Progressive National Baptist Convention facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Progressive National Baptist Convention |
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| Abbreviation | PNBC |
| Classification | Mainline Protestant |
| Orientation | Progressive, Baptist |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| President | David Peoples |
| Associations | National Council of Churches Baptist World Alliance |
| Founder | L. Venchael Booth |
| Origin | 1961 Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Separated from | National Baptist Convention |
| Congregations | 1,362 |
| Members | 1.5 million (2023) |
The Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) is a major Christian group of Baptist churches. It is known for supporting civil rights and social justice. Its main office is in Washington, D.C.. This group is part of the Black church tradition. Since it started, the PNBC has churches in the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. It is also a member of the National Council of Churches and the Baptist World Alliance.
Contents
How the PNBC Started
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The Progressive National Baptist Convention began in 1961. It was formed by Baptist ministers who supported the civil rights movement. These ministers, led by L. Venchael Booth, wanted to change the leadership of the older National Baptist Convention (NBC USA). The NBC USA often focused on spiritual matters and did not get involved much in political action. Many local Baptist ministers, however, were leaders in the civil rights movement.
The ministers who wanted change nominated Gardner C. Taylor to be the new president of the NBC USA. After a big disagreement, the old leaders won. This meant that civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. could not use the full power of the black Baptist community to push for civil rights. This led to the creation of the new Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Thirty-three people from 14 states met in Cincinnati to talk about forming a new group. They voted to create the new convention. L. Venchael Booth was chosen as its first president. The group was first called the "Progressive Baptist Convention." The word "National" was added in 1962. Since then, the convention has grown. It now has churches across the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.
Supporting Civil Rights
The Progressive National Baptist Convention chose a path of political action. They supported groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). They also supported methods like affirmative action, which helps make opportunities fair for everyone. Famous civil rights leaders who were part of the PNBC include Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Mays, Ralph Abernathy, Wyatt Tee Walker, and Gardner C. Taylor. The PNBC describes its "progressive concept" as being about "fellowship, progress, and peace."
In 1969, Uvee Mdodana Arbouin became the first woman to be ordained as a pastor in the convention. This was a big step for women in ministry.
In the early 2000s, the PNBC joined with other Baptist groups to form the Joint National Baptist Convention. In 2024, the PNBC worked with these groups again. They wanted to create a shared plan for African American Baptists.
The Progressive National Baptist Convention celebrated its 50th yearly meeting in Washington, D.C., in August 2011. Since 1970, the PNBC has also worked with the American Baptist Churches USA, which is a mostly white mainline church group.
In 2022, Jacqueline A. Thompson was elected as the second vice president of the PNBC. She was the first woman to hold such a high elected leadership role in the convention.
On January 22, 2024, the PNBC called for a ceasefire in Gaza. This happened before the Joint National Baptist Convention meeting.
Membership Numbers
In 1963, the PNBC had about 500,000 members in 394 churches. By 1991, it grew to 2.5 million members in 1,400 churches. After that, the number of members stayed about the same for a while.
In 2009, the PNBC had about 1,010,000 members in 1,500 churches. A report from the Baptist World Alliance in 2022 said the PNBC had 1,500,000 members in 1,362 churches. Another study by the World Council of Churches estimated its membership at about 2,500,000.
Beliefs and Practices
Many members of the PNBC follow Progressive Baptist ideas. This means their beliefs are often more open-minded or modern. This is different from some other Baptist groups, which tend to be more traditional.
The Progressive National Baptist Convention also supports the ordination of women. This means women can become pastors and church leaders. The PNBC works to create "opportunities for women in ministry to learn and serve."
The PNBC allows its local churches to decide on many social issues for themselves. This means the convention as a whole does not take one official stand on every issue. This allows for different views among its churches.
See also
In Spanish: Convención Bautista Nacional Progresista para niños
