In his July 15, 1644 journal entry, Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop wrote the following:

“A poor man of Hingham, one Painter, who had lived at New Haven and at Rowley and Charlestown, and been scandalous and burdensome by his idle and troublesome behavior to them all, was now on the sudden turned anabaptist, and having a child born, he would not suffer his wife to bring it to the ordinance of baptism, for she was a member of the church, though himself were not. Being presented for this, and enjoined to suffer the child to be baptized, he still refusing, and disturbing the church, he was again brought to the court not only for his former contempt, but also for saying that our baptism was antichristian; and in the open court he affirmed the same. Whereupon, after much patience and clear conviction of his error, etc., because he was very poor, so as no other but corporal punishment could be fastened upon him, he was ordered to be whipped, not for his opinion, but for his reproaching the Lord’s ordinance, and for his bold and evil behavior both at home and in the court. He endured his punishment with much obstinacy, and when he was loosed he said, boastingly, that God had marvelously assisted him.” Winthrop’s Journal, “History of New England” 1630-1649 Volume 2, James Kendall Hosmer, editor. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1901, p. 171.

Not even a year earlier, at the court at Boston “the 5th of the 10th month, 1643” Painter was sentenced to time in the stocks for “disturbing the Church.” This likely shows the beginnings of his anabaptist convictions, though the court record is not specific as to how he disturbed the church.

“Painter stockt. Thomas Painter for disturbing the Church of Hingham, was censured to bee sett in stock a Lecture day, at Lecture time, except hee humble himself, and give the Church satisfaction.” Records of the Court of Assistants of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, 1630-1692, Volume II, Boston, MA: County of Suffolk, 1904, p. 135.

Thomas Painter was apparently a charter member of the Baptist Church at Newport, Rhode Island.

“The last name on the list is that of Painter, the Christian name being omitted, probably Thomas Painter, of Hingham [Massachusetts].” History of the First Baptist Church in Newport, R. I.: A Discourse Delivered on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1876, Comfort Edwin Barrows. Newport, RI: John P. Sanborn & Co., 1876, p. 15.

Thomas Painter was born in England in 1610. He was in the American colonies by 1630, when he married Katherine (Last Name Unknown) in Boston, Massachusetts. Some sources report his death occurred in 1706, looking it seems somewhat lacking in solid corroboration.

John Clarke’s Four Religious Principles

After the arrest of Baptists John Clarke (1609-1676), Obadiah Holmes (1610-1682), and John Crandall (1618-1676), for holding an unauthorized religious service in Massachusetts, Governor Endicott replied that they deserved death! He instead ultimately challenged them to a discussion with their ministers, which John Clarke accepted. According to Henry Sweetser Burrage (A History of the Baptists in New England, American Baptist Publication Society, 1894, pp. 35-36), Clarke proposed four points of discussion – of which Burrage gives excerpts. I followed this back and found the complete information in Clarke’s Ill News from New England.

The Testimony of Iohn Clarke a prisoner of Iesus Christ at Boston, in the behalf of my Lord, and of his people, is as followeth.

1. I Testifie that Iesus of Nazareth, whom God hath raised from the dead, is made both Lord and Christ; this Iesus I say is the Christ, in English, the Anointed One, hath a name above every name; He is the Anointed Priest, none to, or with him in point of attonement; The Anointed Prophet, none to him in point of instruction; The Anointed King, who is gone unto his Father for his glorious Kingdom, and shall ere long return again; and that this Iesus Christ is also The Lord, none to, or with him by way of Commanding and ordering (with respect to the worship of God) the household of Faith, which being purchased with his Blood as Priest, instructed, and nourished by his Spirit as Prophet, do wait in his appointment as he is the Lord, in hope of that glorious Kingdom which shall ere long appear.

2. I Testifie that Baptism, or dipping in Water, is one of the Commandements of this Lord Iesus Christ, and that a visible beleever, or Disciple of Christ Iesus (that is, one that manifesteth repentance towards God, and Faith in Iesus Christ) is the only person that is to be Baptized, or dipped with that visible Baptism, or dipping of Iesus Christ in Water, and also that visible person that is to walk in that visible order of his House, and so to wait for his coming the second time in the form of a Lord, and King with his glorious Kingdom according to promise, and for his sending down (in the time of his absence) the holy Ghost, or holy Spirit of Promise, and all this according the last Will and Testament of that living Lord, whose Will is not to be added to, or taken from.

