View source for American Baptist Churches USA

{{Short description|Mainline Protestant denomination in the United States}}
{{redirect|ABC USA|the American television and radio network|American Broadcasting Company}}
{{Distinguish |American Baptist Association}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name               = American Baptist Churches USA
| image              = ABC USA colorized emblem.png
| imagewidth         = 
| caption             = Official [[emblem]] of the American Baptist Churches USA
| abbreviation        = ABCUSA
| main_classification = [[Mainline Protestant]]
| orientation         = Moderate to [[Conservative Christianity|conservative]], but with diverse tendencies.
| theology            = [[Baptists#Beliefs|Baptist]]
| polity              = [[Congregationalist polity]]
| leader_title        = General Secretary
| leader_name         = Rev. Dr. Gina C. Jacobs-Strain
| leader_title2       = President
| leader_name2        = Rev. Nikita G. McCalister
| division_type       = Regions
| division            = 33
| area                = [[United States of America]]
| language            = No official language, but mostly [[English language|English-speaking]]
| liturgy             = Mostly ''[[High-church]]''
| headquarters        = [[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| founded_date        = {{Start date|1907|05|17}} (Reorganization of the [[Triennial Convention]])
| founded_place       = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| branched_from       = 
| merger              = [[Triennial Convention]] related boards (1907)
| absorbed            = [[Free Will Baptist Church|Free Will Baptist General Conference]] (1911)
| separations         = [[General Association of Regular Baptist Churches]] (1932)<br/>[[Conservative Baptist Association of America]] (1947)
| associations        = [[National Council of Churches]]; <br/>[[Baptist World Alliance]]
| congregations       = 4,892 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://baptistworld.org/members/ | title=Members &#124; Baptist World Alliance | date=July 18, 2023 }}</ref>
| members             = 1,107,206 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://baptistworld.org/members/ | title=Members &#124; Baptist World Alliance | date=July 18, 2023 }}</ref>
| tertiary            = 16
| seminaries          = 10
| missionary organization = [[International Ministries]] [[American Baptist Home Mission Society]]
| other_names         = Triennial Convention (1814–1907)<br/>Northern Baptist Convention (1907–1950)<br/>American Baptist Convention (1950–1972)
| website             = {{URL|http://www.abc-usa.org}}
}}
{{Baptist}}

The '''American Baptist Churches USA''', abbreviated as '''ABCUSA''', is a [[mainline Protestant]] [[Christian denomination|denomination]] in the [[United States]], and part of the [[Baptist]] tradition.<ref>{{Cite report |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep67975.16 |title=Appendix B: Classification of Protestant denominations |last=Smith |first=Gregory A. |last2=Cooperman |first2=Alan |last3=Alper |first3=Becka A. |last4=Mohamed |first4=Besheer |last5=Rotolo |first5=Michael |last6=Tevington |first6=Patricia |last7=Nortey |first7=Justin |last8=Kallo |first8=Asta |last9=Diamant |first9=Jeff |date=2025 |publisher=Pew Research Center |pages=353–374}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Groups - Religious Profiles {{!}} US Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/group-profiles/groups?D=24 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA) |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Members of the American Baptist Churches USA {{!}} Religious Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-denomination/american-baptist-churches-usa/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Congregational Membership Reports {{!}} US Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/census/congregational-membership |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA) |language=en-gb}}</ref> The American Baptist Churches is the reorganization from 1907 of the [[Triennial Convention]], established in 1814. It is rooted in the early English and Welsh Baptist settlers in America, especially with the foundation of [[Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations|Rhode Island Colony]], tracing its history to the [[First Baptist Church in America]], established by [[Roger Williams]] in 1638. The Triennial Convention became the '''Northern Baptist Convention''' in 1907, which was renamed as the '''American Baptist Convention''' from 1950 to 1972. The ABCUSA headquarters is located in [[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania]]. The American Baptist Churches cooperates with the [[Baptist World Alliance]], the [[Baptist Joint Committee]], and the [[World Council of Churches]]. 

