The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC, org. 1932) is one of several Baptist groups in North America retaining the name "Regular Baptist".
The impact of modernism on the Northern Baptist Convention (now called the American Baptist Churches in the USA) led to the eventual withdrawal of a number of conservative and fundamentalist churches. The Baptist Bible Union (BBU, org. 1923) was the forerunner to the GARBC. The final meeting of the BBU in 1932 in Chicago was the first meeting of the GARBC.
The association endorses a fourfold mission:
- Champion Biblical Truth
- Impact the World for Christ
- Perpetuate a Baptist Heritage
- Advance the Association Churches
The GARBC follows a "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.
The association's home office is located at 1300 North Meacham Road, Schaumburg, Illinois. On this site, Regular Baptist Press publishes church education curriculum and the association's monthly magazine, the Baptist Bulletin.
Rev. John Greening presently serves as the association's National Representative. In 2006, the GARBC had over 1,300 member churches. Among them is the First Baptist Church in the City of New York, whose original pastor baptized George Washington.
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.
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