3. I Testifie or Witness, that every such believer in Christ Iesus, that waiteth for his appearing, may in point of liberty, yea ought in point of duty to improve that Talent his Lord hath given unto him, and in the Congregation may either aske for information to himself; or if he can, may speak by way of Prophecie for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the whole, and out of the Congregation at all times upon all occasions, and in all places, as far as the jurisdiction of his Lord extends, may, yea ought to walk as a Child of light, justifying wisdom with his ways, and reproving folly with the unfruitfull works thereof, provided all this be shown out of a good conversation, as Iames speaks with meekness of wisdom.

4. I Testifie that no such believer, or Servant of Christ Jesus hath any liberty, much less Authority, from his Lord, to smite his fellow servant, nor yet with outward force, or arme of flesh, to constrain, or restrain his Conscience, no nor yet his outward man for Conscience sake, or worship of his God, where injury is not offered to the person, name or estate of others, every man being such as shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and must give an account of himself to God, and therefore ought to be fully perswaded in his own mind, for what he undertakes, because he that doubteth is damned if he eat, and so also if he act, because he doth not eat or act in Faith, and what is not of Faith is Sin.

Ill Newes from New-England, or, A narative of New-Englands persecution wherin is declared that while old England is becoming new, New-England is become old, by John Clark, London: Printed by Henry Hills, 1652, pages 9-10.

Black Rock Address, on Theological Institutions

The Black Rock Address is a statement adopted September 28, 1832 by a group of Baptists convened at the Black Rock meeting-house in Baltimore, Maryland. The statement reflects their thoughts on several innovations gaining popularity in that time. The following opinions were given on Theological Institutions.

Colleges and Theological Schools next claim our attention. In speaking of colleges, we wish to be distinctly understood that it is not to colleges, collegial education, as such, that we have objection. We would cheerfully afford our own children such an education, did circumstances warrant the measure. But we object, in the first place, to sectarian colleges, as such. The idea of a Baptist College, and of a Presbyterian College, &c., necessarily implies that our distinct views of church government of gospel doctrine and gospel ordinances, are connected with human sciences, a principle which we cannot admit: we believe the kingdom of Christ to be altogether a kingdom not of this world. In the second place, we object to the notion of attaching professorships of divinity to colleges; because this evidently implies that the revelation which God has made of himself is a human science, on a footing with mathematics, philosophy, law, &c., which is contrary to the general tenor of revelation, and indeed to the very idea of a revelation. We perhaps need not add that we have for the same reason strong objection to colleges conferring the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and to preachers receiving it.—Thirdly, We decidedly object to persons after professing to have been called of the Lord to preach His gospel, going to a college or academy to fit themselves for that service.—lst. Because we believe that Christ possesses perfect knowledge of his own purposes, and of the proper instruments by which to accomplish them. If he has occasion for a man of science, he having power over all flesh, will so order it that the individual shall obtain the requisite learning before he calls him to his service, as was the case with Saul of Tarsus, and others since; and thus avoid subjecting himself to the imputation of weakness. For should Christ call a person to labor in the gospel field, who was unqualified for the work assigned him, it would manifest him to be deficient in knowledge relative to the proper instruments to employ, or defective in power to provide them. 2nd. Because we believe that the Lord calls no man to preach his gospel, till he has made him experimentally acquainted with that gospel, and endowed him with the proper measure of gifts, suiting the field he designs him to occupy; and the person giving himself up in obedience to the voice of Christ will find himself learning in Christ’s own school. But when a person professedly called of Christ to the gospel ministry, concludes that, in order to be useful, he must first go and obtain an academical education, he must judge that human science is of more importance in the ministry, than that knowledge and those gifts which Christ imparts to his servants. To act consistently then with his own principles, he will place his chief dependence for usefulness on his scientific knowledge, and aim mostly to display this in his preaching. This person, therefore, will pursue a very different course in his preaching, from that marked out by the great apostle to the Gentiles, who determined to know nothing among the people save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

As to Theological Schools, we shall at present content ourselves with saying that they are a reflection upon the faithfulness of the Holy Ghost, who is engaged according to the promise of the great Head of the church to lead the disciples into all truth. See John xvi. 13. Also, that in every age, from the school of Alexandria down to this day, they have been a real pest to the church of Christ. Of this we could produce abundant proof, did the limits of our address admit their insertion.