Although the denomination is considered [[mainline Protestant]], one of the [[Mainline Protestants#Denominations|Seven Sisters of American Protestantism]], varying theological and missional emphases may be found among its congregations, including [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]], [[Conservative Christianity|conservative]], and [[Charismatic Movement|charismatic]] orientations.<ref>{{Citation | title = The Baptist Heritage | first = H Leon | last = McBeth | publisher = Broadman | year = 1987 | pages = 596–608}}.</ref> In 2025, [[Pew Research Center]] published the ''Religious Landscape Survey'', estimating that 1 percent of US adults, or 2.6 million people, self-identify as adherents of the American Baptist Churches USA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religious Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
===Colonial New England Baptists===
The American Baptist Churches USA have their origins in the First Baptist Church in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], now the [[First Baptist Church in America]], founded in 1638 by the minister [[Roger Williams]].<ref>Earle E. Cairns, ''Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church'', Zondervan, USA, 2009, p. 362</ref><ref>William Cathcart, ''The Baptist Encyclopedia–Volume 3'', The Baptist Standard Bearer, USA, 2001, p. 977</ref> Regarded by the more dogmatic [[Congregationalists]] of the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] as a [[heresy|heretic]] for his views, Williams was banished into the [[New England]] wilderness where he, [[John Clarke (Baptist minister)|John Clarke]], and his Congregationalists and Baptists followers created the settlement of [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] and later, the colony of [[Rhode Island]]. Williams is credited with being the pioneer of bringing the Baptist tradition to America, the founder of the state of Rhode Island, and the first highly visible public leader in America to call for the [[separation of church and state|separation of the Church from state]].
[[File:First_Baptist_Church_in_America_from_Angell_St.jpg|thumb|The [[First Baptist Church in America]] was formed in 1638 in [[Providence, Rhode Island]].]]

===Triennial Convention (1814–1907)===
{{Main|Triennial Convention}}
Operanting under a [[congregationalist polity]], Baptist churches in America existed autonomously from one another, following an array of [[Protestant]] theological paths, but were often unified in their missions to evangelize. In the 18th century, they established the first Baptist regional associations in America for fellowship, support, work, and education, resulting in the founding of [[Brown University]] in [[Rhode Island]], in 1764. The Philadelphia Baptist Association, headquartered in [[Andorra, Philadelphia|Andorra]], at Andorra Baptist Church, was one of these regional associations and it is considered the oldest Baptist regional association still in existence in the United States, linked to the founding of Brown. With the [[Second Great Awakening]], evangelical missions led to the establishment of the national [[Triennial Convention]] in 1814, a collaborative organization by local churches, regional associations, and state conventions to organize, fund, and deploy missionaries.<ref>Robert E. Johnson, ''A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 142</ref> Some used the [[Philadelphia Confession of Faith]] and the [[New Hampshire Confession]] as guides to faith. The modern-day ABCUSA is the continuation of the Triennial Convention, as a renewed version or reorganization in its structure. Through the Triennial Convention, a number of mission-oriented societies were formed, including the [[American Baptist Missionary Union|American Baptist Foreign Mission Society]] (1814), [[American Baptist Home Mission Society]] (1832), American Baptist Publication Society (1841), and the American Baptist Education Society (1888).

In May 1845, the majority of Baptist churches in the [[Southern U.S.|South]] split from the Triennial Convention largely in response to the decision of its delegates to ban slave holders from becoming ordained missionaries. They went to found their own organization: the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] (SBC).<ref>{{cite web |date=December 2018 |title=Report on Slavery and Racism in the History of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary |url=http://www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Racism-and-the-Legacy-of-Slavery-Report-v4.pdf#page=6 |url-status=live |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 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |publisher=Southern Baptist Theological Seminary}}</ref> The Triennial Convention was structured loosely and offered local churches full autonomy, in contrast, however, was the SBC that had a more centralized organizational structure for carrying on missionary and benevolent work, a more traditional characteristic of Baptist ecclesiastical polity. The Triennial Convention continued to work through the separate cooperating societies for missions and benevolence.

In 1882, May Jones became the first ordained female minister in the convention.<ref>Erich Geldbach, ''Baptists Worldwide: Origins, Expansions, Emerging Realities'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2022, p. 110</ref>

===Northern Baptist Convention (1907–1950)===
[[File:Calvary Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.).jpg|thumb|At [[Calvary Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.)|Calvary Baptist Church]] in Washington, D.C., the Northern Baptist Convention first met to bring the 19th century mission societies of the Triennial Convention closer together.]]The Northern Baptist Convention was organized in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 1907.<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 9</ref> [[Charles Evans Hughes]], then [[Governor of New York]] and later [[Chief Justice of the United States]], served the body as president.

