NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTIONS 

(A Historical Reference)

In 1880 - there were several negro baptist conventions. Namely, the National Baptist Convention, the Foreign Mission Board Convention of the United States of America and the Baptist National Educational Convention. At that time, a six year process of merger was begun at the behest of the late Rev. Wm. J. Simmons to form a united National Baptist Convention. At that time the following reasons were given: (1) promotion of personal piety, sociability, and a better knowledge of each other. (2) ability to have an understanding as to biblical evangelism; (3) encouragement of writers and promotion of negro generated Christian literature; (4) discussion of questions regarding religion, education, industry, civil rights and social interests of the negro; (5) opportunity for the best thinkers and writers to be heard; and (6) Unity for power for good and strengthen pride in the denomination. 

Having issued that call, a meeting was held in St. Louis, Missouri on August 25, 1886, and the National Baptist Convention was organized. At that meeting, several conventions merged and used 1880 as the "starting date" as their genesis. And in 1894, the merger process was completed. 

The National Baptist Convention was led by: Rev. W.H. McAlpine (1880-1885); Rev. W.A. Binkley (1885-1886); Rev. W.J. Simmons (1886-1891); Rev. E.M. Brawley (1871-1892); Rev. M. Vann (1892-1894); Rev. E.C. Morris (1894-1915). 

Part of the spectacular growth of the Convention is attributed to the National Baptist Publishing Board, which was the publishing arm of the convention led by the late Dr. Richard Henry Boyd and organized by him in Nashville, Tennessee. Millions of periodicals were printed by Dr. Boyd and his family (pictured left), and the strength of the Publishing Board and its influence within the denomination became legendary. 

In 1897, several prominent pastors felt that there was a need to expand soul winning to the mother continent of Africa and foreign nations.  As a result, the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention was organized.  At the present time Lott Carey sponsors missionary stations in various continents and has a headquarters building in Washington, DC.  Lott Carey has members that are a part of each of the National Baptist conventions and has a full-time staff devoted to the causes of missionary endeavors.

In 1907, a movement was formed by Rev. C.F. Sams of Key West, Florida, to organize the Colored Primitive Baptists across the nation.  Rev. Sams preached the Introductory Sermon and on Monday, July 19, 1907, the Reverend Dr. James H. Carey of Charlotte, North Carolina, was elected president.  The first annual session was held in Nashville, Tennessee in 1908 and the Convention owns a publishing house in Huntsville, Alabama.  The following men served as presidents:  Presidents of the National Convention are listed in chronological order:  Dr. James Carey (1907-1913);  Elder W. L. Douglas (1913-1932);  Elder L. W. Thomas (1932-1934);  Elder William M. Scott (1942-1956);  Elder Percy D. Brantley (1956-1972);  Elder Forest L. Livingston (1972-1995);  Elder Dr.  Thomas W. Samuels (1995-present) (pictured right).  The convention owns several pieces of property including a Youth Camp and Memorial Center.

During the presidency of Rev. E.C. Morris, a question arose over the ownership of the National Baptist Publishing Board. Dr. Boyd contended that the Boyd Family were the lawful owners, and factions within the National Baptist Convention contended that the Board belonged to the Convention. During a heated legal battle, the supporters of the Publishing Board and the Home Mission Board were battling the leadership of the National Baptist Convention. 

As a result, the National Baptist Convention split during its annual session in 1915. To this end, two national conventions were now in place: The National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., led by President Morris; and the National Baptist Convention of America (unincorporated, or commonly called at the time, "the Boyd Convention"). 

Both conventions began the processes of re-organization. During the height of growth in both National Baptist Conventions, two more "splits" occurred forming to additional conventions: The Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. was formed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists from the loins of National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. After the powerful reign of the late Dr. John H. Jackson (pictured far right) of Chicago as President. The NBCUSA, Inc. elected Dr. T.J. Jemison (pictured  right)  of Baton Rouge, Louisiana as its president and instituted tenure for the Presidency.  Dr. Jemison led the Convention into the Construction of the Baptist World Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee in the late 1980s.   Dr. Jemison was succeeded by Dr. Henry J. Lyons of Florida.

 In 1957, there was a segment of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. that had grown dissatisfied over the issue of tenure and the Office of the Executive Secretary.  The meeting culminated in a new organization after meetings had been held by several leaders in the Convention over a period of years.  At a meeting held in St. Louis, Missouri, in the Washington Avenue Tabernacle Church, Dr. John E. Nance, pastor.  At that meeting, several prominent ministers met for the purpose of bringing about a solution to the problems that were confronting the Convention at that time.  The result was to attempt to work within the framework of NBCUSA, Inc. without any suggestion of withdrawing from the Convention.  Expressions were made and published about the meeting which created controversy within the Convention and instead of the meeting improving conditions, greater opposition became apparent.  In 1956, an issue erupted about the seating of delegates in Denver, Colorado.  In 1957, in Louisville, KY a "chair throwing session" ignited a greater controversy.  Confusion reigned at the 1958 (Philadelphia, PA) and 1959 (Kansas City, MO) sessions.  Dr. Gardner C. Taylor was selected by the group to run against Dr. J.H. Jackson and subsequently Dr. Jackson retained his presidency.  A letter was written by Dr. L.V. Booth of Cincinnati, OH calling for a meeting in November in Cincinnati to organize a new body with a new direction.  This meeting was held November 1961.  14 States were represented with 33 delegates present.  Dr. J. Raymond Henderson of Los Angeles, CA was the presider and after a debate between Dr. Marvin T. Robinson of Pasadena, CA and Dr. Booth, a decision was made to organize the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., with a commitment to tenure.  Dr. Gardner C. Taylor was the first elected president.    Dr. C. Mackey Daniels (pictured left) is the Convention president).