Another outline of Baptists in the US

Back in November, I posted an outline of Baptist Groups in the United States. This one is a couple of years old, but with a few updates. I believe it includes some information on local associations not on the other one.

I. REGULAR BAPTISTS (NORTHERN-ORIENTED)

A. ECUMENICAL MAINLINE
1. American Baptist Churches in the USA
a. American Baptist Evangelicals
b. Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
B. CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICAL
2. Baptist General Conference
3. Conservative Baptist Association of America
4. North American Baptist Conference
5. Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
C. SEPARATIST FUNDAMENTALIST
6. Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of America
7. General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
8. Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America
9. New England Evangelical Baptist Fellowship
10. Related Northern Fundamental Baptist Fellowships
a. New Testament Association of Independent Baptists
b. Association of Fundamental Baptist Churches of Northern California
c. Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Illinois
d. Dakota Baptist Association
e. Grace Baptist Fellowship
f. Independent Fundamental Baptist Association of Michigan
g. Indiana Fundamental Baptist Association
h. Inter-Mountain Baptist Fellowship (MT, WY)
i. Minnesota Baptist Association
j. Mountain States Baptist Fellowship (CO)
k. Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches
l. Wyoming Fellowship of Baptist Churches

II. REGULAR BAPTISTS (SOUTHERN-ORIENTED)

A. CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICAL
11. Southern Baptist Convention
B. ECUMENICAL
12. Alliance of Baptists
13. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
C. LANDMARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST
14. American Baptist Association
15. Baptist Missionary Association of America
16. Independent Landmark Associations and Churches
a. California Missionary Baptist Association
b. Central (TX)
c. Landmark (AR)
d. Mt. Pisgah (MS)
e. Southern California
17. Interstate and Foreign Landmark Missionary Baptist Association
18. Old Time Missionary Baptists
"Middle Tennessee" Correspondence
a. Baptist Old Path (MO)
b. Bethel (IN)
c. Big Bear Creek (AL)
d. Cane Creek (MO)
e. Cedar County (MO)
f. County Line (MO
g. Dallas County (MO)
h. Enon (TN)
i. Old Time Camden County (MO)
j. Polk County (MO)
k. Siloam (KY)
l. Southwestern District (TN)
m. St. Clair County (MO)
n. Wiseman (TN)
Other Associations
a. Barren River (KY)
b. Edmonson (KY)
c. Mt. Carmel (AL)
d. Original Smyrna (GA)
e. Pine Mountain (KY)
f. Pleasant Grove (GA)
g. Second North Concord (KY)
h. Wayne Trail (OH)
19. United Baptists - Landmark
a. Green River (KY)
b. South Concord (KY)
c. South Fork (KY)
d. Stockton Valley (TN)
e. West Union (TN)
D. SEPARATIST FUNDAMENTALISTS
20. Baptist Bible Fellowship International
21. Global Independent Baptist Fellowship
22. Independent Baptist Fellowship International
23. Liberty Baptist Fellowship
24. Northwest Baptist Fellowship
25. Southwide Baptist Fellowship
26. World Baptist Fellowship

III. BLACK BAPTISTS

A. NATIONAL BAPTISTS
27. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
28. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
29. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
30. National Primitive Baptist Convention, Inc.
31. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
B. OTHER
32. Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
33. Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association
34. Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America
35. Primitive Baptist - independent Black local associations