The purpose of the Northern Baptist Convention as a reorganization of the Triennial Convention was to bring about a consistent cooperation among the convention societies and Baptists bodies out of the mainstream organization then existing. It was the first step in bringing together Baptists in the North "with ties to the historic American Baptist mission societies in the nineteenth century."<ref name = Martin>{{Citation | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NXG/is_1_34/ai_94160904/ | first = Dana | last = Martin | contribution = The American Baptist Convention and the Civil Rights Movement: Rhetoric and Response | title = Baptist History and Heritage |date=Winter 1999}}.</ref> These had contributed to establishing many schools for [[freedmen]] in the South after the [[American Civil War]], as well as working on issues of health and welfare. Many of their missionaries and members had worked as teachers in the South. In 1911, most [[Free Will Baptist]] churches merged with it.

Due to the development of [[theological liberalism]] in some affiliated seminaries, such as [[Crozer Theological Seminary]], conservative seminaries have been founded by convention ministers, including the [[Northern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Chicago]] in 1913 and the [[Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Philadelphia]] in 1925.<ref>James Leo Garrett, ''Baptist Theology: A Four-century Study'', Mercer University Press, USA, 2009, p. 330</ref><ref>William H. Brackney, ''Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education'', Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 295</ref>

===American Baptist Convention (1950–1972)===
[[File:Emmanuel Baptist Church (Brooklyn, New York) Emmanuel Baptist Church-1534893.jpeg|thumb|[[Emmanuel Baptist Church (Brooklyn)|Emmanuel Baptist Church]] in [[Brooklyn]], New York City, affiliated with ABCUSA]]
The name of the convention was changed in 1950 to the American Baptist Convention (ABC), and it operated under this name until 1972.<ref name="George Thomas Kurian 2016, p. 61">George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 61</ref> It was the second step at bringing together on a national level Baptists with ties to the mission societies. The ABC was characterized from 1950 to 1966 with annual resolutions at its conventions having to do with the [[civil rights movement]] and race relations.
{{Blockquote | Without exception, these resolutions were progressive and genuinely encompassing. They addressed both the need for individual change in attitude and action, and the need for broader social change that could only be instituted through political action.<ref name=Martin />}}

As in many cases, the rhetoric of the annual assemblies was sometimes ahead of local activity, but the denomination gradually made progress. In 1964, it created the Baptist Action for Racial Brotherhood (BARB), which early the next year produced a pamphlet outlining actions for change in local churches. In 1968, the convention was challenged by "Black American Baptist Churchmen Speak To the American Baptist Convention," demands that challenged how the denomination had "conducted its business relative to black American Baptists."<ref name = Martin />

The black churchmen said the convention had excluded them from decision-making positions, even while working with good intentions on behalf of black American Baptists. The following year, [[Thomas Kilgore Jr.|Dr. Thomas Kilgore Jr.]], pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles, was elected the first black president of the convention. The 1968 assembly also voted to create the Study Commission on Denominational Structure (SCODS). Its recommendations changed the denomination in a variety of ways, after being adopted at the 1972 assembly.<ref name="Martin" />

===American Baptist Churches USA (1972–present)===
To reflect its new structure, the convention in 1972 changed its name to the American Baptist Churches USA.<ref name="George Thomas Kurian 2016, p. 61"/> Rather than relying on decision-making at the annual assembly by whichever churches happened to send delegates, the SCODS restructuring resulted in the following:
{{Blockquote | A General Board was composed of duly elected representatives from geographically designated districts. Three-fourths of those representatives would be elected by the American Baptist regional bodies; one-fourth would be elected as at-large representatives, or in the official terminology, "Nationally Nominated Representatives". These representatives would be "chosen so as to provide the necessary balance among the Representatives in respect of racial/ethnic inclusiveness, geographic area, age, gender, and desirable skills.<ref name=Martin />}}

==Governance==
The American Baptists Churches USA has a [[congregationalist polity]] emphasizing local church autonomy. Local churches are organized into 33 regions; the ABCUSA General Board makes policy for the denomination's national agencies.<ref name="GB">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc-usa.org/whoweare/ministry/generalboard.aspx |title=General Board |author=ABCUSA |access-date=2009-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610061752/http://www.abc-usa.org/whoweare/ministry/generalboard.aspx |archive-date=June 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>

However, board resolutions are not binding on local congregations. Three-fourths of the representatives to the ABCUSA General Board are nominated and elected by the regions. One-fourth of the representatives are nominated by the ABCUSA Nominating Committee and are elected by the regions. The General Secretary of the ABCUSA executes the policies and decisions of the General Board. Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer was called as ABCUSA General Secretary on May 8, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc-usa.org/2017/05/rev-dr-lee-b-spitzer-called-as-abcusa-general-secretary/|title=Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer Called as ABCUSA General Secretary|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=September 28, 2020}}</ref>

