National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
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National Missionary Baptist Convention of America - an association serving as a medium of cooperation and fellowship for African-American missionary Baptist churches.
On November 15, 1988, in a meeting held in Dallas, Texas with Dr. S.J. Gilbert, Sr. as the Convenor and Dr. S.M. Wright, as the host pastor, several members from the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. formed the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA). Differences of opinion over the governance and structure of the National Baptist Publishing Board and National Baptist Sunday Church School and 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 Foreign Mission Baptist Convention in 1880, and considers the 1988 organization a "restoration".
Dr. S. M. Lockridge of San Diego, California was elected president of the Convention and served until his retirement in 1994. Ensuing elections led to frustration, and a party led by Dr. H. J. Johnson of Dallas, Texas withdrew and formed the Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America in 1998/1999. Succeeding Presidents were: Dr. S.M. Wright of Dallas, Texas, who died shortly after his election, prior to his installation, and Dr. W.T. Snead, Sr. of Los Angeles, California.
The Convention meets three times a year - In February (Winter Board Meeting), in June (Summer Board Meeting) and in September (Annual Session). Headquarters are in Los Angeles, California, which is the home base of the current president, Dr. Melvin Von Wade, Sr. The greatest strength is in California and Texas. According to the 2002 National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Journal, there were 14 state conventions, 39 district associations, and 260 churches.
Membership is an estimated 80,000. Work is carried on through numerous auxiliaries and boards, including benevolent, educational, foreign mission, evangelical and mission boards. President Wade was elected in 2002-2003 in Chicago, Illinois. The Installation Services were held in Houston, Texas.
External links
- National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (http://www.nmbca.com/) - official Web Site
References
- Baptists Around the World, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
- Handbook of Denominations, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, & Craig D. Atwood