IV. PRIMITIVISTS

A. PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS
36. Primitive Baptist - Absolute Predestinarian
37. Primitive Baptist - Progressive
a. Birdwood College Related Churches
b. Eastern District Association
38. Primitive Baptist - Limited Predestinarian
a. Old Line
b. Progressives
39. Primitive Baptist - Universalist
B. REGULAR BAPTISTS
40. Old Regular Baptists
"New Salem" Correspondence
a. Mud River
b. New Salem
c. Northern New Salem
d. Old Friendship
e. Old Indian Bottom
f. Philadelphia
g. Sardis
h. Union
Other Associations
a. Bethel
b. Friendship
c. Indian Bottom
d. Little Dove
e. Mountain #1
f. Mountain #2
g. Original Mountain Liberty
h. Sovereign Grace
i. Thornton Union
41. Regular and Union Baptists
a. East Washington
b. Enterprise
c. Little River
d. Little Valley
e. Mountain Union
f. Original Mountain Union
g. Primitive
h. Union
C. OTHER
42. Central Baptist Association
43. General Association of Baptists (Duck River/Kindred)
a. Duck River (TN)
b. East Union (TN)
c. Mt. Pleasant #1 (AL)
d. Mt. Pleasant #2 (AL)
e. Mt. Zion (TN)
f. New Liberty (TN)
g. Pleasant Hill Church (KY)
h. Union (TN)
44. Georgia Old Time Associations
a. Chestatee
b. Coosawattee
c. Ellijay
d. Jasper
e. New Hope
f. Pleasant Valley
45. Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists
a. Trinity River Association
b. 1 independent church
46. United Baptist - Regular
a. Blaine Union (KY)
b. Iron Hill (KY)
c. Laurel River (KY)
d. Little Friendship (IN)
e. Mt. Zion (KY)
f. New Bethel (OH)
g. New Hope (KY)
h. Paint Union (KY)
i. Old Bethlehem (WV)
j. Old Paint Union (KY)
k. Red Bird River (KY)
l. Town Creek (AL)
m. Tri-State Zion (KY)
n. Union Bethlehem (WV)
o. Wills Creek #1 (AL)
p. Wills Creek #2 (AL)
q. Zion (KY)

V. GENERAL BAPTISTS

A. FREE WILL BAPTISTS
47. Independent Free Will Baptist Associations
a. Eastern Stone
b. French Broad
c. Jack’s Creek
d. John-Thomas
e. Mt. Mitchell
f. Muscle Shoals
g. Original Grand River
h. Stone Association of Central Indiana
i. Tennessee River
j. Toe River
k. Western
l. Western Stone
48. National Association of Free Will Baptists
49. Original Free Will Baptist Convention
50. United American Free Will Baptist Church
B. GENERAL BAPTISTS
51. General Association of General Baptists
52. General Six-Principle Baptist Church
C. OTHER
53. Separate Baptists in Christ
General Association of Separate Baptists
a. Central Indiana
b. Christian Unity (VA)
c. Mt. Olive (TN)
d. Nolynn (KY)
e. Northeast Florida
f. South Kentucky
g. West Virginia
Unaffiliated Separate Baptists
a. Ambraw (IL)
b. Northern Indiana
54. National Association of United Baptists (and Related)
a. Ancient Christian
b. Bethel
c. Bethlehem
d. Central Missouri
e. Centerpoint
f. Mount Carmel
g. Northern United
h. Ohio Valley
i. Tri-State
j. Union

VI. REFORMED/SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTISTS

55. Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America
56. Continental Baptist Churches
57. Gospel Standard Strict Baptist Churches
58. Sovereign Grace Baptist Association of Churches

The broad divisions used in this outline are based on those created by Dr. Albert W. Wardin, author of Baptist Atlas, Baptists Around the World, et al.

Baptist groups in the United States

Broad categories are based on the categories found in Baptists Around the World and Baptist Atlas, both works by Dr. Albert W. Wardin, Jr. Total on my list = 63, plus 11 ethnic bodies.

REGULAR BAPTISTS (NORTHERN-ORIENTED)
1. American Baptist Churches in the USA
2. Baptist General Conference
3. Conservative Baptist Association of America
4. North American Baptist Conference
5. Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
6. Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of America
7. General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
8. Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America
9. New England Evangelical Baptist Fellowship
10. New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches
STATE OR REGIONAL GROUPS RELATED TO (but not affiliated with) THE NTA
11. Minnesota Baptist Association
12. Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches
13. Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Illinois
14. Dakota Baptist Association
15. Inter-Mountain Baptist Fellowship
16. Mountain States Baptist Fellowship
17. Association of Fundamental Baptist Churches of Northern California
18. Independent Fundamental Baptist Association (MI)