A substantial portion of the ABCUSA consists of [[Black church|historically and predominantly African American churches]] that may have joint affiliations with the ABCUSA and historic bodies such as the [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention]] or the [[Progressive National Baptist Convention]]. [[Abyssinian Baptist Church]] in [[New York City]] is one of the many African American churches jointly affiliated with the ABCUSA and National Baptist Convention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find A Church |url=https://www.abc-usa.org/find-a-church/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=ABCUSA |language=en-US}}</ref> Since 1970, the ABCUSA and Progressive National Baptists have officially partnered.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1970 |title=PNBC 1970 Minutes |url=http://media2.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/aaa/pnbc/pnbc_1970.pdf |access-date=April 25, 2023 |website=Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives}}</ref>

=== Regions ===
The ABCUSA consists of 33 regional associations and conventions:

{| class="wikitable"
! Region
! Headquarters
! Area(s) served
! Number of churches
! Executive minister
! Notes
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Alaska
| [[Anchorage, Alaska]]
| The state of [[Alaska]]
| 11
| Alonzo B. Patterson
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Connecticut
| [[West Hartford, Connecticut]]
| The state of [[Connecticut]]
| 120
| Rev. Dr. Harry Riggs II
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis
| [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
| The [[Indianapolis]] Metro Area
| 39
| Rev. Joan C. Friesen
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky
| [[Franklin, Indiana]]
| Most of [[Indiana]] (except for Indianapolis), and five churches in [[Kentucky]]
| 290
| Rev. Mark A Thompson
| Previously known as:<br />General Association of Baptists in the State of Indiana (1833–64)<br />Indiana State Baptist Convention (1864–1896)<br />Indiana Baptist Convention (1896–1987)<br />American Baptist Churches of Indiana (1987–2000)<br />American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky (since 2000)<br />This region's legal name is still the Indiana Baptist Convention.
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest, and Hawaii
| [[Glendale, California]]
| [[Southern California]] (including the [[Los Angeles]] Metro Area), [[Hawaii]], [[Arizona]], and the [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] Metro Area
| 151
| Andrew Quient
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts
| [[Groton, Massachusetts]]
| The state of [[Massachusetts]]
| 246
| Rev. Dr. Mary Day Miller
| One of seven ABCUSA regions known to support full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons into Baptist life
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago
| [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| The [[Chicago area]]
| 57
| Rev. David Gregg
| One of seven ABCUSA regions known to support full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons into Baptist life
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Metro New York
| [[New York City, New York]]
| The New York Metropolitan Area
| 191
| Rev. Dr. Cheryl F. Dudley
| One of seven ABCUSA regions known to support full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons into Baptist life
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Michigan
| [[East Lansing, Michigan]]
| The state of [[Michigan]]
| 137
| Rev. Brian Johnson
| Formerly known as the Michigan Baptist Convention
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Churches Helping Churches American Baptist Churches of Nebraska
| [[Omaha, Nebraska]]
| The state of [[Nebraska]]
| 63
| Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula
|Legal name: Nebraska Baptist State Convention. Ethnically diverse community of churches. 
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of New Jersey
| [[Trenton, New Jersey]]
| The state of [[New Jersey]]
| 277
| Rev. Miriam Mendez
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of New York State
| [[Syracuse, New York]]
| Most of [[New York (state)|New York]], except for the Rochester-Genesee and Metro NYC areas
| 282
| Rev. Dr. James Kelsey
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Ohio
| [[Granville, Ohio]]
| Most of [[Ohio]], except for the Cleveland area
| 250
| <br />Rev. Mark E. Click
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware
| [[Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania]]
| Most of [[Pennsylvania]] (except for Philadelphia) and all of [[Delaware]]
| 300
| Rev. Mark Mahserjian-Smith & Rev. Jeffrey Johnson
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico
| [[Carolina, Puerto Rico]]
| [[Puerto Rico]]
| 113
| Rev. Edgardo M. Caraballo
| Known in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as "Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico"
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
| [[Exeter, Rhode Island]]
| The state of [[Rhode Island]]
| 69
| Rev. Dr. Courtny Davis Olds
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of the Central Pacific Coast
| [[Portland, Oregon]]
| Central and Northern [[California]], western [[Oregon]], and two churches in [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| 72
| Steve Bils
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of the Central Region
| [[Topeka, Kansas]]
| [[Kansas]], 14 churches in [[Oklahoma]], one church in [[Arkansas]]
| 205
| Gregg Hemmen
| Formerly known as the Kansas Baptist Convention until 1979
