Progressive National Baptist Convention facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Progressive National Baptist Convention |
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| Abbreviation | PNBC |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Baptist |
| Theology |
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| Polity | Congregational |
| 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 (Self-reported, including international churches; 2022) 363 (ARDA; 2020) |
| Members | 1,500,000 (Self-reported, including international members; 2022) 254,571 (ARDA; 2020) |
The Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) is a group of Baptist churches. It focuses on civil rights and social justice. Its main office is in Washington, D.C.. The PNBC is part of the Black church tradition. It has churches in the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. The PNBC is also a member of the National Council of Churches and the Baptist World Alliance.
Contents
History of the PNBC
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The Progressive National Baptist Convention started in 1961. It was formed by Baptist ministers who supported civil rights. These ministers were led by L. Venchael Booth from Cincinnati. They wanted to change the leadership of the older National Baptist Convention (NBC USA).
The older NBC USA group did not fully support the civil rights movement. Many local Baptist ministers were leading this movement. But the NBC USA often focused more on spiritual matters than on political action. The ministers who wanted change nominated Gardner C. Taylor to be the president of the NBC USA.
After some disagreements, the supporters of the old leader won. Martin Luther King Jr. was no longer part of the NBC USA's plans. His goal of using the power of the black Baptist community for civil rights did not happen there. This led to the creation of the new, mainly African American, Baptist group.
Thirty-three people from 14 states met in Cincinnati. They voted to create the new organization. The vote was very close. L. Venchael Booth was chosen as the first president. The group was first called the "Progressive Baptist Convention." The word "National" was added in 1962. The convention has grown a lot since then. It now has churches across the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.
PNBC's Role in Civil Rights
The Progressive National Baptist Convention chose a path of political action. It supported groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). It also supported methods like affirmative action. Many famous civil rights leaders were members of the PNBC. These included Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Mays, Ralph Abernathy, Wyatt Tee Walker, and Gardner C. Taylor. The PNBC describes its "progressive concept" as "fellowship, progress, and peace."
In 1969, Uvee Mdodana Arbouin became the first woman pastor ordained in the convention. This was a big step for women in ministry.
In the early 2000s, the Progressive National Baptists joined with other Baptist groups. These included the National Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention of America. They formed the Joint National Baptist Convention. In 2024, the PNBC worked with these groups again. They aimed 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. The PNBC has also worked with the American Baptist Churches USA since 1970. This group is mainly white.
In 2022, Jacqueline A. Thompson was elected as second vice president. She was the first woman to hold an elected leadership role in the PNBC.
On January 22, 2024, the PNBC called for a ceasefire in Gaza. This happened before the Joint National Baptist Convention.
PNBC Membership Statistics
The Association of Religion Data Archives tracks religious groups. 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 in the U.S. stayed about the same.
In 2009, the same group reported the PNBC had 1,010,000 members in 1,500 churches. By 2020, it reported 254,571 members in 363 churches in the United States. However, a report by the Baptist World Alliance in 2022 said the PNBC had 1,500,000 members in 1,362 churches worldwide. Another study by the World Council of Churches estimated its global membership at about 2,500,000 people.
PNBC Beliefs and Practices
Many members of the Progressive National Baptist Convention follow Progressive Baptist ideas. This means their beliefs are often moderate to liberal. This is different from other Baptist groups, like the National Baptist Convention, which are more conservative.
The PNBC also supports the ordination of women. This means women can become pastors and leaders in their churches. The PNBC says it creates "opportunities for women in ministry to learn and serve." The PNBC also lets local churches decide their own rules about same-sex marriages. The convention itself has not taken an official stand on this issue. This allows for different opinions within the group.
See also
In Spanish: Convención Bautista Nacional Progresista para niños