And in 1988, the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. was debating the role of the National Baptist Publishing Board in relationship to the direction of its Congress. All of the National Conventions have Congresses which is the largest gathering of the Convention for a week of study. President E. Edward Jones, II (pictured far left) of Shreveport (who was elected in 1984 after the death of Dr. J.C. Sams of Jacksonville, FL) believed that the Convention should determine its own Congress curriculum and should determine its own writers, and that the Convention should control its own Publishing Board. However, the National Baptist Publishing Board, led by Dr. T.B. Boyd, III, (pictured left) a descendent of the founder, believed that the Congress, which the Board had operated since its inception, should continue to be run by the NBPB and that the Board should continue to be separate from the Convention in order to provide publishing services. This led to a parting of the ways in 1988, with the formation of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (unicorporated) which is aligned with the National Baptist Publishing Board. The NMBCA elected Dr. S.M. Lockridge of San Diego, California (pictured left, far right) as their first President in a meeting held at the Peoples Baptist Church, Dr. S.M. Wright, pastor with Dr. S.J. Gilbert of Houston, TX serving as convenor.    The NMBCA organized with several NBCA, Inc. officers and all of the auxiliary presidents.  The NBCA, Inc. restructured its auxilary structure for the first time since 1915 and many young pastors were moved into leadership positions.
 

The National Missionary Baptist Convention of America was led by Dr. S.M. Lockridge from its "restoration" in 1988 until his retirement in 1994.  A strongly tinged election ensued between Dr. S.M. Wright of Dallas, TX (pictured left, far left), Vice President of the Convention and Dr. S.J. Gilbert of Houston, TX, the General Secretary of the Convention.  In a very terse election held in Dallas, TX in 1994, Dr. Wright prevailed in the election.  He died suddenly several weeks later and Dr. W.T. Snead, Sr., (pictured left, center), Vice President at Large of the Convention assumed the presidency until the annual session held in San Diego, California in 1995 when a successor would be chosen to complete the term of Dr. Wright.  Dr. H.J. Johnson, of Dallas, TX, (pictured left, far right) General Secretary of the Convention ran for the presidency against Dr. Snead.  Dr. Snead was the victor and assumed the presidency.   In 1998, Dr. Johnson ran again for the presidency against President Snead in an election conducted in Phoenix, Arizona.  Once again, Dr. Snead prevailed and began to serve his first full four year term.  Following the election, Dr. H.J. Johnson and his supporters organized the Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America.  

In 1994, a movement that cut across all conventions had gained strength. Led by Rev. Paul A. Morton (pictured right), pastor of the 10,000 member Greater St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a member of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., along with pastors who believed in the teaching and preaching of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and non-traditional styles of baptist polity were ready to come together under the banner of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. Bishop Morton discovered that this movement had supporters from ALL of the conventions, and along with a College of Baptist Bishops, organized the FGBCF in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is the fastest growing of all Conventions at the present time. 

In 1998, problems existed within the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. due to information that became widely publicized concerning the financial dealings of Dr. Henry J. Lyons, (pictured far left) president of the Convention.  In a contentious and stormy session in Denver, Colorado, a blue ribbon committee chaired by Dr. E.V. Hill found no violation of the NBCUSA rules and regulations.  However, the controversy continued to spiral and State and Federal authorities began to investigate Dr. Lyons and the procedures of the NBCUSA.  As a result, Dr. Lyons resigned from the Presidency of the Convention, the first to do so in history and is currently serving concurrent State and Federal terms in Florida.  Dr. S.C. Cureton (pictured left, center) of South Carolina has assumed the Presidency of the Convention and will serve until a new president is elected in Tampa, Florida in September 1999.  Candidates include Dr. Hill, Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Dr. W.J. Shaw and other NBCUSA leaders, including one layman.  On Thursday, September 9, 1999, the Convention elected Dr. W.J. Shaw, (pictured left, far right) pastor of the White Rock Baptist Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as their president.

Dr. Thomas W. Samuels, President, (figure unknown)

The numbers above may not accurate reflect the true numbers of membership because there has never been an accurate census of African-American Baptists. 

by Dr. Robert E. Houston, Sr.