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas
| [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]]
| [[North Dakota]] and [[South Dakota]]
| 50
| Rev. Dr. Aaron Kilbourn
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
| [[Springfield, Illinois]]
| Most of [[Illinois]] (except for the Chicago area), and all of [[Missouri]]
| 205
| Patty King Bilyeu
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of the Rochester/Genesee Region
| [[Rochester, New York]]
| Mainly the Rochester/Genesee area, but other churches from 11 states affiliate with this region (see notes)
| 51
| Rev. Dr. Sandra L. DeMott Hasenauer
| One of seven ABCUSA regions known to support full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons into Baptist life.<br />Churches from other states that either left or were removed from their region over the LGBTQ+ issue affiliate with this region.
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains
| [[Centennial, Colorado]]
| [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]], [[Utah]], [[Wyoming]]
|
| Rev. Dr. Steve Van Ostran
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of the South
| [[Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland|Woodlawn, Maryland]]
| [[Alabama]], [[Arkansas]], [[Delaware]], [[District of Columbia]], [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. State)|Georgia]], [[Kentucky]], [[Louisiana]], [[Maryland]], [[Mississippi]], [[North Carolina]], [[Oklahoma]], [[South Carolina]], [[Tennessee]], [[Texas]], [[Virginia]], [[West Virginia]]
| 234
| Rev. Dr. James Mitchell Harrison
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire
| [[West Lebanon, New Hampshire]]
| [[Vermont]] and [[New Hampshire]]
| 147
| Rev. Dale R. Edwards
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin
| [[Elm Grove, Wisconsin]]
| The state of [[Wisconsin]]
| 61
| Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell
| One of seven ABCUSA regions known to support full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons into Baptist life
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Cleveland Baptist Association
| [[Cleveland, Ohio]]
| The Cleveland metropolitan area
| 39
| Rev. Dr. Yvonne B. Carter
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[District of Columbia Baptist Convention]]
| [[Washington, D.C.]]
| [[Washington, D.C.]]
| 139
| Rev. Trisha Miller Manarin
| This body has 151 churches total, but only 139 are affiliated with the ABCUSA. This body was dually aligned with the ABCUSA and the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] until May 2018.
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches
| [[Kent, Washington]]
| [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and portions of [[Alaska]], [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Idaho]], and [[Utah]]
| 55
| Douglas Avilesbernal
| One of seven ABCUSA regions known to support full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons into Baptist life
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Growing Healthy Churches
| [[Clovis, California]]
| Mainly central [[California]], but churches from several states affiliate with this region.
| 167
| Dr. Timothy H. Brown
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Mid-American Baptist Churches
| [[Urbandale, Iowa]]
| [[Iowa]] and [[Minnesota]]
| 123
| Rev. Jacquline Saxon
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Mission Northwest
| [[Post Falls, Idaho]]
| Primarily [[Idaho]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Montana]], and [[Utah]], with one church each in [[Nevada]], [[California]], [[Arizona]], and [[Alaska]]
| 156
| Dr. Charles E. Revis
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Philadelphia Baptist Association
| [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
| Philadelphia metropolitan area
| 121
| Rev. Dr. James E. McJunkin Jr.
| Oldest continuous association of Baptist churches, established in 1707. One of seven ABCUSA regions known to support full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons into Baptist life
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| West Virginia Baptist Convention
| [[Parkersburg, West Virginia]]
| The state of [[West Virginia]]
| 345
| Dr. Michael Sisson
|
|}

==Statistics==
The majority of the denomination's congregations are concentrated in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and [[Northeastern United States|Northeast United States]].<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1464_d.asp |title=Data from the 2000 Religious Congregations and Membership Study |publisher=The Arda}}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}.</ref>

In 1925, there were just over 1.4 million members.<ref name="Arda">{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1454.asp |title=American Baptist Churches in the USA |publisher=The Association of Religion Data Archives |access-date=2011-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605071917/http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1454.asp |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Membership peaked in the early 1980s at around 1.6 million. Since the beginning of the 21st century, membership began to decline and stagnate again, with the ABCUSA reporting 1,145,647 members in 5,057 churches at the end of 2017. According to a census published by the denomination in 2024, it claimed 4,802 churches and 1,107,206 members.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://baptistworld.org/members/ | title=Members &#124; Baptist World Alliance | date=July 18, 2023 }}</ref>

