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HISTORY (cont.)
In 1919, controversy surfaced regarding a charter
of incorporation for the Convention and the ownership
of the National Baptist Publishing Board. The end
result was the emergence of The National Baptist
Convention of America (Unincorporated) and The National
Baptist Convention U.S.A., Incorporated. In 1987,
The National Baptist Convention of America was incorporated
in Shreveport, Louisiana under the new caption,
THE NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED.
In September, 1988 the National Baptist Convention
of America, Incorporated and the National Baptist
Convention U.S.A., Inc. met in their annual sessions
in Dallas, Texas and Fort Worth, Texas, respectively.
A joint worship service convened in the Reunion
Arena in Dallas, Texas, celebrating their togetherness
and protesting apartheid in South Africa.
Following the joint worship service, the National
Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated re-convened
in its 104th Annual Session in Fort Worth, Texas.
The controversy over the ownership and control of
the National Congress prevailed and caused division
among the Convention messengers. The heart of the
controversy was whether the National Convention
would operate its own Congress with the status of
an auxiliary like all of the other auxiliaries,
or whether the Convention would continue to relate
to a National Congress chartered, owned, and controlled
by the National Publishing Board with no responsibility
to the Convention. After spirited debate and a democratic
vote, the National Baptist Convention of America,
Incorporated voted to operate its own National Congress.
As a result of this decision, a new National Missionary
Baptist Convention was born in November 1988.
Today the NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION OF AMERICA,
INCORPORATED has made tremendous growth in numbers,
ministries, and in honoring its commitment to education,
evangelism and mission at home and abroad. The National
Baptist Convention, Incorporated continues to support
mission fields in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands,
Panama, Haiti, and Ghana in West Africa.
The National Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated,
continues to honor its commitment to its nature
and function as articulated in its constitution
which states:
The National Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated
is organized and operated exclusively for religious
purposes; to foster unity and efficiency of Foreign
Mission, Home Mission, and educational work throughout
its membership constituency and the world; to
serve as an agency of Christian Education, Missionary
and Church Extension; to marshal the efforts of
Baptist Churches and organizations in extending
the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and to the
foreign fields; to propagate Baptist doctrines
of faith and practice and its distinctive principles
throughout the world; to lend its influence in
maintaining and safeguarding full religious liberty
and spiritual independence at home and on the
foreign fields. It is committed to harnessing
the Christian scholars and creative religious
writers for the publication of Baptist literature
and to provide the opportunity for them to be
participants throughout the Christian world. It
is committed to safeguarding the principles of
civil liberty, social justice, and the equality
of human kind as children of God.
Contact the National Baptist
Convention of America, Inc. for questions or concerns
about this ministry and how you or your organization
can join us in spreading the Good News of Christ.
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