American Baptist Association

Denominational Profile

History

Southern Baptist Convention	split into American Baptist Association (1924)	continuedAmerican Baptist Association
		split into North American Baptist Association (1950)

The American Baptist Association grew out of the "landmark" movement among Southern Baptists in the 1850s. The movement, which emphasized the role of the local church, was led by James R. Graves and J. M. Pendleton. A merger of two landmark associations in 1924 created the American Baptist Association.

Membership Data

Year	Clergy	Churches	Members
1931	-	-	116,562
1933	-	2,662	263,484
1935	1,734	2,662	263,484
1936	-	1,064	115,022
1937	-	2,662	-
1946	-	-	115,022
1948	-	2,272	245,861
1951	-	2,105	286,691
1956	2,350	3,000	600,000
1957	2,172	3,025	630,000
1958	2,300	3,045	630,000
1959	2,350	3,073	647,800
1960	2,365	3,091	648,000
1961	2,385	3,117	650,800
1962	2,405	3,131	653,000
1963	2,425	3,151	655,200
1964	2,525	3,196	719,100
1965	3,150	3,227	726,112
1966	3,175	3,247	731,000
1968	3,195	3,262	745,620
1969	3,309	3,274	782,902
1970	3,512	3,286	786,536
1971	3,312	3,295	790,000
1972	3,368	3,321	869,000
1973	3,338	3,336	955,900
1974	3,651	3,361	1,003,695
1975	4,070	3,570	1,071,000
1978	5,870	4,500	1,350,000
1979	5,425	5,000	1,500,000
1980	5,700	5,000	1,500,000
1981	5,700	5,000	1,500,000
1982	-	1,641	225,000
1983	-	1,641	225,000
1986	1,760	1,705	250,000
1996	1,760	1,705	250,000
1998	1,760	1,760	275,000
2000	1,760	1,760	275,000
2009	-	1,600	100,000

Data were taken from the National Council of Churches' Historic Archive CD and recent editions of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. Denomination descriptions provided by Dr. J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion (ISAR). [More information on data sources]