According to a study by the [[Pew Research Center]] in 2014, 21% of its members were aged 18–29; 28% 30–49; 32% aged 50–64 and 19% aged 65 and older. While 51% of its membership were [[Baby boomers|Baby Boomers]], the [[Silent Generation]], and the [[Greatest Generation]], the remainder were [[Generation X]], [[Millennials|older millennials]], and younger millennials,<ref name="PewResearch">{{Cite web |title=Religious Landscape Study: American Baptist Churches USA |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-denomination/american-baptist-churches-usa/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |publisher=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US}}</ref> making it slightly younger than the [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention]] and Southern Baptist Convention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religious Landscape Study: National Baptist Convention |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-denomination/national-baptist-convention/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |publisher=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Religious Landscape Study: Southern Baptist Convention |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-denomination/southern-baptist-convention/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |publisher=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US}}</ref> Approximately 40% of its membership were men and 60% were women, and the ABCUSA's churches were 73% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 10% [[African Americans|non-Hispanic black or African American]], 1% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 11% [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino American]], and 5% multiracial or other.

Theologically, the Pew Research Center's 2014 study determined 83% of the ABCUSA believes in God with absolute certainty, and 15% believed fairly certainly; 73% believed religion was very important and 24% considered it somewhat important. About 42% of members attended churches at least once a week, while 41% attended once or twice a month; 16% seldom or never attend church. An estimated 69% prayed daily, and 19% prayed weekly. Among its membership, 48% read Scripture at least once a week, and 15% once or twice a month; 53% believe the [[Bible]] should be taken literally, while 27% believe it is still the [[Authorship of the Bible|Word of God]], yet should not be taken completely literally.<ref name="PewResearch" />

==Beliefs==
Several congregations of the American Baptist Churches USA affirm the historic [[New Hampshire Confession of Faith]].<ref name="Brackney2008">{{cite book |last1=Brackney |first1=William H. |title=Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education |date=2008 |publisher=Mercer University Press |isbn=978-0-88146-130-5 |page=232 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="RBC2024">{{cite web |title=What We Believe |url=https://www.rugglesbaptistchurch.org/beliefs |publisher=Ruggles Baptist Church |access-date=2 December 2024 |language=English}}</ref> American Baptists believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and the final authority in matters of faith.<ref name=10facts>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc-usa.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=CcFkb6m2ftM%3d&tabid=432 |title=10 Facts You Should Know About American Baptists |author=ABCUSA |access-date=2009-10-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805035324/http://www.abc-usa.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=CcFkb6m2ftM%3D&tabid=432 |archive-date=August 5, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> The ABCUSA affirms the [[Trinity]], that the one God exists as three persons in complete unity: [[God the Father]], [[God the Son]], and [[God the Holy Spirit]]. They confess [[Jesus Christ]] as Savior and Lord through whom those who believe can have fellowship with God. He died, taking on the sins of the world, and was resurrected, triumphing over sin and death.<ref name=WAGGW>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc-usa.org/WhoWeAre/Identity/Bible/tabid/59/Default.aspx |title=We Are Guided by God's Word |author=ABCUSA |access-date=2009-10-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905054755/http://www.abc-usa.org/WhoWeAre/Identity/Bible/tabid/59/Default.aspx |archive-date=September 5, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref>

ABCUSA churches recognize two ordinances/sacraments: [[believer's baptism]] and the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]]. Baptism is by immersion, and those being baptized must be of an age to understand its significance. Believing in the [[priesthood of all believers]], the ABCUSA affirms the freedom of individual Christians and local churches to interpret scripture as the Holy Spirit leads them. The ABCUSA affirms the [[ordination of women]].<ref name=WAGGW/>

=== LGBTQ+ people and same-sex marriages ===
Homosexual issues have been a point of contention in the ABCUSA since the 1987 Biennial Meeting.<ref name="ABCUSA-2008-09-25">{{cite report |title=Timeline of Responses / Actions Pertaining to Homosexuality |date=2008-09-25 |publisher=American Baptist Churches USA |via=American Baptist Churches Central Region (abccr.org) |place=Topeka, KS |url=https://abccr.org/download/Timeline%20of%20Response.pdf |access-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512090113/https://abccr.org/download/Timeline%20of%20Response.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1992, the ABCUSA General Board adopted a resolution that stated, "We affirm that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."

