It is the mainline Baptist body in the United States that combines congregational autonomy with a national general board structure rooted in the northern Baptist tradition.
American Baptist Churches USA traces its organized national life to the Triennial Convention of 1814 and the later Northern Baptist Convention, taking its present name in 1972. Its congregations affirm believer baptism and local church autonomy while cooperating in missions, education, and social witness. It is a member of the Baptist World Alliance and the National Council of Churches.
Sources
Primary
- Constitution and Bylaws of the American Baptist Churches USA
Secondary
- Thomas S. Kidd and Barry Hankins, Baptists in America: A History