The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), established in 1932 is an
Independent Baptist
Independent Baptist churches (some also called Independent Fundamental Baptist or IFB) are Christian congregations, generally holding to conservative (primarily fundamentalist) Baptist beliefs. Although some Independent Baptist churches refuse ...
Christian denomination in
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
, retaining the name "
Regular Baptist
Regular Baptists are "a moderately Calvinistic Baptist sect that is found chiefly in the southern U.S., represents the original English Baptists before the division into Particular and General Baptists, and observes closed communion and foot washi ...
". The association's home office is located in
Arlington Heights,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...
.
History
The impact of
modernism
Modernism is both a philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new forms of art, philosophy, ...
on the
Northern Baptist Convention
The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is a mainline/evangelical Baptist Christian denomination within the United States. The denomination maintains headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The organization is usually considered mainl ...
(now called the
American Baptist Churches USA
The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is a mainline/evangelical Baptist Christian denomination within the United States. The denomination maintains headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The organization is usually considered main ...
) led to the eventual withdrawal of a number of
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
and
fundamentalist
Fundamentalism is a tendency among certain groups and individuals that is characterized by the application of a strict literal interpretation to scriptures, dogmas, or ideologies, along with a strong belief in the importance of distinguishin ...
churches. The
Baptist Bible Union (BBU) of 1923 was the forerunner to the GARBC. The final meeting of the BBU in 1932 in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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was the first meeting of the GARBC.
The Association publishes Regular Baptist Press, a church education curriculum and the association's bimonthly magazine, the ''Baptist Bulletin''.
In 2018, the GARBC had over 1,200 member churches.
According to the 2008 ''
Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches'', the GARBC reported having 1,383 churches and 132,900 members in 2005. Membership is concentrated in the Midwest. The states with the highest membership rates are Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio.
Data from the 2000 Religious Congregations and Membership Study
Organization
The GARBC follows a " wikt:fellowship, fellowship" model rather than a denominational model. Each member church is free to act independently in all matters. The home office of the GARBC holds no controlling power over member churches. The purpose of the association is for fellowship between churches of like faith and practice.
See also
* Baptist Distinctives
Sources
*''Baptists Around the World'', by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
*''Dictionary of Baptists in America'', Bill J. Leonard, editor
References
External links
GARBC Web Site
Profile of the GARBC on the Association of Religion Data Archives website
{{US baptist denominations
Independent Baptist denominations in the United States
Organizations based in Illinois
Christian organizations established in 1932
Baptist denominations established in the 20th century