Progressive National Baptist Convention
The Progressive National Baptist Convention ( PNBC for short ) is an Afro-American Baptist federation that has set itself the goal of promoting civil rights and social justice .
History of origin
The PNBC was founded in Cincinnati , Ohio in 1961 as a spin-off from the older National Baptist Convention (NBCUSA). Following the Supreme Court's ruling on segregation in 1954, NBCUSA followed policies that led away from the civil rights movement. The desire of some members to give full support to the civil rights movement led to internal disputes. Further disagreements over the election of decision makers and the term of office of the NBCUSA president ensued.
The conflict was sparked by the re-election of the Reverend Joseph Jackson as president. Martin Luther King supported Gardner Taylor as a presidential candidate. Taylor lost in the 1961 election. Thirty-three delegates from 14 states met at the Zion Baptist Church in Cincinnati to discuss a new organization. The decision to found the PNBC was made and particularly influenced by the voice of Reverend L. Venchael Booth, pastor of the Zion Baptist Church.
The PNBC followed their path of political activism and supported groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People .
Organization, statistics, ecumenical memberships
PNBC's headquarters are in Washington, DC. PNBC's partners have been the American Baptist Churches USA since 1970 . The PNBC conferences are held annually in August.
According to various sources from 1994 and 1995, the PNBC has 741 member churches and between 1.2 and 2.5 million members.
The PNBC is a member of the World Council of Churches , the US National Council of Churches , and the World Baptist Federation .
The basic program of the PNBC includes the concept of fellowship, progress and peace (community, progress and peace). The PNBC is one of the theologically liberal Baptist denominations in the USA and has introduced the ordination of women .
Well-known members of the PNBC
Significant members were or are:
literature
- William Booth: A Call to Greatness: The Story of the Founding of the Progressive National Baptist Convention , ISBN 1-55618-196-5
- Albert W. Wardin, Jr .: Baptists Around the World , ISBN 0-8054-1076-7
- Bill J. Leonard (Editor): Dictionary of Baptists in America , ISBN 0-8308-1447-7
- Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, Craig D. Atwood: Handbook of Denominations , ISBN 0-687-06983-1
- National Council of Churches: Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches