Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 12/30/2006

Question
There are so many Baptist churches I am confused as to understand why so many. Is their doctrine different or what. I just joined a Baptist church. Example; difference between
American and Southern.  What about the others?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question:

In the US, Baptists constitute 27 groupings and their total membership is about 30 million.  Baptist churches are completely independent, yet bound together by an amazing common allegiance to principles and doctrines.  They claim no founder but Christ, and often claim they have been preaching since John the Baptist.  When the Reformation began in the 16th century, scattered Baptist groups in Europe advocated doctrines that eventually united them.  As the left wing of the Reformation, they were called ANA-Baptists ("to baptize again"), because they immersed (dunked) those who had been baptized in infancy.  They held to a literal application of the Bible, were communal and pacifistic, and opposed capital punishment, taking oaths in court, and the holding of public office. They insisted upon the complete separation of church and state.  Undergoing persecution for their then - radical views, they spread all over Europe.  In Holland a group of Mennonites, followers of the former Anabaptist leader Menno Simons, were teaching Anabaptist principles and took in  a group of British refugees undergoing persecution under James I.  One of their leaders, John Smyth, completely accepted the teaching of the Mennonites.  Smyth and his followers were rebaptized, became Anabaptists, and organized the first English Baptist church in 1609.  However, they remained English and refused to take on all the accoutrements of the Mennonites.  As persecution waned, the English Baptists went back across the channel and began a Baptist church in London.  Although they spread, they divided again, this time over the theology of the Atonement.  The General Baptist churches held that Jesus Christ died for everyone, while others held to the teachings of the Particular Baptist church - following the teachings of John Calvin - that salvation was only for those predestined by God.  The first Particular (British) Baptist Church had its beginning in 1638.  A third group, Immersion Baptist, broke away and in 1644 produced a confession of faith that is still in use by many.  For the first time, these Christians were popularly known as Baptists.  In 1631 Roger Williams went to America, and although he was not a Baptist, established a Baptist church at Providence, RI.  In 1814 Baptists organized the General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States of America for Foreign Missions.  This step marked the first real denominational consciousness and united the Baptists.  They formed a society for publication as well as for missions and education.  In 1845 came the major split.  Southerners seceded from the union over the issue of slavery and state’s rights, and formed the Southern Baptist Convention to carry on the work of their churches.  What was left of the General Missionary Convention formed the Northern Baptist Convention which changed its name to American Baptists Churches USA. The two have remained separated ever since.  Baptists generally agree upon the Bible as the inspired Word of God, the supremacy of Jesus Christ, inherent freedom of individuals to approach God for themselves, salvation by faith through God's grace, two sacraments (called ordinances) of Baptism (adult only immersion) and the Lord's Supper, the independence of the local church, the church as a group of regenerated believers, complete separation of church and state, the immortality of the soul, and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.  Because Baptists have had freedom of expression in the pulpit and pew, they are quite democratic.  This means that liberal and conservative doctrines can be preached freely because each church is autonomous.  Local churches license and ordain candidates for the Ministry.

Some basics:
Today there are many different types of Baptists, ranging from Fundamental to very liberal.  
Primative, Missionary, some independent Baptists tend to be Fundamentalists.  Meaning, they take a very literal view of all of Scripture, believe women should not be in church leadership, hold to the King James version of the Bible, and have traditional worship.
Southern Baptists can be fundamentalists, traditionalists, or even very liberal.  As a whole, they tend to be traditional, holding a mostly literal view of Scripture and can have traditional or contemporary worship.  In some SBC churches women cannot hold leadership positions while in others women can serve in any position but Pastor.  There are even a few SBC churches that are led by women pastors.  the SBC has a strong missionary foundation.

THe National Baptist Covention is an african-american denomination that can be either fundamental or liberal.

THe American Baptist Covention USA tends to be less conservative while still holding scripture as God's word,  women can serve in any position in the church, and any translation will do.  However, the ABC is going through a difficult time right now over the issue of homosexuality.  The denomination has a policy that it is a sin, however there are openly gay mininsters and churches in ABC.  The denomination refuses to take any steps to discipline these churches.  Over 1000 churches have left ABC USA in the last few years because of the liberal direction the convention is taking.