Since 1995, regional conventions and associations of ABCUSA have carried out [[excommunication]]s of various churches which have become members of the [[Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists]] founded in 1993, an association favorable to the inclusion of homosexuals, a belief contrary to a resolution adopted by the denomination.<ref>Religion News Service, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-01-13-me-24235-story.html 4 Churches Expelled for Outreach to Gays], ''Los Angeles Times'', January 13, 1996</ref><ref>Jeff Brumley, [https://baptistnews.com/article/25-years-ago-this-week-five-baptist-churches-were-booted-for-affirming-gay-members/ 25 years ago this week, five Baptist churches were booted for affirming gay members], baptistnews.com, USA, January 5, 2021</ref>

So far, at least seven regions in the ABCUSA (Evergreen, Wisconsin, Rochester-Genesee, Metro Chicago, Metropolitan New York, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia) support full inclusion of homosexuals into Baptist life.<ref name="Tomlin-2006-05-18">{{cite news |first=Gregory |last=Tomlin |date=18 May 2006 |title=Split among American Baptists over homosexuality is final |website=Baptist Press (baptistpress.com) |publisher=[[Southern Baptist Convention]] |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/split-among-american-baptists-over-homosexuality-is-final/}}</ref> Many ABCUSA churches have also partnered with the [[Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists]], which formed at the 1993 Biennial Meeting.

However, several other ABCUSA regions and churches have opposed affirmation of homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgender identity. In 2004, the ABC Central Region reaffirmed the 1992 resolution.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |website=American Baptist Churches Central Region (abccr.org) |place=Topeka, KS |url=https://abccr.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions/}}</ref> At its 2005 annual meeting, the West Virginia Baptist Convention, which had a history of proposing resolutions opposing liberal views on homosexual inclusion,<ref name=ABCUSA-2008-09-25 /> narrowly rejected a proposal to withdraw from the ABCUSA over its refusal to discipline those regions that have supported homosexual-friendly policies.<ref name=Tomlin-2006-05-18 /> The Indiana-Kentucky region has also proposed a change in the denomination's bylaws that would prohibit the transfer of churches into another region if removed from the region because of the issue of homosexuality.<ref name=Tomlin-2006-05-18 />

In 2006, American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest split from the convention due to the convention's laxity with churches on enforcing a 1992 resolution that opposes the inclusion of homosexual people and have been renamed [[Transformation Ministries]].<ref>ABPNEWS, [https://baptistnews.com/article/pacific-region-leaves-abc-over-homosexuality-issue/ Pacific region leaves ABC over homosexuality issue], baptistnews.com, USA, May 15, 2006</ref> The convention responded that it wanted to respect the autonomy of local churches and that it did not want to carry out [[excommunication]]s.

Each local church is autonomous and permitted to perform same-sex marriages if they opt to do so.<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet Allyson Robinson, the first openly transgender Baptist minister |author-last1=Lodge|author-first1=Carey|date=5 January 2016|website=Christian Today (christiantoday.com) |publisher= |place=London, UK |url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/meet.allyson.robinson.the.first.openly.transgender.baptist.minister/75672.htm |access-date=2016-02-25}}</ref> For example, [[Calvary Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.)]], affiliated with the ABCUSA, performs same-sex marriages.<ref>{{cite news |last=Burke |first=Daniel |date=2010-03-27 |title=Clergy torn over church / civil loyalties over same-sex marriage |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032604211.html |access-date=2016-04-25}}</ref> In 2013, an ABCUSA church in [[Washington, D.C.]], ordained the denomination's first openly transgender minister.<ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Bob |date=July 10, 2014 |title=Baptist church ordains transgender woman |series=Conversations that matter |website=Baptist News Global (baptistnews.com) |place=Jacksonville, FL |url=https://baptistnews.com/culture/social-issues/item/28922-baptist-church-ordains-transgender-woman |access-date=2016-02-25 |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128202131/https://baptistnews.com/culture/social-issues/item/28922-baptist-church-ordains-transgender-woman |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ABCUSA has consistently allowed each congregation to determine whether or not to perform same-sex marriages, or ordain LGBT clergy.<ref name="Roach-2015-07-20">{{cite news |last=Roach |first=David |date=20 July 2015 |title=Gay marriage: Mainline denominations affirm SCOTUS |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/gay-marriage-mainline-denominations-affirm-scotus/ |access-date=November 26, 2015 |website=Baptist Press (bpnews.net) |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |place=Nashville, TN |series=National News, World & Politics}}</ref> The ABCUSA General Board voted in 2005 to amend the declaration ''We are American Baptists'' to define marriage as "between one man and one woman" and maintain that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Biblical teaching."<ref name=Roach-2015-07-20/> However, the denomination has never officially adopted the board's statement, and has also stated, "We respect and will continue to respect congregational freedom on this issue".<ref name=Roach-2015-07-20/>

