United American Free Will Baptist Church
Encyclopedia
The United American Free Will Baptist Church is the oldest national body of predominantly black Free Will Baptists in the United States
.
in America grew up on two separate fronts: North
and South
. In the South the denomination began in 1727 when Paul Palmer started a church in Chowan
, North Carolina
. The work in the north began with a congregation organized by Benjamin Randall
in 1780 at New Durham, New Hampshire
. Though they arose independently and there was no organizational connection between them, both taught the doctrines of free grace, free salvation and free will
.
Free blacks
and black slaves were members of predominantly white
Free Will Baptist congregations of the South. African-Americans organized their first separate congregation, Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church, at Snow Hill, Greene County, North Carolina
, in 1867. The first annual conference was organized in 1870, and the first association in 1887. The first General Conference for United Free Will Baptists convened at St. John's church in Kinston, North Carolina
, on May 8, 1901. The greatest strength of this body is in North Carolina, where it maintains headquarters and a tabernacle and operates Kinston Collegein North Carolina. There are about 50,000 members in 250 churches. The General Conference has published a book of discipline since 1903 and publishes a periodical called The Free Will Baptist Advocate. The United American Free Will Baptist Church is a member of the National Fraternal Council of Negro Churches.
In 1968, a division brought about a second group of black Free Will Baptists, the United American Free Will Baptist Conference
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The Free Will Baptist ChurchFree Will Baptist Church
Free Will Baptist is a denomination of churches that share a common history, name, and an acceptance of the Arminian theology of free grace, free salvation, and free will. Free Will Baptists share similar soteriological views with General Baptists, Separate Baptists and some United Baptists...
in America grew up on two separate fronts: North
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. In the South the denomination began in 1727 when Paul Palmer started a church in Chowan
Chowan
Chowan is a variation of the name of the Chowanoke American Indian tribe in North Carolina, and may refer to*Chowan, the first name of the bark later to be named USS Crusader*Chowan County, North Carolina*Chowan River in Virginia and North Carolina...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The work in the north began with a congregation organized by Benjamin Randall
Benjamin Randall
Benjamin Randall was the main organizer of the Freewill Baptists in the northeastern United States.In 1749 Benjamin Randall was born into a New England sea captain's family. Randall experienced a conversion to Christianity in 1770 through the influence of George Whitefield. Randall served in the...
in 1780 at New Durham, New Hampshire
New Durham, New Hampshire
New Durham is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,638 at the 2010 census. It is drained by the Merrymeeting and Ela rivers, and is known for Merrymeeting Lake. New Durham is home to the Powder Mill Fish Hatchery...
. Though they arose independently and there was no organizational connection between them, both taught the doctrines of free grace, free salvation and free will
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
.
Free blacks
Free Negro
A free Negro or free black is the term used prior to the abolition of slavery in the United States to describe African Americans who were not slaves. Almost all African Americans came to the United States as slaves, but from the earliest days of American slavery, slaveholders set men and women free...
and black slaves were members of predominantly white
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
Free Will Baptist congregations of the South. African-Americans organized their first separate congregation, Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church, at Snow Hill, Greene County, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, in 1867. The first annual conference was organized in 1870, and the first association in 1887. The first General Conference for United Free Will Baptists convened at St. John's church in Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
, on May 8, 1901. The greatest strength of this body is in North Carolina, where it maintains headquarters and a tabernacle and operates Kinston Collegein North Carolina. There are about 50,000 members in 250 churches. The General Conference has published a book of discipline since 1903 and publishes a periodical called The Free Will Baptist Advocate. The United American Free Will Baptist Church is a member of the National Fraternal Council of Negro Churches.
In 1968, a division brought about a second group of black Free Will Baptists, the United American Free Will Baptist Conference
United American Free Will Baptist Conference
United American Free Will Baptist Conference, Inc. is the smaller of the two African-American Free Will Baptist conferences in the United States.-History:...
.
Sources
- Encyclopedia of African-American Religions, Larry G. Murphy, et al., editors
- Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
- Baptists Around the World, by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
- Dictionary of Baptists in America, Bill J. Leonard, editor
- "The History and Theology of the National Fraternal Council of Negro Churches" (Master's Thesis, Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY), by Spurgeon E. Crayton