Southern Baptist Convention
| Southern Baptist Convention | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Abbreviation | SBC |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Baptist |
| Theology | Evangelical Baptist |
| Polity | Congregational |
| President | Steve Gaines |
| Region | United States |
| Origin | May 8–12, 1845 Augusta, Georgia |
| Separated from | Triennial Convention |
| Separations | |
| Congregations | 46,793 (2015) |
| Members | 15.29 million (2015) |
| Official website | www |
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 15 million members as of 2015[update]. This also makes it the second-largest Christian body in the United States, after the Catholic Church.
The word Southern in Southern Baptist Convention stems from it having been founded and rooted in the Southern United States, following a split from northern Baptists over the issue of slavery; the immediate issue was whether slave owners could serve as missionaries. Members at a regional convention held in Augusta, Georgia, created the SBC in 1845. After the American Civil War, another split occurred when most freedmen set up independent congregations. Many set up their own Baptist churches, regional associations, and state and national conventions, such as the National Baptist Convention, which became the second-largest Baptist convention by the end of the 19th century. Others joined new African-American denominations, chiefly the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Since the 1940s, the SBC has moved away from some of its regional and historical identification. Especially since the late twentieth century, the SBC has sought new members among minority groups and become much more diverse. In addition, while still heavily concentrated in the Southern US, the SBC has member churches across the United States and 41 affiliated state conventions. It should be noted that some "State" convention comprise more than one State - for example the New England Baptist Convention is comprise of the six New England states. North and South Dakota comprise the Dakota Baptist Convention. In addition - Northern New Jersey is part of the Baptist Convention of New York and Southern New Jersery of is part of the Baptist Convention of PA.
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