Independent Baptist churches (some also called Independent Fundamental Baptist, or IFB) are Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

 churches generally holding to conservative Baptist beliefs. They are characterized by being independent from the authority of denomination

Christian denomination

A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...

s or similar bodies. Members of such churches comprised three percent of the United States adult population according to a 2008 survey. According to the same survey, they represent less than 15 percent of adults who consider themselves Baptist.

History

Within some denominational churches more conservative elements set about establishing new Independent Baptist churches instead of remaining within the denominational churches.

In addition to churches, there are a number of educational institutions affiliated with the IFB movement.

Categories

Independent baptists can be categorized into two groups: Independent Baptists in the evangelical tradition and Independent Baptists in the historically Black (African-American) tradition.

Independent Baptists in the evangelical tradition

Independent Baptists "in the evangelical tradition" represented 2.5 percent of all American adults, according to a 2008 survey. Independent Baptists in the evangelical tradition mainly live in the Southern US, with 55 percent living there, 23 percent in the Midwest, 12 percent in the West and 10 percent in the Northeast. Although the Pew Forum lists that these Independent Baptists are primarily white with 0 Percent being black, there is a growing movement of Independent Baptists in the Conference On Evangelizing Black America (COEBA) was started in 1994 by Pastor Lou Baldwin, a black American from Crossroads Baptist Church in Virginia, which has grown to the point where more than 2000 people can be found in attendance at the annual national conference meeting. According to a Pew Forum survey in 2008, Independent Baptists in the evangelical tradition are most likely to be Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 with 52 percent saying that they are Republican or lean Republican, and 33 percent saying that they are Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 or lean Democratic, and 10 percent saying they are Independent.
Independent Baptists in the evangelical tradition tend to be high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 graduates or have a lesser education, with 45 percent graduating from high school, and 18 percent having less than high school diploma. 22 percent have some college

College

A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...

 education, 11 percent are college graduates, and 5 percent have post-graduate degrees.

Independent Baptists in the historically Black tradition

Independent Baptists "in the historically Black tradition" are nearly all African Americans, with 97 percent being African-American and 3 percent Latino (Hispanic). Independent Baptist in the Black tradition primarily live in the Southern US, with 67 percent living there, and 18 percent living in the Midwest, 11 percent in the Northeast and 4 percent in the West. 67 percent of Independent Baptists in the Black tradition are high school graduates (48 percent) or have less than high school education (17 percent). And, 25 percent have some college education, 5 percent are college graduates and 3 percent have post-graduate degrees. Independent baptists in the Black tradition are much more likely than the other category to be Democrats. 74 percent say they are Democrat or lean Democrat, 12 percent say they are Republican or lean Republican, and 9 percent are Independent.