== Schools ==
[[File:1 Judson U.jpg|221x221px|thumb|right| Entrance to [[Judson University]] in [[Elgin, Illinois]], affiliated with the Convention]]
The ABCUSA has 16 affiliated [[:Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA|universities and colleges affiliated with it]],<ref>American Baptist Home Mission Societies, [https://abhms.org/ministries/developing-leaders/education-scholarships/colleges-universities/ Colleges and Universities], abhms.org, USA, retrieved October 22, 2022</ref> and a number of home and foreign missionary societies such as the [[American Baptist Home Mission Society]] and [[International Ministries (organization)|International Ministries]]. Among its universities and colleges, some are also dually-affiliated with the [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptists]]—a predominantly African American or Black Baptist denomination founded by freedmen and slaves. Additionally, there are 10 seminaries affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA:<ref>American Baptist Home Mission Societies, [https://abhms.org/ministries/developing-leaders/education-scholarships/seminaries/ Seminaries], abhms.org, USA, retrieved October 22, 2022</ref>
* [[Andover Newton Theological School]], [[Newton, Massachusetts]], part of [[Yale Divinity School|Yale Divinity]] from 2018
* [[Berkeley School of Theology]] (formerly called the American Baptist Seminary of the West), [[Berkeley, California]]
* [[Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Kansas)|Central Baptist Theological Seminary]], [[Shawnee, Kansas]]
* [[Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School]], [[Rochester, New York]]
* [[Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
* [[Interdenominational Theological Center|Morehouse School of Religion]], [[Atlanta, Georgia]]
* [[Northern Seminary]], [[Lisle, Illinois]]
* [[Palmer Theological Seminary]], [[St. David's, Pennsylvania]]
* [[Shaw University|Shaw University Divinity School]], [[Raleigh, North Carolina]]
* [[Virginia Union University|Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University]], [[Richmond, Virginia]]

== Notable members ==
:''Includes Northern Baptists (1907–1950) and American Baptists (1950–present)''
* [[Wayland Hoyt]] (1838–1910), minister and author
* [[John D. Rockefeller]] (1839–1937), oil magnate and philanthropist
* [[Walter Rauschenbusch]] (1861–1918), theologian and pastor, key figure of the [[Social Gospel]] and [[single tax]] movements
* [[Charles Evans Hughes]] (1862–1948), [[List of Governors of New York|36th Governor of New York]], 11th [[Chief Justice of the United States]], and first president of the Northern Baptist Convention
* Rev. [[Lena B. Mathes]] (1861–1951), educator, social reformer, ordained minister
* [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]] (1874–1960), financier and philanthropist
* [[Tony Campolo]] (1935–2024) American sociologist, pastor, author
* [[Kamala Harris]] (b. 1964), Vice President of the United States

==See also==
* [[Born again]]
* [[Baptist beliefs]]
* [[Worship service (evangelicalism)]]
* [[Believers' Church]]
* [[Christianity in the United States]]

==Notes==

{{notelist-num|30em}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Collier's poster|Northern Baptists}}
* {{Official website|http://www.abc-usa.org/}}
* [https://abhsarchives.org/about/ American Baptist Historical Society]
*[https://findingaids.library.emory.edu/documents/bright1333/ Jessie M. Bright Collection] at [https://rose.library.emory.edu/ Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, & Rare Book Library, Emory University]

{{Mainline Protestantism in the United States}}
{{Colleges and Universities affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA}}
{{US baptist denominations}}
{{Baptist World Alliance Members}}
{{National Council of Churches members}}
{{World Council of Churches}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:American Baptist Churches Usa}}
[[Category:American Baptist Churches USA| ]]
[[Category:Baptist denominations in the United States]]
[[Category:Members of the World Council of Churches]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1907]]
[[Category:Baptist denominations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council of Churches]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Christian denominations founded in the United States]]