National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
Encyclopedia
The National Missionary Baptist Convention of America is an African-American Baptist
convention which combined the efforts of Missionary Baptist churches and organizations throughout the country with the goal of unity for capable and efficient ministry. The NMBCA also seeks to propagate Baptist beliefs, doctrines, practices and distinct moral principles. The convention consists of four boards (education, evangelical, home mission, foreign mission) and 10 auxiliaries (Ministers, Ministers' Wives & Widows, Brotherhood, Brotherhood II, Women's Missionary Union, Women's Missionary Union # 2, Junior Women, Ushers, and Nurses Corp). In addition the Convention has a Benevolence Board and Praise Team.
On November 14-15, 1988, in a meeting held at the People's Missionary Baptist Church, Incorporated, 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). They separated over differences of opinion over the relationship of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. and the National Baptist Publishing Board (now known as the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation); the National Baptist Sunday School; and the 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 black Foreign Mission Baptist Convention in 1880. (This united with two other conventions to become the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
in 1895.) It 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, elections were held. 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. This followed Johnson's unsuccessful campaign for the presidency, which was won by Dr. W.T. Snead, Sr.
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, and in September. The September five-day meeting is considered the Annual Session, held the week after the first Sunday.
Headquarters are generally considered to travel with the President. Currently it is in Dallas, Texas
, which is the home base of the president, Dr. C.C. Robertson, pastor of the Bexar Street Missionary Baptist Church, who was elected in September 2006. The greatest strength in membership of the convention is in California and Texas
. According to the 2007 National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Journal, there were 14 state conventions (Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Northwest - Oregon & Washington, Tennessee, Texas (2), and Washington), 39 district associations, and over 500 churches as members.
Churches in a geographical area (e.g., southern California) or a political subdivision (e.g., city/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 1,000,000.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
convention which combined the efforts of Missionary Baptist churches and organizations throughout the country with the goal of unity for capable and efficient ministry. The NMBCA also seeks to propagate Baptist beliefs, doctrines, practices and distinct moral principles. The convention consists of four boards (education, evangelical, home mission, foreign mission) and 10 auxiliaries (Ministers, Ministers' Wives & Widows, Brotherhood, Brotherhood II, Women's Missionary Union, Women's Missionary Union # 2, Junior Women, Ushers, and Nurses Corp). In addition the Convention has a Benevolence Board and Praise Team.
On November 14-15, 1988, in a meeting held at the People's Missionary Baptist Church, Incorporated, in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
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.
National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
The National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. is an African-American Baptist body organized in 1915 as the result of a struggle to keep the National Baptist Publishing Board of Nashville independent. Those supporting the independence of the publishing board, headed by Rev. R. H...
formed the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA). They separated over differences of opinion over the relationship of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. and the National Baptist Publishing Board (now known as the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation); the National Baptist Sunday School; and the Baptist Training Union Congress, brought about the division. The new body gained the support of existing state conventions in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and has formed others. The NMBCA traces its origins to the formation of the black Foreign Mission Baptist Convention in 1880. (This united with two other conventions to become the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. is the largest predominantly African-American Christian denomination in the United States and is the world's second largest Baptist denomination...
in 1895.) It 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, elections were held. 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
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
withdrew and formed the Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America
Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America
The Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America is a recent division of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, which was formed on November 15, 1988. When the NMBCA was formed, Dr. S. M. Lockridge of San Diego, California was elected president of the Convention and served...
in 1998/1999. This followed Johnson's unsuccessful campaign for the presidency, which was won by Dr. W.T. Snead, Sr.
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, and in September. The September five-day meeting is considered the Annual Session, held the week after the first Sunday.
Headquarters are generally considered to travel with the President. Currently it is in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, which is the home base of the president, Dr. C.C. Robertson, pastor of the Bexar Street Missionary Baptist Church, who was elected in September 2006. The greatest strength in membership of the convention is in California and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. According to the 2007 National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Journal, there were 14 state conventions (Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Northwest - Oregon & Washington, Tennessee, Texas (2), and Washington), 39 district associations, and over 500 churches as members.
Churches in a geographical area (e.g., southern California) or a political subdivision (e.g., city/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 1,000,000.
Current leadership
Currently the convention is led by Dr. C.C. Robertson, President. Dr. Robertson is the pastor of the Bexar Street Baptist Church in Dallas, TX, who is completing his second term as President. Dr. Nehemiah Davis of Fort Worth, TX is the Vice President at Large. Presidents are selected every four years.External links
- National Missionary Baptist Convention of America - official Web Site