REGULAR BAPTISTS (SOUTHERN-ORIENTED)
19. Southern Baptist Convention
20. Alliance of Baptists
21. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
22. American Baptist Association
23. Baptist Missionary Association of America
24. Interstate and Foreign Landmark Missionary Baptist Association of America
25. Old Time Missionary Baptists (various local associations especially in TN & KY)
26. World Baptist Fellowship
27. Baptist Bible Fellowship International
28. Independent Baptist Fellowship International
29. Southwide Baptist Fellowship
30. Northwest Baptist Fellowship
31. Missouri Valley Concord of Independent Baptist Churches
32. Liberty Baptist Fellowship
33. Global Independent Baptist Fellowship

NATIONAL BAPTISTS
34. National Baptist Convention of America
35. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
36. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
37. National Primitive Baptist Convention, Inc.
38. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.

PRIMITIVISTS (SOUTHERN-ORIENTED)
39. Central Baptist Association
40. General Association of Baptists (aka Duck River and Kindred Associations)
41. Old Regular Baptists
42. Regular Baptists
43. Union Baptists
44. United Baptists
45. Old Line Primitive Baptists
46. Absolute Predestinarian Primitive Baptists
47. Progressive Primitive Baptists
48. Primitive Baptist Univeralists (believe in Universal--not general--atonement)
49. Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists (3 churches left)
50. Black Primitive Baptists (primitivistic, not related to the progressive NPBC)
51. Jasper, New Hope and Pleasant Valley Associations (GA)

FREE WILL/GENERAL BAPTISTS
52. National Association of Free Will Baptists
53. Original Free Will Baptist Convention (NC)
54. United American Free Will Baptist Church
55. General Association of General Baptists
56. General Six-Principle Baptists (1 church left, I think)
57. Separate Baptists in Christ
58. National Association of United Baptists (similar to the UB's above {# 44}, but Arminian rather than Calvinistic)

REFORMED BAPTISTS
59. Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America
60. Sovereign Grace Baptist Association
61. Continental Baptist Churches

OTHER
62. Strict Baptists (3 churches related to the Gospel Standard Strict Baptists of England)
63. Unaffiliated Baptists - numerous churches across the country do not affiliate with any kind of group or fellowship and some may not fit in any of the categories above.

ETHNIC BAPTISTS
There are many associations, conferences, and conventions that exist separately from the major conventions because of a difference in language. These groups usually relate in some way to the larger national bodies and therefore are not usually counted as separate groups of Baptists. I have confirmed at least 11 ethnic bodies that are autonomous or semi-autonomous, yet all or some of the churches participate in other bodies. They are:

ABCUSA related
Association of Evangelicals for Italian Missions
Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of the USA & Canada
Portuguese Baptist Convention of New England - org. 1903
Romanian Baptist Association of the US & Canada - Morton Grove, IL - org. 1913
Russian-Ukranian Evangelical Baptist Union, USA, Inc.
Union of Latvian Baptists in America

NBC related
Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention
National Baptist Evangelical Life and Soul-Saving Assembly - Detroit, MI - org. 1920
[Note: I do not list the black Baptists above as ethnic bodies. They exist probably mostly because of reconstruction & segregation. But their origin is from membership within the General & Particular churches of British background. I have listed these two here, because they do not seem to be independent bodies but relate back to some one or the other of the National Baptist Conventions.]

SBC related
Polish Baptist Association in the USA & Canada - org. 1913
Ukranian Evangelical Baptist Convention - org. 1946

Other
Hungarian Baptist Convention of North America, Inc. - org. 1908

I would expect, but have not found information on, autonomous or semi-autonomous Spanish-speaking Baptist bodies.

Baptist "split-offs" -- such as Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Holiness Baptist Association, General Conference of the Evangelical Baptist Church, etc. -- are counted as Baptists by some compilers of such data. It is my opinion that neither Baptists, nor these groups themselves, recognize them as Baptist.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON BAPTISTS
Baptists Around the World, Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
Encyclopedia of American Religions, by J. Gordon Melton, editor
Handbook of Denominations, by Mead and Hill
Baptist Atlas, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
Dictionary of Baptists in America, by Bill J. Leonard, editor
Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, National Council of Churches