National Missionary Baptist Convention of America

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The National Missionary Baptist Convention of America is an African-American Baptist association that serves as a means of fellowship and cooperation in missionary, benevolent and educational enterprises for its churches.

On November 14-15, 1988, in a meeting held in Dallas, Texas with Dr. S. J. Gilbert, Sr. as the convenor and Dr. S. M. Wright, as the host pastor, several leaders and members from the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. formed the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA). Differences of opinion over the governance and structure of the National Baptist Publishing Board (now known as the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation) and National Baptist Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress, brought about the division. The new body gained the support of existing state conventions in California, Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Indiana, and has formed others. The NMBCA traces its origins to the formation of the Foreign Mission Baptist Convention in 1880, and considers the 1988 organization a "restoration".

The Rev. S.M. Lockridge of San Diego was elected as the first president of the newly formed convention and served until his retirement in 1994. After Dr. Lockridge's retirement, ensuing elections were contested and became heated. Succeeding Presidents in the NMBCA were: Dr. S. M. Wright of Dallas, Texas, who died shortly after his election prior to his installation; Dr. W. T. Snead, Sr. of Los Angeles, California; and Dr. Melvin Von Wade, Sr., also of Los Angeles. A party led by Dr. H. J. Johnson of Dallas, Texas withdrew and formed the Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America in 1998/1999.

The Convention meets three times a year - a "Winter Board Meeting" generally held the week after the fourth Sunday in February; The "Summer Board Meeting," a one day session held during the week of the National Baptist Sunday Church School and Baptist Training Union Congress, sponsored by the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation of Nashville, TN. The September five day meeting is considered the "Annual Session" held on the week after the first Sunday.

Headquarters are generally considered in the home city of the President. Currently it is in Dallas, Texas, which is the home base of the current president, Dr. C.C. Robertson, pastor of the Bexar Street Missionary Baptist Church, who was elected in September 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The greatest strength is in California and Texas. According to the 2002 National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Journal, there were 14 state conventions, 39 district associations, and 260 churches. Churches in a geographical area (e.g., southern California) or a political subdivision (e.g., county) organize a district level association as a means of cooperation. Churches within a state may also organize for state level cooperation. Both the state and district associations relate to and work with the National Convention to carry on related ministries.

Church membership is an estimated 500,000. Work is carried on through the auxiliaries (Ministers' Wives & Widows, Brotherhood Union, Brotherhood Union II, Senior Women, Senior Women II, Junior Women, Ushers and Nurses) and boards, Benevolent, Educational, Foreign Mission, Evangelical and Home Mission.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Baptists Around the World, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
  • Handbook of Denominations, 11th Edition, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, & Craig D. Atwood ISBN 0-687-06983-1
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